Chapter 5: Superheroes and Cardboard Boxes

Morning came much sooner than I would have liked and I found myself heaving boxes into the trunk of my car, jamming even more belongings into the small backseat. I wasn't sure how to handle the news that Rowan Madden and I were fated, so instead, I decided to do what I did best—ignore the problem and hope it disappeared.

The night before was a bit of a blur. I didn't exactly remember how I got home, but I knew that once I did, I curled up in bed like a little baby and stared off into space at the wall until I eventually fell into a restless sleep.

I contemplated just quitting the job, but a big part of me didn't want to. Whether it was because of my quickly growing fondness for Rin and Carly, the new discovery of my fated mate, the pay, or a mixture of the three remained unclear to me.

So, to put it simply, I forbade all thoughts of Rowan Madden from my mind and got on with the move, hoping and praying to the Goddess that Rowan wouldn't tell Carly about this new development so I could keep my job.

On a lighter note, I only got the job because of how busy Rin's parents were. I'd be lucky—or unlucky?—if I got to see Rowan as often as I saw Carly. They both had high end jobs that demanded a lot of time, and when they did take time off to spend with Rin, I would get the day off, too. So, in short, avoiding the elephant in the room shouldn't be too hard.

But, the problem remained: How should I act around Rowan Madden? I hadn't the slightest clue. The man was married, wasn't that in itself an automatic rejection? Just the thought of that alone sent a sharp stab of pain through my chest and I winced. Okay, so forbidding thoughts of Rowan seems impossible. What now?

I just carried on with packing away my things. I decided not to end the lease on my apartment just in case, so the majority of my belongings were able to remain. I only needed the material things; clothes, bedding, books, electronics, and such things like that. I could always drive back for anything that may have been forgotten, but I still wanted to have as many things with me as possible to avoid constant trips to and from the Maddens'.

Once I managed to finally shove everything I planned on taking into my little car, I began the trek to where I'd be living from then on and into the unforeseeable future.

My thoughts were racing, but one in particular refused to leave my mind: Is he going to reject me?

I could feel how bad I was shaking without having to look down at the hand holding the key to my new—possibly temporary—home. I chose to come and get settled midday in hopes of not crossing paths with Rowan. I know Mrs. Madden had planned on taking the day off to watch Rin so that I could get officially moved in, but even the thought of facing her made me nauseous. Probably even more so.

Guilt began to gnaw at my conscience when I hadn't even done anything wrong.

"Alek!" It seemed as though I took too long to enter the home after unlocking the door. When I finally snapped out of my daze, I looked down into the bright hazel eyes—that I now realized matched perfectly with Rowan's—attached to the chubby little face of Rin Madden, excitedly bouncing on the balls of his feet as he looked up at me.

"Hey there, Bud. How's your day been?" I asked in a soft tone, lugging one of my suitcases behind me.

"It was great! I've spent all morning with Daddy and we watched Bluey, just like me and you! Come join us!"

My stomach leaped into my throat at Rin's words. The little guy had no idea how much anxiety he just gave me. Rowan's here?

I felt stupid. Of course he would be at home, the man only got back from a business trip yesterday. He would obviously need time to wind down before going back to work.

I winced, averting my eyes to the white walls of the hallway as I replied, "Sorry, Bud. I can't right now. I've got to get all my things inside my room, remember?" I gestured a hand to the purple suitcase behind me, as well as the mounds of boxes you could see in the windows of my Mazda, as I spoke.

Rin's eyes lost a bit of their shine, but only for a moment. I gulped as the look of realization crossed his little face. Oh boy, what idea did he come up with now?

"Daddy! Come help!"

Aw shit-

"What's wrong, Little Man?" I could hear him before I saw him, his deep voice carrying through the house without him having to speak loudly. It made my spine tingle.

"Alek's gonna live with us forever, right? He needs help, look at all those boxes!" Rin's eyes filled with wonder as they took in the sight of my car and I couldn't find it within myself to even be slightly irritated at the situation.

Rowan's auburn hair finally came into sight as he slowly came around to the doorway where Rin and I stood, and I took a deep breath—which was a mistake. I got a lung full of Rowan's cedar wood and vanilla scent, and his pheromones alone were enough to cause my knees to shake.

"Oh, yes. You managed to fit quite a few into that car of yours, hm?" Rowan spoke and it took me far too long than I'd like to admit to realize he was talking to me.

I gave my head a little shake, trying to clear his scent and voice from my thoughts so I could form a somewhat coherent response. This is not how I was expecting today to go, at all.

"Yes, well, it wasn't that hard. You don't have to help, really. I have the day off for a reason." I offered a smile in his general direction as he finally came to a stop in front of Rin and I, but it probably looked more like a grimace.

I had a plan. A solid plan to avoid Rowan Madden at all costs. I couldn't get rejected if I didn't give him the time to reject me.

But, clearly things weren't going according to that plan and I was freaking out. If I just moved my boxes in and then locked myself inside my room, things would be just fine.

Rowan, to my displeasure, shook his head. He straightened his stance, as if accepting a challenge, and huffed, "I won't let you move all of this by yourself. That simply won't do."

And then the fucker moved past me and opened my car door, grabbed three boxes at once and started carrying them inside like the incredible hulk was his inspiration.

I gaped at the well built man, watching as his auburn hair fell slightly into his hazel eyes from the slicked back style he had it in.

"My Daddy is a superhero!" Rin's excited squeal finally cracked the rose colored glasses I was looking through and I smiled down at him, ignoring the proximity between Rowan and I when he snuck past us with the boxes.

"Yeah, he is. He's gotta be big and strong so he can protect you." I tickled his stomach as I spoke and a genuine smile grew on my face as I watched his eyes turn into crescent moons with his smile and his cute little giggle filled the air.

"What about you, Alek?" The little boy questioned and I cocked my head to the side.

I could faintly hear the door to my new room being pushed open as Rowan carried the boxes into it, and was relieved to have a small moment alone with my favorite boy.

"What about me?"

"Who's gonna protect you?"

My heart broke a little at his words. He looked so innocent as he asked me this, like he genuinely wanted to know when I didn't have an answer to give him. His head tilted to the side to match mine and his auburn hair flopped over his head with the action.

All I could think about was how I'd be needing protection soon, once I was rejected, but didn't have a single soul in my life to rely on for that. No one even knew I had found my fated mate.

"Well, you're pretty strong, huh? I bet you'll protect me just fine." I was glad to see Rin smile again as he nodded his head vigorously at my words.

The ache in my chest would just have to be endured for now. I had a kid to take care of and a man to avoid, after all.

A/N~ You can read chapter 6 on Ream and Patreon right now! Linked here in the description!<3