Alpha’s Black Furred Slave Mate
Chapter 85

The thought of letting go of Mateo was painful. I couldn't imagine just leaving him with a random family in the village while I went back to the manor. But I had to find Kamala. I needed to make sure she was actually okay. My wolf could feel her still and knew that she was still alive, but I needed to see it with my own eyes. I wasn't sure what Bob was planning, but I needed to be with him while he did it. He was so sure that Alex was bringing Kamala's body to the river creek; I wasn't sure why that was a place Alex would go to. There must have been some kind of importance to that area.

I held Mateo close to my chest as I made my way through the town. My mother was close to this woman, Reece, and her husband, Adam. I haven't spoken to them since I was young because they didn't exactly approve of me being around. But they were people that my mother trusted and even though they didn't approve of me, part of me trusted them too.

My mother grew up with them and has told me numerous times that she trusts Reece with her life. I couldn't say the same thing about them, but I trusted my mother's judgment. Therefore, I trusted them with my son.

Their house wasn't far from ours; when Kamala and I lived here the last few months, I typically stayed clear from them. I wasn't sure how they would react to me being around again. I was afraid to find out. But I had no choice now. I needed to make sure Mateo was safe and I needed to get to Kamala as soon as I could.

I knocked on their wooden doorframe and waited patiently for someone to answer the door.

Reece's narrow features appeared at the doorway; her short light brown hair fell around her features and outlined the narrow shaping of her head. She was a tall woman with an almost masculine build. She works manual labor out in the field most of the day so over time she built up muscles.

Her dark eyes widened as she saw me standing in front of her with Mateo. She went from me, down to Mateo, and then back at me. Her face was almost expressionless as she tried to process what she was seeing.

I'm sure she heard that I was back in town when I arrived a few months ago, but she hasn't bothered to come and see me. I didn't really expect her to come and see me. As I said, she never approved of me before, so I didn't think she was going to approve of me

now.

To my surprise, her face fell into what looked like pure relief. A smile spread across her broad chin and tears welled up in her eyes as she stared around my face. I stared back at her; I couldn't keep the confusion off my face.

She opened the door even further and I saw Adam standing nearby as well. He looked just as shocked to me as well; staring at me like I had a million heads on my shoulders. He looked at Mateo and his eyes widened; then he looked back at me. "Deonna..." Reece whispered as she opened her arms to embrace me.

It was a foreign feeling, being embraced. But I stepped into her arms and let her wrap herself around me, pulling me in for a tight hug. Her body was strong, and she held me tightly against her. Mateo wiggled uncomfortably between us. Adam walked over to join us in the embrace; he looked hesitant for a moment, but he soon relaxed as he neared closer.

"I can't believe you are here..." he whispered as they both cried.

I was so confused.

The last I remembered; they didn't like me. I remember them telling my parents that keeping me as a daughter would ultimately be a huge mistake. Dark-furred wolves were meant to be slaves and I would be treated as a slave my entire life. They wouldn't be able to protect me forever and they were stupid to think they could protect me.

But my mother told her that their love for me made it worthwhile. That they were going to protect me until the day they died. That they wouldn't let anything horrible happen to me. I wasn't supposed to hear that conversation.

I was tucked away in bed while they were speaking in the kitchen of my parent's house. They were sipping on tea in the late hours of the night. It was my first night in the house and I was sleeping in a bed that was unfamiliar to me. I was used to sleeping on a hardened mattress with little to no blankets; I was used to spending my nights cold and sick.

It was the first night in a long time that I truly felt safe. My parents wanted me to meet their friends; even at 3 years old, I got a vibe from Reece and Adam that they didn't like me. But they kept it in until I went to bed. Only when I was in bed I could hear their whispers telling my parents that keeping me around was a mistake.

I tried not to let that get to me and I never told my parents that I couldn't hear everything. I don't even think Reece and Adam knew I could hear them and remember what they said about me.

At that moment though, it didn't matter. I knew my parents trusted them, which meant I needed to trust them.

I didn't know many others around the village well enough; most of the ones I grew to know before I was taken to the slave farm were no longer there.

"I need a favor," I told them as I entered their small home.

They both looked at one another, now they looked confused. I felt bad for entering their home unannounced and without even a simple greeting, I was already asking them for a favor.

"I'm sorry to be here on short notice," I told them sheepishly. "But it's an emergency."

"What is it?" Reece asked, assessing me carefully.

"I must go somewhere. It's dangerous. Too dangerous for a baby," I told her, motioning for Mateo. They both frowned and stared at Mateo curiously. I'm sure he was wondering where he came from; I wasn't about to tell them that he was a nobleman's baby. I'm not sure how they would handle that news. "I can't keep dragging Mateo around and hoping for his safety."

"You need him to stay somewhere?" Reece asked; it sounded more like a statement than a question. Like she already knew what I was about to ask.

I nodded once and adjusted Mateo in my arms.

"Yes," I told her. "I was hoping he could stay with you two for a little while."

They opened their mouths to say something but then they both closed them at the same time; Reece had a worried line creasing between her brows. She looked over at Adam who was still staring at me with dismay.

My wolf was oddly calm, so I knew my mother was right in trusting them. I just didn't like having to leave Mateo.

"Why us?" Adam finally asked, after a breath of silence.

"Because my mother trusted you," I told them, staring amongst the two of them. "She trusted you more than anyone in this town. I don't know many people in the village still, but I know you both. Whether you like me or not, my mother still trusted you. Therefore, I need to trust you as well."

Reece's eyes widened at my words.

"Why do you think we don't like you?" She asked, sounding nervous.

I gave her a smirk.

"Because I know..." I told her. "I don't need to hear any excuses. I just need to know that you'll take care of my son."

"For how long?" Adam asked, he was frowning and staring at Mateo with a disgusted look on his face.

"I'm not sure," I answered honestly. "It could be days, maybe weeks. Maybe even months."

"Where is it you are going?" Reece asked.

"I can't tell you," I told her. "But just know, I'm doing this to protect my son..."

After another breath of silence, Reece finally looked over at Adam. There were questions in her eyes that he was reluctant to answer. Neither of them was sure if this was something they were willing to do, but at the mention of my mother, they looked almost guilty for refusing me.

Eventually, they both sighed and looked defeated.

"Okay," Adam finally agreed.

Relief flooded through me as I said a silent "thank you" to the lords above. I took a step closer to Reece and handed her Mateo.

She held him awkwardly in her arms; I clutched his bag in my hand and passed it over to Adam.

"That's some of his stuff," I told them.

They stared at one another for a brief moment before looking back at me; there were so many questions that I couldn't answer. I couldn't risk anyone knowing what was going on; I couldn't risk Mateo's life. I had to move quietly and quickly. "Thank you," I told them.

They said nothing; they only nodded their response as I disappeared out of their house.