Page 3 of Shattered

Well, ain’t this some shit?

Chapter One

October 29, 2033... (One year after the takedown of Holly Geithner)

“Liam, Riley, it’s almost time to go,” Mackenzie called out. “We have about eight minutes.”

He put the finishing touches on their lunches and stood at the kitchen counter listening to his children hurry through the rest of their routine. He grinned. After all the shit they’d been through, he’d never regretted adopting both of his pups. They made everything a little bit easier to bear. More so now, since their return from Everett, Massachusetts.

Liam was the first to join him. His son still had some anger issues. Hell, Mackenzie couldn’t blame the boy, so did he. Holly had ripped their family apart, little by little, for ten years, and he’d allowed it to happen. Hindsight and all that notwithstanding, he knew there was something wrong with Hayden’s aunt. He’d realized Holly wasn’t what she claimed to be as early as a year into her being in Window Rock, and still he persisted with the lie to protect Hayden. In the end, he’d been instrumental in tearing apart his whole family once again.

A knock came at the back door, and Liam answered it. “Morning.” He stood aside allowing an excited Mikey into the house.

“Poppa!” The boy launched himself into Mackenzie’s arms and clung to him. Mackenzie had been the first-person Mikey hadn’t called by his first name. He couldn’t understand it, but he didn’t discourage the boy, either. It would just take some time for him to settle in.

“Good morning, little wolf. Are you ready for school?”

The boy nodded. “I am so ready.” He pointed to Charisma who carried the twins. “I helped m-Charisma dress them.” There was hesitation there, like the boy wanted to call Charisma mom or mother but wasn’t sure if he should yet or not.

“You did?” Mackenzie placed the boy on his feet. When Mikey did call Charisma mom, he knew his mated daughter would be over the moon.

“Charisma said I’m a good helper.” The boy’s soulful husky voice was endearing and adorable, but it had also worried Mackenzie in the beginning. It’d only been a couple of weeks since Royce and Charisma found out from different specialists, that the damage sustained to his vocal cords was permanent. Worthington and all of those fucking PBH bastards’ experiments had destroyed a piece of the loving boy in front of him.

Danielle had offered to help fix him, but Royce and Charisma declined. If the boy was in excellent health, why bother? Later, if his condition worsened, they’d consider it, but until then, he was perfect in their eyes.

Mackenzie agreed. “You are an exceptional helper.” He scrubbed the boy’s head then went to Charisma to help her with the twins. They were both dressed as little chicks still in their eggs. He tilted his head in question and she laughed.

“Mikey saw them online. He loved it, so I got them a set.” Charisma chuckled.

“I have an Indian costume, but I’m not wearing it until Thanksgiving,” Mikey chirped.

“So, what are you going to be for Halloween?” Mackenzie cocked a brow.

“A pirate. My costume has a parrot and everything.” He spun in a circle. “It’s really cool. You’re going to love it.”

“I bet I will,” Mackenzie said. “Why are your brother and sister wearing their costumes now?”

“There’s a party at school in two days,” Mikey answered. “Mommy...” He glanced up at Charisma. “It’s okay to call you mommy now, right?”

Charisma nodded with a smile, wiping away tears. “You can always call me mommy, because that’s who I am.”

Mikey smiled. “Mommy is helping us put up decorations and color with us. I didn’t want the twins to miss all the fun, so I made them dress up today.” His little chest puffed up with pride, and Mackenzie grinned like a fucking fool as warmth filled his chest. This little boy had him and his family wrapped tightly around him. He might not be a shifter-wolf, but he was theirs.

Charisma turned away for a moment to gather herself. The smell of her love and surprise wafted through the kitchen. “Well, it’s what mommy’s do best.”

“Don’t cry,” Mikey whimpered, a sob hitching his voice. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“These aren’t sad tears,” she whispered. “These are happy tears.”

“Oh.” Mikey wrapped his arms around her. “Is it because I called you mommy?”

Charisma nodded.

“Is it okay to call you mommy? I just said it. I didn’t ask per—”

Charisma wrapped the boy in her arms and hugged him tight. “I’m mommy. You don’t have to have permission to call me such. I love you so much, Mikey.”

“I love you, too, mommy.” Mikey grinned as he hugged her tight.

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