Page 34 of The Alpha Wolf’s Secret Baby Boy

Probably because he knew what the pack would have preferred…

I stick to staring out the window, but the silence steadily becomes uncomfortable in a way that has me shifting, trying to find comfort, fighting the rise of heat in my veins when my mind wanders to places I’d rather not dwell on.

There was once a time when Damian and I couldn’t keep our hands off each other. A time when a drive like this would lead to us stopping on the side of the road to tear at each other’s clothes and let passion take over in the back seat.

I gulp hard as I glance over my shoulder, but not without noticing that Damian’s eyes flicker to my face for a split second, as if he’s reading my mind.

Tugging on the scarf I’d used to cover the mark on my neck, I clear my throat and look ahead.

Goddess!

I hate how close he is.

I hate how his muscles flex when he changes the gear and turns the steering wheel.

How is it possible that he still has this effect on me after all this time?

It’s a pity he’s not the same as he was back then. Heck! The man driving us to Nightclaw right now isn’t even the same man who kidnapped me two days ago.

It’s like he’s split into two people. It’s like there are two versions of him.

One who kidnapped me... And one who keeps looking at me like he still remembers the girl I used to be.

The thought makes me chuckle under my breath, and a hand flies up to cover my mouth. If Damian’s odd behavior is brushing off on me, maybe I’m losing my own mind, trying to dissect his behavior.

“Why are you laughing? What’s so funny?”

I frown as I turn to him, noticing the way the dimple in his cheek twitches with amusement.

“I’m not laughing,” I defend, but he turns to me and smirks.

“Well, don’t mind me,” he says as he slows the car down on the dirt road. “If you’re not gonna share the joke, that’s fine. It’s just nice to hear you laughing again.”

He meets my eyes with warmth in his blue orbs, and my heart skips a beat. It’s almost as if I can read his mind now, though I hear nothing, but sense where that statement is coming from.

Back in the day, Damian never missed a chance to tell me how pleasant my laughter was, or how endearing he found it when I laughed at his silly jokes.

What happened to that man?

And why does it feel like he’s that man from the past right now?

I shrug to shake the suspicion off, clinging to the truth about how I ended up here, the cruelty, the unfairness, and my longstanding resentment for the man. It doesn’t help that we’re so close, that his body heat is everywhere I don’t want it to be.

“Stop the car,” I demand abruptly, and Damian frowns at me.

“Poppy, what—”

“I said stop the car, Damian!” I yell this time, and Damian hits the brakes.

Grabbing the handle with one hand and clicking off my seatbelt with the other, I step out and exhale the breath I’d been holding in, my chest heaving in hot pants.

“Poppy? What are you doing?” he asks, having climbed out himself.

I shake my head, refusing to look at him. It’s unbearable, being this close to him, and I need to catch my breath.

“We’re close enough,” I throw over my shoulder, already making my way toward the woods. “I’ll run the rest of the way.”

Surprisingly, Damian doesn’t chase after me. But I hear him sigh frustratedly from behind.