Chapter 147
The boy’s whispered words hit me with unexpected force. I turned back to face him, my brow furrowing as I tried to process what he’d just said.
“What did you just say?” I demanded, studying his small face with renewed intensity.
Orion stood his ground, those blue eyes locked on me in silent accusation. A tiny warrior ready to defend his mother against a threat he couldn’t possibly understand.
How would he know I hurt her? The question circled my mind. He wasn’t even born when we were married.
The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken questions. Just as I opened my mouth to press further, Orion spun on his heel and bolted toward the direction his mother and sister had disappeared.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. This entire visit had been a disaster from start to finish–Alpha Alaric’s cold rejection, Lysandra’s engagement to Kieran, and now a five–year–old boy who seemed to hate me with the intensity of
someone three times his age.
“Alpha.”
The gruff voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to find my Delta standing in the doorway, eyes carefully averted in
respect.
“We’re leaving,” I ordered, striding past him without a backward glance. The familiar weight of my authority settled back into place as we exited the Ravencroft manor.
Outside, sunshine mocked my dark mood, the perfectly manicured grounds of Moonshade Pack territory stretching before us in irritating splendor. My security detail had the cars waiting, engines running. One of my guards stepped forward to open the rear door for me.
Just as my hand touched the door handle, the sound of small, hurried footsteps made me pause.
“Wait, ice cream uncle!”
I turned to find Lyra sprinting across the lawn toward me, her chestnut curls bouncing with each step, a piece of paper clutched tightly in her tiny fist. She skidded to a stop before me, panting slightly, her cheeks flushed with exertion.
In her hand was a hastily drawn picture–two stick figures, one tall with dark hair that could only be me, the other small with what looked like pigtails, both holding triangle–shaped blobs that I assumed were ice cream cones.
“For you,” she said shyly, holding out her creation. “Don’t forget about the strawberry ice cream you promised.”
I took the drawing, momentarily at a loss. Why did this child trust me so completely when her brother clearly despised me? The innocent affection in her eyes stirred something uncomfortable in my chest–something warm and unfamiliar that I wasn’t sure how to process.
After a moment’s hesitation, I lowered myself to one knee, bringing myself to her eye level. “Thank you for the drawing. I won’t forget my promise.”
Without warning, Lyra launched herself forward, wrapping her small arms around my neck in a quick hug. Her lips brushed my cheek in the lightest of kisses, there and gone so fast I might have imagined it.
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Chapter 147
“Mommy says you’re a stranger,” she whispered against my ear. “But I think you’re just sad.”
I froze, completely blindsided by her perception. How could a child see through me so effortlessly when grown wolves cowered in fear at my mere presence?
“Miss Lyra! Come back here right now!” A frantic voice called from the doorway as what appeared to be a nanny rushed
toward us.
Lyra pulled back, glancing over her shoulder at the approaching woman. She turned back to me with a conspiratorial smile and a wink that seemed impossibly mature for her age.
“This is our secret!” she declared before spinning around and dashing back toward the house, leaving me kneeling on the gravel driveway with her drawing still in my hand.”
I rose slowly, carefully folding the paper and tucking it into my inner jacket pocket. Something about that small piece of artwork felt precious, though I couldn’t articulate why.
“Sir?” my driver prompted, still holding the car door.
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