HUNTED-Chapter 342: Weirdo by the swings

[ Harry ]

A week had passed, and somehow Harry was still in this goddess-forsaken town. He’d travelled plenty, but this was in the sticks. He understood why Aldric and his family moved to that house in the woods, with a cute town nearby. It was great for their kids to grow up in and seemed safe, but it was boring as hell.

Harry didn’t complain, though. He was purely there for Aldric. Which was odd. Before becoming a lycan and meeting Aldric and Aila, he wasn’t one to stick around and play happy families. That was not his speciality. But he’d grown a type of bond with Al, a friendship he couldn’t shake.

Seeing Aldric’s world shatter before him, facing his mate’s death, pained him to see. Aldric was tough and wise and still had the powerful presence of an alpha, one that ruled fairly. To see him put through that and this whole week of keeping a strong face for his children touched him in a way he didn’t know needed touching.

Alright, enough of the fluffy, fairy tale, ’feelings’ shit.

The pair had been staying at a local caravan site, one that also had areas for camping. Although they were used to slumming it, staying in their lycan forms, and living off the wildlife nearby, Aldric had to keep his appearance clean. They also couldn’t afford anyone else to see what they were.

So a caravan it was for two huge males. No, he wasn’t egotistical. Not that egotistical anyway, but they were both over 6ft3 with broad shoulders and built like houses. The space was small for them, but it wasn’t something either of them complained about. It was a temporary living situation.

Today, they were dressed in black. Harry felt like an imposter. Well, he was one, he didn’t know Aldric’s mate, but he was there to support him. If Mark and Cathy didn’t know he was married to Emma, they probably thought they were an item. Well, he wouldn’t deny they’d make a good-looking pair.

Harry smirked, but he forced his lips to slide back down. They were at Emma’s funeral, and although he hadn’t gone inside the church, he was in charge of keeping the children preoccupied. They were at the park across the road from the church.

Rex and Elissa were dressed up, and although they weren’t inside with the others, they did understand the concept. Neither of them played properly. Instead, they sat on the swings, legs moving back and forth casually as they stared at the ground. Harry cursed under his breath.

He didn’t know how to look after children. Aldric shouldn’t have left him with them. It was a huge responsibility. Alright, all he needed to do was make sure they didn’t get hurt and didn’t get kidnapped because, hello, they were cute kids and didn’t get killed. He was a rogue-lycan; they were fine.

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"Harry," Elissa called to him, and he started to move towards them.

He had been standing awkwardly, glancing at them, his hands in his pockets. Unlike Aldric, who wore a full three-piece suit, Harry didn’t have the waistcoat or the tie, leaving him in all black, shirt and all but with the top button undone. "Yeah, Lissa?"

Harry braced himself. Elissa was a bossy little madam and liked to torture him. "Push us; otherwise, you look like a widow."

Harry paused, looking at her with a frown. A widow?

"You mean ’weirdo’, idiot," Rex muttered, though he was trying to act his usual self, Rex was not. He was putting on a brave face.

"Come on now, little dude and dudette. You shouldn’t call your sister names," Harry scolded lightly, but he did do what Elissa suggested. He didn’t want to look awkward and strange, so he started gently pushing them.

When he meant pushing them gently, he barely put any effort in, and they were swinging back and forth. It seemed they didn’t want to go high, but the longer they were on the swings, the more their faces brightened, and the day that seemed so gloomy was starting to brighten.

By the time the funeral finished, and people started piling outside the front of the church, Elissa was giggling, and Rex was almost smiling.

Taking Elissa’s hand and holding Rex’s shoulder, Harry started to take them towards the black ironed gate, exiting the park when Rex stopped and peered up at him, his expression curious. "Did you also escape with dad?"

Escape? Harry didn’t realise Rex knew where Aldric had been. He assumed the kid relented from his silent treatment because Aldric was his dad. Although Harry did sense, there was still some hesitation and slight distrust coming from Rex towards Aldric. But he assumed that was normal.

It was normal for him. Oh, right. His upbringing wasn’t normal. Well, the kid would probably realise his dad wasn’t a villain, and when he grew up some more, he would learn how much he does care about them and would do for them. Harry didn’t have a mate, but he knew how much it was eating his friend up inside not to have her anymore.

A lot of wolves can’t handle it. Some turned into type 1 rogues for the reason of not wanting to think ever again, losing themselves to the wild. Others rotted, misusing alcohol or drugs. Only on rare occasions were they ever granted a second mate.

Glancing at Aldric, Harry couldn’t see him accepting another mate, no matter how strong the pull of the bond was. His children were from his first mate, and that was what kept his head on straight. That was probably enough for him.

Looking back at the miniature human, Harry finally replied, "yes. We were cellmates."

"Cellmates?" Rex asked, his curiosity piquing more. "Like in prison?"

Before Harry could respond, Aldric had crossed the road, an unimpressed look on his face. "When you’re older, I’ll tell you all about it," he said and picked up Elissa from where she reached out to him.