The Minx

"If anything happens before I get back, you call me immediately," Kieran said in worry. I smiled slightly as I held Nabi on my hip near the front door. I finally told Kieran my full plan to reunite Caitlyn with Aspen to pay him back to be with Kieran without worry, and he agreed. It had been a few weeks and the dust finally settled from the movie premiere. Kieran was going to try to look for Caitlyn again.

"I know. Don't worry. I've gotten a handle on weaponizing my fox flame as a defense if I need it, and I've run the company without you before. Nabi will be going to the office with me every day also. Plus, don't I have Amanda's help?" I tried to assure him. Kieran looked at the two of us in longing. I knew he was unwilling to leave us, but he had to. We couldn't keep putting this off or we would never find Caitlyn. Kieran plucked Nabi from my hip and cooed at her before placing a kiss on her cheek and handing her back to me. He wrapped an arm around me gently before placing a kiss on my own head. After that night, we didn't kiss as intimately again. I was scared I wouldn't be able to control myself if we did.

"I love you both. I'll try to be back soon. Hopefully, with Caitlyn," he said before he left. I sighed before turning to the empty house. It was time to get us both ready to head in to the office as well. I got us both dressed before driving the car to the company. When I walked in, my heart sunk a little at how normal everything was without Kieran there. I set Nabi up in her play area we had at the office for her in Kieran's office as I swiveled in his chair behind his desk. Amanda chuckled at me.

"You two really do love each other. Every time he leaves for business, you get like this," she noted. I looked at her curiously.

"Like what?" I asked.

"Distracted, moody... And a little sad," she noted. I found myself smiling sadly at nothing in particular.

"I guess I can't hide it very well," I agreed.

"I think it's cute," she responded. A few weeks passed pretty smoothly with me running the company and looking after Nabi. The surprise came when someone was waiting in the parking lot of Rom Deck for me one morning, but it wasn't the scientists I originally thought would come for me. It was someone I never excepted to come to New York personally. I hesitated as I stood near the car with Nabi on my hip with my eyes wide. This looked bad. Just from where he stood, I could tell what he was thinking from looking at me with my little sister on my hip. Amanda was passing me in the parking lot. I turned to her before she could pass me.

"Amanda, take Nabi up with you and stay in the office. I need to take care of something. I'll be late so just start taking care of of everything on your own," I said in a rush as I passed Nabi over before glancing back to Aspen who was starting to make his way over to me now.

"Is everything alright?" She asked worried, noticing where my eyes were going.

"I can take care of it, just get Nabi out of here," I said quickly. She must have heard the urgency in my voice because she scurried off without asking anymore. She was out of reach and almost inside by the time Aspen reached me. He grabbed my wrist roughly as he glared at me.

"You hadn't called in months. Here I am... worried to death about you, and you're having fun, going to movie premieres, and having another man's child," Aspen accused me. I could have corrected him. I could have told him that Nabi was really my biological sister and also a hybrid like me. I could have told him that I was respectful of him with my body at least since I couldn't control my heart, but what was the point? All I owed Aspen was a debt. What I owed Kieran was my life. What I owed myself was to follow my heart, and I wanted to be with Kieran. But I couldn't speak a word of my thoughts out loud. I couldn't tell the truth. It was better to let him misunderstand. I didn't want to drag this on any longer. I could only stare at him blankly. I didn't back down.

"So what? As my debtor, you released me to my fated mate to save my life. I'm part fox, too. My fated fox mate has been watching over me in secret since I was born. He's the one who put me in my wolf family, thinking it would keep me safe, but he had no idea what could happen while he was off looking for my mother. Kieran saved my life, taught me about myself, let me meet my biological mother before she died right in front of us, and personally helped me birth his child when I thought I couldn't even be pregnant in the first place. What's wrong? You want my life too? There's a line for that," I said unmoving. His eyes widened slightly as he slowly let go of me and took a step back. I rubbed my wrist gently with an unbothered sigh.

"You've changed," he said softly. I smirked slightly and shook my head.

"Kind of. I'm no longer the scared little girl who knew nothing. After learning the whole truth about myself, I realized that I'm much stronger than any of you gave me credit for. I'm not that little girl anymore, I'm a mother. And it's not like I completely disregarded your kindness either. Caitlyn, my twin sister and your fated mate, is still alive. My birth mother confirmed before she died that the same people who took my mother and forced her to give birth to us is currently holding Caitlyn captive in a lab. Kieran is looking for her as we speak. I will still repay you... by giving your fated mate back to you," I explained. He staggered back a step as he let out a breath. His eyes watered at the mention of Caitlyn.

"She's... alive?" He asked. I nodded.

"If you'll excuse me, I have a company to run," I said before walking past him. When I was finally inside and in Kieran's office, I let out a breath as I all but collapsed in the chair. Amanda looked worried as she held Nabi.

"Are you okay? Who was that?" Amanda asked.

"An old acquaintance," I answered vaguely. Amanda bit her lip nervously as she hesitated.

"I was worried something would happen... I called Mr. DeVoss. He said he's on his way back," she admitted. I stood quickly before sighing and hanging my head.

"Forget it. It's not your fault. It's better for him to be here anyway," I let it go. I sat back down before sighing again.

"You can let Nabi crawl around and head back. I'll explain to Kieran when he gets here," I dismissed her. She set Nabi in her playpen before leaving the office. I had a feeling Aspen wouldn't leave yet anyway. Having Kieran back to discuss our plan moving forward would actually be better. Kieran would probably handle this better than I could anyway.