Chapter 250
250 –Losing Everything Once Again
Madeline:
In the last few hours, Baxter and I had worked together to build a temporary shelter.
He leaned fallen branches against a thick tree in the woods, then tied them together with strips torn from old cloth and rope from our bags.
He layered leaves and dry grass over the frame. It was not very sturdy, but it was enough to give the kids a place for the night.
When he was done, he crouched down and started a small fire in front of us.
I wanted to help him, but I was in such a bad mood that I could not bring myself to. 2
He sat beside me on a log, staring into the flames while rubbing his hands together.
I noticed that even after losing the home, he did not look worried, angry, or annoyed.
The kids sat with us, finishing the biscuits and snacks. I felt bad for them. They did not deserve this life.
“So, are we going to start building a home next to theirs by morning?” I asked Baxter, not realizing what I was doing.
I had not been able to pull my thoughts away from that house at all.
I did not know why. She had reminded me of my stepmother, and I could not shake it.
Baxter only stared at me in silence before turning his attention to the kids.
“Why aren’t you talking to me?” I pressed. “Is it because of Yuvonne?” 1
I did not know why I brought her up again, but his silence was wearing on me. I needed someone to talk to me, to tell me that everything would be fine. He had been far too quiet.
“You know what? You should have stayed with her. At least then you would have known,” I said, still talking, when he suddenly turned toward me.
“Madeline, enough,” he snapped.
The harshness in his tone made me fall silent.
“Yeah, Mommy, shut up. You have been very rude,” Bodhi suddenly yelled, shocking me.
1
My jaw dropped as Elara and Gina passed me glares.
“Bodhi, who told you that you can talk to your mother like that?” Baxter snapped at him, and Bodhi’s confidence faded at once.
I did not say anything, because I liked that Baxter stood up for me. Kids should not act that way, and I started to feel like this was my fault. 1
“Come on, say sorry to your mother,” Baxter told Bodhi firmly. Bodhi folded his arms across his chest and shook
his head.
“Bodhi, what is wrong with you? Come on, I said say sorry to your mother,” Baxter repeated, and I noticed how upset my child suddenly looked.
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“ It’s okay. You do not have to force him,” I said softly to Baxter, rubbing my neck. The whole interaction left me unsettled.
The awkward silence lingered between us until the kids finished eating and got up to head under the shelter to sleep for the night.
“No kiss for Mommy tonight?” I asked as I watched them walk over to Baxter and give him a kiss.
“No. You are not really helpful,” Elara replied, making the hand I had raised to pull them into a hug slowly drop.
They walked away while I stayed seated on the log, acting as if nothing had happened. I stared into the fire, feeling small like a child who had lost everything.
“I think I should not have acted this way, ” I said quietly, looking at the fire. “It’s just that the child in me never really grew up,” I added, admitting it aloud to Baxter. All of this came from the version of me who had been hurt her entire life, who had every happiness taken from her, every home slipping through her hands, never feeling like she truly belonged anywhere.
“ You should go sleep with them. I’ll stay on guard duty,” Baxter remarked.
I looked away from the fire and at him, my face filled with confusion and sadness. I had thought he might comfort me, but it felt like even he was tired of listening.
The sad part was that when I was pushed out of the pack and had to live in the human world, I did everything except complain. I never complained.
I let people hurt me, use me, and discard me. This was the first time my emotions had spilled out, and I realized maybe they should not have. 1
“Okay, good night,” I told him, then stood up and walked away.
He stayed outside while I went into the shelter. I did not sleep. I sat there, checking on the kids.
They were restless throughout the night. By the time morning arrived, I had fallen asleep sitting against the tree.
I woke up to my children cheering outside like little birds, yawning and stretching.
They were already awake. My back hurt from sleeping in that position, so I got up from the shelter and stepped
outside.
I saw Baxter standing with the kids, his shirt off. His muscles were tense as he smiled at them, listening to their chatter while preparing something.
Then I realized what he was doing. He was building a home here.
Something inside me snapped, even though I did not want it to.
“We are going to build a home there, ” I said, pointing toward the mountain.
Everyone turned to look at me. Everyone except Baxter. He ignored me completely, as if I had not spoken at all.
I did not know what was going on. I thought I had only lost a home, but it felt like everything was slipping out of my hands for no reason.
Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.