The Designated Mate novel Chapter 69

I told myself not to get my hopes up, especially because I already knew the outcome of this bullshit search mission before we'd even showed up yesterday. But, somehow, I still deceived myself and allowed myself to believe there was a chance I'd find them today. However small that chance be, I wanted to think it was there. The reality was, life almost never works out that way. Poppy falling into my life the way she had was a rare exception. She was the only piece of light that had shown through the darkness of my life.

I couldn't wait to get home to her. Right now, after facing such a big blow of disappointment, all I wanted was to walk through the pack house doors and right into her arms. She had a way of calming me and making me feel like everything was going to be okay. Right now, that's what I was craving desperately. My need for her only increased with every mile that brought me closer to her.

By the time we finally pulled into the pack house driveway, my skin was practically itching all over. Throwing my door open, I barreled towards the house. Before I even made it to the steps, the front door swooped open to reveal Poppy standing there with a desperate face, obviously wanting to know how things went. I hadn't even opened my mouth when her eyes turned sympathetic and she opened her arms to me. I quickly closed the space between us and wrapped my arms around her. Her own arms came up to wind around my neck as her delicate fingers played with my hair at the nape of my neck. I breathed in her intoxicating scent, allowing it to wash over my body and soothe my bleeding soul.

"I'm so sorry, baby, but I swear to you we're going to find them. We will," she stated with so much conviction that I had to believe her. I leaned down a bit farther and gripped onto her thighs just below her ass. Hoisting her up onto my hips, I carried her to the bedroom we'd been staying in. Before I could even think about conjuring up a new plan, I just needed time with my mate all to myself.

Poppy's POV

Knox carried me to our bedroom as I continued to stroke the back of his head. My heart was breaking a million times over for him. I knew the second I looked at him as he got out of the car that the search party hadn't been successful. If anyone else were to examine him, they probably wouldn't see the disappointment so glaringly obvious in his body language.

But I wasn't just anyone; I was his mate.

"Thank you, Poppy," he murmured. He didn't have to say what for, I already knew.

"Don't thank me, Knox. I love you and I will always take care of you the best way that I can," I murmured before sliding off of his lap and extending my hand out to him. He took it and hoisted himself up, following my lead as I took us to the pack kitchen. The thing we both needed the most right now, besides each other, was a good home cooked meal.

Checking the digital clock on the microwave, I realized that while about two hours had passed since they'd arrived home, it was still only ten o'clock. Breakfast it is. I felt Knox's eyes following my body and I pulled out all the ingredients for chocolate chips pancakes - something I'd been craving terribly for the past few days - as well as eggs and some potatoes for hash browns.