I kept my eyes downcast, concentrating on cutting Cole’s breakfast into bite-sized pieces as the weight of two dozen stares pressed down on me. Quiet murmurs rippled around the tables, wolves no doubt discussing the how foolish I was to keep the heir to the Vincenzo pack a secret for three years. “I hear the child belongs to Luke,” One of them said in a not so hushed tone. “I hear she two timed the both of them before going into hiding!” The other reply, sparing snide glances in my direction. The syrupy scent of resentment curdled the air – along with a healthy dash of curiosity. Not all the looks cast my way were hostile at least. Just most of them.“Oh give it a rest already!” Lily exclaimed loudly, slamming her palms on the tabletop with a thwack. I jumped, fumbling my fork before shooting the petite wolf an incredulous look. She paid me no mind, glaring around the hall imperiously. “Don’t y’all have something better to gossip about than Andrea? Honestly, the way you’re all o
Aspen’s commanding presence filled the spacious library, those magnetic blue eyes boring into me from across the room. My lungs strained for air that wouldn’t quite fill them. Cole’s small hand fisted tighter in my skirt as he peered around my leg warily.I rested what I hoped was a soothing hand on my son’s baby-fine hair, struggling not to mirror his uncertainty. Seeing Aspen up close again still had such an effect on me that I couldn’t explain. Had he always been so imposingly broad-shouldered and tall? So devastatingly, heart-stoppingly handsome? I fisted my hands to hide their faint tremor. Get it together! It’s only been a fucking day! Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Aspen crossed his arms and regarded us coolly through those wire-framed glasses. “Come on Cole, aren’t you going to say hello to me?” He arched one thick brow in question. Cole took another step back and burrowed himself deeper behind me. Aspen’s jaw tightened. I bristled at his entitled tone. As if he had no
We walked side by side down the spacious corridors in tense silence. The imposing manor really was a luxurious work of art, everything perfectly coordinated. A far cry from the simple apartment I’d been in Queens. Why did he ask to walk with me? We had absolutely nothing to talk about. The last conversation we had was an argument and quite frankly I figured the man would never want to speak to me again. Now we were here. “It suits you.” I cleared my suddenly dry throat. “The…interior, I mean. Elegant. Refined.” I said and then pursed my lips, looking away. Aspen spared me an assessing look, making my cheeks inexplicably warm. “Thanks. I lead a rather… solitary existence these days.” He paused, something shuttered passing behind those sharp eyes. “These were all designed by my sister though, Esther,” He said. A sister? There was more of them? Oh goddess. I frowned slightly, reading the loneliness between his words. Surprising after assuming a powerful respected Alpha wou
I have a secret. One I planned to take to my grave. Enzo was the only person who knew and I planned to keep it that way, the secret about my wolf, the most confusing part of my life. Without masking my scent as I’ve done for years, I would confuse everyone around me. After all, how would you explain an omega having the energy and scent of an Alpha? My plan was to move to a quite country, raise my son, stay away from what I was sure would be prying eyes and accusatory gazes for the rest of my life but now I was here, trapped with a man I was supposed to hate but instead was trying hard to resist. “I think you might have to consider, leaving…without Cole,”“What?” I blinked, Enzo's shocking words from the other line pulling me out from my thoughts. My gaze drifted to Cole's closed eyes as he lay in the crib, a faint smile on his lips, he was without a care in the world. I was jealous but I was also happy. “I know, I know it sounds crazy,” Enzo said hurriedly, no doubt hea
Warm rays of sunlight streamed through the light blue curtains, caressing my skin with the softest of touches and rousing me from my slumber. I ached all over from the lack of sleep, I’d through to far deeply into the night that I didn’t get enough sleep. Sitting up, my eyes trailed to where Cole still lay, sleeping peacefully not at all bothered by the sunlight that got brighter by the minute. His small chest rose and fell slowly, my lips stretched into a smile. Seeing the color returned to his skin with no hollowness in his cheek, I had a certain peace in my heart, one that I have not had for months. It gave me the impulse to do something I hadn’t done in a long time. I had spoken to Enzo about sending my things to the pack house which apparently, he knew the way to but for now I had to settle for some of the clothes Lily had borrowed to me. They were all a slightly tight fit because my chest was way fuller than hers, even more after I’d given birth to Cole. They weren’t r
I stared down at my son's red curls, running my free hand through it as I watched him eat, trying my best not to show any reaction to Victoria’s words.Cole didn’t seem restless on my lap which I was thankful for, I only took a few bites, engulfed in the silence Victoria's words had created. “Victoria,” Lily said in an exasperated tone and she rolled her eyes at the woman who didn’t seem to care. Her flowering eyes were still on me, so much hatred and disgust filled in them. Sure I knew no one in the lack liked me, or my presence but what I felt from Victoria was a whole different ball game. And I wondered what made her detest me so much despite not even knowing the woman for up to a week. Aspen was silent or rather, he and Cole had gotten lost in their strange staring contest which I found both amusing and unsettling. Was Cole finally connecting with his father? I knew it made me seem like an asshole for not wanting that to happen, because that only meant my son would be able
I hurried up the stairs to my assigned room, Cole giggling in my arms as I pushed open the door. My mind was spinning from the impending attack and Lily’s warning to “let them come.” We would be safe here, right? I had to believe that, for Cole’s sake if not my own. I was tempted to pace, jump out the window, do anything that would be considered an escape at that point but I had to be smart, I couldn’t just endanger my son for selfish reasons. What if I ran into the opposing pack? Wait…what pack in their right senses would attack the Vincenzos who have been around for centuries. “It’ll be fine,” I said to myself, breathing in and out slowly befor I lost a grip on my control and be unable to mask my scent. Gently setting my son down on the plush carpet, I grabbed for my phone to call Enzo. But when I pressed the power button, nothing happened. Dead. Of course. I sighed, sitting down next to Cole as he babbled happily with his toy truck. At least one of us was blissfully unawa
Clutching Cole close, I moved to the window overlooking the forest. The sun dipped low above the tree line, casting the woods in deep shadow. Another volley of furious snarls and howls erupted, too distorted by distance to determine numbers or direction. We were cut off, blind as the battle commenced just beyond sight.Were we really going to be safe? Jaw clenched, I stood vigil at the window while the sounds of violence ebbed and flowed. Cole had dozed off in my arms despite the unearthly chaos that ensued outside. I envied his peace for the nth time that day.Not long after, there was a knock on the door and behind it was a young boy, familiar yet, unfamiliar with a tray in his hands. He looked to be at least fifteen. He had sandy blond hair and electric blue eyes, just as Aspen’s but they bore no other resemblance to the Alpha except for their hair color and cold gazes. “Lunch,” the boy said distantly, waiting until I opened the door fully before he walked in. Oh, at leas