AllFreeNovel
Share Us
With exhaustion settling into my body, I climbed out of my vehicle, made my way to the house, and let myself in. I felt her outside, but the minute I stepped into my cabin, her presence, along with my son’s, made the cabin feel more like hers.
“You’re awake…” It was just after eleven.
“I knew you would come.”
I stood just inside the living room. Toyin sat in the center of the largest sofa with perfect posture. Her hands rested in her lap and she stared at me with cautious eyes.Fearful.
“Where is he?” My wolf was wild beneath my skin. He wanted to see his pup. Rafe had already been claimed by both of us.
“Asleep.”
I nodded and moved toward the back of the first level where my bedroom was. The house was three levels. The top two floors housed suites for my brothers even though they owned properties out here as well.
After I reached the bedroom I froze at the door, feeling overwhelmed by the presence of my son. I could feel him so strongly that my spirit felt connected.
“He’s so perfect,” Toyin whispered from behind me. I didn’t bother looking over my shoulder or acknowledging her presence out loud but she was right. He was perfect.
After suppressing the urge to hold him, not wanting to disrupt his sleep, I turned and headed back to the main area. Just like I had done at my apartment I sought out liquor. This time I filled a glass and tossed it back before my palms landed flat on the counter and my head hung between my shoulders.
“You should have told me.”
“How?” she said quietly. I lifted my eyes and when they met hers she also reminded me why I was out of touch. “You shut off your phone and you put a wall up. Your brothers couldn’t communicate with you. You didn’t want to be found, Xander. You blocked everyone…”
“I shutyouout…” I growled and she flinched at the inflection of my voice. “And you know why?”
“I’m sorry…” she said softly. She was so timid and quiet which wasn’t the Toyin I knew. I was almost tempted to ask her what had changed. Was she okay? Was this new version of her remorseful for what she had done or was she cowering because I was angry? She didn’t deserve my concern so I wouldn’t give it…not yet.
“How is he?”
“He’s good.Perfect.” Her tone was more confident. Defensive. I didn’t doubt she was a good mother. She was a good person. She loved hard and that would be passed down to my son.Ourson.
“Magic?” She was a witch; I was a hybrid. There was a good chance he had traits from both of us. My pure blood would make him an Alpha but there was also a chance that he…
“No, not yet. He’s only ten months old.”
I did the math in my head. I had been gone a little over a year which meant she’d carried him for not more than three months. She hadn’t carried him full term based on human standards.
“He’s…”
“Yes. I mean I can’t be sure but according to Laz and the research I’ve done, he’ll be a shifter, like you.” She smiled nervously. “But he could still be like me. Are you concerned about his ability to have magic?”
I extended to my full height and poured another drink, hoping it would relax the pulse of anger thrumming through me. When I slammed the empty glass onto the counter, I closed the space between us.
“I’m not angry about anything concerning my son. I’m angry about how he got here. I’mangrywith his mother. You fucking lied me, Toy. You broke your promise.”
“I’m sorry…”
“Stop fucking saying you’re sorry. You’re not sorry, Toyin.”
“I am. I didn’t do this to hurt you. I just needed you to see that we work. Thatthisworks. I don’t understand why you can’t accept that we’re meant to be. You’re mine and I’m yours. Why won’t you let this happen?”
“It can’t,” I yelled, eyes wild, wolf going crazy inside me.
“Why not?”
“Because of this.” I reached for her hand and yanked it in front of her face, brushing my fingers over the ring. “You have no clue what this is, do you?”
“It’s nothing. A family heirloom.”
