Derek's POV
Kyrian burst into tears right after he heard what I said. He shouted non-stop, "Mommy! I ... want ... Mommy..."
Kyrian was always well-behaved. He rarely cried.
Yet he'd always cry sadly when it came to Tabitha.
I sighed helplessly, "Fine. One last time. But we have to leave after we see her, OK?"
He didn't understand what I meant, but he'd agree with anything I said as long as he could see Tabitha. He nodded obediently with tears on his face.
I reached out and wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes as well as his drool. "Let's go."
The yellow lights in the inflatable tent shone like stars.
Kyrian had already gone to sleep normally, but now, he wasn't sleepy at all. His eyes were bright and shining.
Before I walked there, he slipped out of my arms and ran on his short legs toward the tent.
Tabitha's POV
I sat on the carpet and looked up at the night sky, counting the stars that were not so common.
Werewolves had a special sensitivity to the night, and I could feel the hidden vitality and danger within the darkness.
The tranquility was suddenly shattered by a small figure. It was Kyrian. He was like an irresistible force that came into my view, making me a little incredulous. Was I dreaming?
"Mommy! Mommy!" Kyrian happily ran towards me.
Thrilled, I reached out a hand and held him, feeling the innocence and warmth coming from him.
He excitedly rubbed against my face to show how much he missed and depended on me.
He was dissatisfied that I only used one hand to hold him, and he kept shouting, "Hug! Mommy, hug!"
Hearing that, I looked at him, feeling a bit helpless. "Sorry, sweetie. My hand is injured."
He didn't understand what I meant. He reached out to grab my right hand only to find that it was hanging down softly. I didn't have any strength in my wrist.
He blinked and looked at his hand. Then he realized something.
In the next second, he blew on my wound and said, "Mommy hurts. I don't want it."
My heart melted completely because of his actions, and I cried uncontrollably. My tears fell onto the back of his hand.
"Silly boy... You silly boy," I said softly.
Kyrian raised his hand and wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes. "Don't cry, Mommy. Don't cry."
I forced a smile and said, "OK. I won't cry."
Derek reached out and picked me up. "Why are you sitting on the ground? You might catch a cold."
Kyrian tagged along. My uneasiness and cold were soothed by his warm heart and pure love.
I asked Derek, "Is Kyrian OK?"
"Yes. It's just a slight concussion, and it's not serious. Don't worry." Derek's reply made me feel a little relieved.
I slid gently out of Derek's arms and patted the air mattress with my left hand, signaling Kyrian to climb up.
Derek lifted Kyrian's bottom and placed him on the mattress, and the latter crawled to me at once. "Mommy, sleep."
I reached out and scratched his nose. "OK. I'll hold you to sleep."
He replied with delight, "Yes, Mommy."
I didn't correct him on this. Instead, I turned to Derek, as I remembered he seemed to have something to say earlier. "What did you want to tell me about Kyrian?"
There was a hint of hesitation in Derek's eyes, and after a while, he chose to swallow back his words.
I could tell. As the Alpha of the pack, he must have been burdened with some serious secrets. They might be related to Kyrian or even the safety of all of us.
"Nothing. Kyrian wanted to see you. That's all," he said casually.
My gut told me he was lying, but I had no idea what he really wanted to say.
Well, if he didn't want to say it, then suit himself.
I held Kyrian and lay down on the mattress. The skylight of the tent was open, so we could see the stars in the sky clearly.
Kyrian pointed to the sky and said with a smile, "Mommy, look! Stars."
Derek lay down on Kyrian's other side. The little guy took each of us by the hand and smiled heartily, "Daddy, Mommy."