Chapter 9

It isn't relief, or confusion. My heart stops in horror. Horror at the thought that this man would have the nerve to look me in the eye, and lie. I look up at him, searching for the emotion to back up his words. But his eyes are hollow, and my chest tightens. I can't even find my voice to respond.

"You're doing your best, and I'm grateful, okay?" He continues, and my brows go up involuntarily. Since when did he...

"Thank you." Is all I can mutter as he walks away, hugging Jayden as he goes up to his room. I stand there for a while, the silence acting as some form of comfort to the rage in my chest.

That night, sleep is far from me. I toss and turn, my thoughts a scrambled mess. The pancakes are gone, Jayden is asleep in front of the TV, and Jonathan had retreated to the bedroom without another word after his sudden show of affection.

But I lay awake on the couch, my heart beating too loud for my own good. He said he loved me. And the strange part was, for a fleeting second, I almost believed him. Almost.

But I am not that woman anymore. I am a woman whose trust has been shattered more times than I could count, a woman fighting to keep her son.

I slowly roll the ring on my finger, just realizing the inscription on it. It's in another language, but it makes me curious nonetheless. I had pressed the ring during Jonathan's odd act earlier, then when he left, I slipped it in his back pocket. He brought it to me before he went to sleep, muttering something about leaving my things in odd places.

Quietly, I creep into the guest bedroom, locking the door behind me. I pull out the small device Alpha Conan gave me to retrieve the recordings. My hands are trembling, but I manage to pull out the memory card and insert it into the device. Static rolls out, and then it becomes clear.

"Don't worry baby, I think she's just trying to make things work. A woman knows how to be desperate." Jonathan's voice rolls out, clear, calm, and deceptively warm.

There is a pause.

"I'm sorry darling. I promise I'll come in the morning. I've missed you too."

Another pause.

"No. She hasn't said anything, but she's been acting off lately. But I doubt she's smart enough to figure anything out."

My grip tightens on the device. Not smart enough huh?

"Are we still good for the transfer? I'm done arguing about it with her. And I want to do it before she catches wind of anything."

Silence, then —

"I love you too Samira."

The device falls from my hand onto the floor, clattering softly. I feel bile rise into the throat, resisting the urge to vomit.

Transfer? What were they planning?

****

The next day, I'm preparing lunch before going to pick up Jayden when my phone rings. I blink and pick it up, it was the school.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Renley?" It is Jayden's principal. She sounds unusually tense, and I can hear the faint sound of voices in the background. It seems there is a commotion.

"Yes? Is everything okay?" My heart picks up speed. I drop everything I'm with, trying not to pace.

"We have a situation. Um, Luna Samira just showed up and tried to pick up Jayden in the middle of class. The teacher refused, and well, we don't want to be disrespectful, so we urged her to wait for you. She said she was listed on his emergency contact."

My heart slams against my chest. Now she's causing a ruckus? My thoughts wander, trying to picture the scenario.

"What? Why?"

"She said she had every right to."

My vision spins, and I steady myself against the kitchen counter.

"Is Jayden okay?" I ask breathlessly. Why are they bent on taking my boy away from me?

"He's with us. He's safe. But we need you to come down immediately. She got upset when we said we needed your permission first. Security is with her now, but we’d prefer if you come now." The principal says neutrally.

"I'm on my way."

I barely remember grabbing my keys. My hair is a mess, my clothes are unbuttoned at the wrist. I just drive, as my heart punches holes in my ribs. I get the thought to thought to reach out to Jonathan through our mate bond, but he is already working with the Luna. What say do I have?

***

The school is quieter than I expected, given the emergency call. But I see a security officer at the front gate, and when he sees me, he gives a tight nod. Then he gestures for me to follow him.

Jayden is in the principal’s office, eating crackers and looking slightly confused but unbothered. That makes me feel a tiny bit better. My heart loosens up. All I want is to see him okay.

The principal stands when I walked in. "He's alright. He handled it well. We just need to talk about how she was able to claim she was on his contact list. The Luna has been involved in the lives of many children, but we don't put just anyone on their contact lists without the consent of a parent."

I swallow, my mind racing with possibilities. "Can I take a look?"

She hands me the clipboard from her desk.

To my dismay, there it was. Luna Samira’s name, written in that neat, curling script I would never forget. Listed as an alternate guardian. Relationship to student: Aunt.

"I didn’t authorize this," I said, my voice quiet.

"I know." The principal says softly. "The system shows the form was submitted online. Digitally signed from your account."

My hands go cold. Jonathan. I should have known he would do such. I exhale, trying not to let my anger control me. I look down at Jayden, his green eyes oblivious to the chaos around him.

I bend down and kiss Jayden’s forehead. He smiles at me, warming the ice forming in my chest.

"Hey baby. Did you see Auntie Luna today?"

He nodded, half a cracker in his mouth . "She said she missed me. She was gonna take me to get ice cream."

My throat burns with annoyance.

"Did she say anything else?"

He thinks for a moment, then shrugs. "Just that sometimes daddies help kids find their real mommies."

My heart breaks for the third time in twenty-four hours. This was getting too far.

I thank the principal, reassure Jayden with a smile, and walk him to the car. I wonder why I don't see Luna Samira anywhere around, but thank the goddess that I didn't. All my restraint would have been let loose if she showed up.

She made her move.

By the time I get back home, the ring is back on my finger. Jonathan is in the kitchen, and from the tone of his voice, I know he is pretending to be on a call. He hangs up the moment I step in.

"Hey. Everything okay? I thought you were at work."

I give him a look that could peel paint off walls, but he doesn't notice. I smile.

"Change of plans. Something came up."

He nods, stepping forward to kiss my cheek. I'm repulsed, but I let him.

Because inside, I am already ten steps ahead.

First, they betray me and the pack. Second, they try to poison my son's mind with lies. And now they want to make me look like a fool?

Now it was war.

I pull back and stare at him.

“Did you hear what happened at Jayden's school today?”