Page 53 of The Alpha Wolf’s Secret Baby Boy

“You didn’t fail him,” I say, this time voicing the words from deep within, my inner wolf offering reassurance where it used to be relentless. My heart hurts for this woman—my fated mate—and no amount of punishment she inflicts on me can dismiss what that means.

“This is not your fault.”

Perhaps it’s my words of reassurance that cause a wretched cry to rip from her lungs, and she flings her head against my chest, sobbing uncontrollably. My arms fold around her trembling body of their own accord, the instinct to protect, to make her feel safe, washing over every inhibition I could have had.

I don’t move, grounding her with my embrace as she cries persistently, and I try to stay present and not let my mind drift to anger. Through her sniffs and wheezes, she lifts her head tentatively, batting her eyelids at me as she lets out a painful sigh.

Neither of us could have anticipated what would happen next when our lips meet, and a sharp, electric bolt of awareness rushes through me. I cling to her, and she clings to me, as if we’re both in desperate need of each other’s comfort.

It’s raw and urgent, unexpected but so needed in this time of anguish. Mentally, every warning sign tells me not to do this, that no amount of bodily passion could ever cure the pain we’ve both suffered, or the pain we’re suffering right now.

But trauma and grief have a strange way of unfolding, and I hold her tightly, my inner wolf howling within the walls of my subconscious that this is my mate. My fated mate. And I claimed her as mine, as my luna. No matter what has happened, that will never change.

Even if I’m angry with her.

Chapter 14 - Poppy

Pushing at Damian’s chest and breaking the kiss abruptly, I’m flooded with guilt as I stare at him, wide-eyed and disoriented.

I gulp hard as I lift a trembling hand to my mouth, my fingers squeamish as I touch my bottom lip. My body shudders from the taste of his tongue still heavily present in my mouth, and I mentally upbraid myself for allowing myself to get swept up in the whirlwind of passion when I need to be out there, searching for Daniel.

Damian doesn’t understand.

No one does.

For ten years, it has always been Daniel and me. Every morning. Every scraped knee. Every nightmare. Every fever. Every birthday. Every tiny victory that no one else saw.

I carried him beneath my heart before I ever held him in my arms, and ever since the day he was born, every decision I’ve made has been for him.

My whole life revolves around my son. I can’t breathe knowing he’s out there. I won’t stop until he’s back in my arms.

“Leave me alone!” I yell out at Damian, wrapping my arms around myself and feeling the void of Daniel’s absence. I spin around when it becomes unbearable to look at his face anymore. Daniel looks just like him, and I can’t stand being around him when my son isn’t here.

And I hate myself for being swept up in the moment.

There’s a moment of awkward silence before Damian clears his throat. “I’m gonna go back and hear what’s going on. If a search party is put together, I will be the one leading. I take it you’ll want to go, too.”

“Yes,” is all I say without turning to him, staring into the woods forlornly, a cloud as gray as the surroundings hanging over my head.

“Promise me you won’t do anything reckless. Don’t go—”

“I told you to leave me alone, Damian,” I grate out through gritted teeth.

“Promise me, Poppy.”

“I promise. Now, leave.”

Damian’s footsteps finally fading into the distance allow me to let out the breath I was holding.

I promised Damian that I wouldn’t do anything reckless.

This isn’t reckless. Reckless would be standing here while Daniel is taken farther away with every passing minute. Wasting time and searching for comfort in Damian’s arms is betrayal while Daniel is out there.

Every second I’ve spent arguing with Damian. Every second I spent crying. Every second I’ve spent in his arms, Daniel is being taken farther away from me.

If he’s frightened… If he’s calling for me…

I’m not there.