CHAPTER 15

CATRIONA

I wiped the last bit of lotion into Abriel’s soft skin, then gently zipped up his pajamas — the navy blue ones with the little moons he always picked. His hair was still damp from his bath, curling just at the tips like his father's when it’s been freshly washed.

The clock on the wall read 21:26.

Jayden had texted earlier.

> On my way.

I reached for Abriel’s book basket by the bedside. “So, what are we reading tonight, baby? The Night Wolf? The Little Howler?”

He shook his head.

A small, firm no.

I blinked. “Oh? No bedtime story? You don’t want Mummy to read tonight?”

Again, he shook his head.

I raised a brow, teasing gently. “Hmm, are you becoming a big boy now? Or… you just don’t want Mummy to read—”

“Daddy.” The word came out soft but solid.

My heart skipped. Froze mid-beat.

Just that one word — daddy.

Panic flickered. Was he going to say Gabriel again?

But then he looked up at me, wide eyes clear, steady.

“I'm not sleeping now,” he said, “I'm waiting for Daddy.”

I stared at him, stunned.

“Your… your daddy?” I asked quietly, cautiously. “You mean… Jayden?”

He nodded, completely sure. “Yes. I want to kiss him good night.”

That was it.

The dam cracked.

I had to press my lips together hard, force the tears back down. Not now. Not in front of him.

I breathed in slow through my nose. Swallowed the lump rising in my throat.

A part of me wanted to cry. Another wanted to laugh. The rest just wanted to hold him forever.

“Well then,” I whispered, brushing his hair back, “should we go downstairs and wait for him?”

“Yes,” he said, already reaching for his little jacket.

I helped him into it, my hands trembling as I zipped him up.

Together, we stepped out onto the porch, hand in hand.

The night was still. Quiet. The kind of stillness that hummed with meaning.

The driveway stretched long in front of us, lit by the soft golden glow of the porch lanterns. Abriel stood on tiptoes, trying to see further, his bear clutched to his chest.

And me?

I stood behind him, arms crossed tight over my chest, trying to breathe past the joy caught in my ribs.

He asked to wait for Jayden.

He wanted him.

Not because I told him to.

Not because someone else planted it.

Because he felt it.

And that…

That felt like a door finally opening.

I blinked fast as my eyes burned.

Not now, Catriona.

Not in front of your son.

Not when he’s finally looking for his father.

The wind stirred a little as headlights curved into view — soft and slow down the gravel path.

I bent low beside Abriel, my voice a hush of wonder.

“Look who’s here, baby… it’s Daddy.”

His head snapped up, eyes wide as if the stars just started moving.

My heart pounded so hard I thought he might hear it.

Jayden’s car rolled to a stop, the engine purring low before it went quiet. The driver’s door opened, and there he was — tall, sharp, and a little worn from the road and whatever hell he’d been facing before this moment.

Jerome and Mark climbed out behind him, casual in their movements, chatting quietly. Jayden didn’t say a word. His eyes were fixed ahead — on us.

Or maybe just on Abriel.

I bent closer to my son and smoothed his little jacket.

“Go on, sweetheart. Go to your daddy.”

He didn’t hesitate. Arms stretched wide like wings, his little feet pattered across the path toward Jayden.

Everything slowed.

Jayden’s eyes widened slightly — disbelief flickering, quickly swallowed by something deeper. He took one step forward, like his body was moving before he could think.

Then another.

And when Abriel reached him, Jayden knelt — not all the way, not yet. Just low enough to catch him mid-step, arms wrapping around the boy like he couldn’t quite believe it was real.

Abriel hugged him tight — that silent kind of hug that says everything.

Jayden’s eyes closed for a second. His jaw twitched, emotion crawling up and over him like a tide he couldn’t hold back.

He whispered something I couldn’t hear.

But I saw the way his hand pressed gently to Abriel’s back. Not just protective — grateful.

Like this was the moment he’d been waiting for.

And maybe it was.

I stood still on the porch, arms wrapped around myself. Not from the cold — from the storm of feelings clashing inside me.

Jayden looked up at me then. His eyes met mine.

And in that one look — not a word spoken — I felt everything.

Jerome and Mark gave me warm nods as they passed.

“Hey Catriona,” they said almost in unison, each offering a small smile.

I smiled back faintly, too wrapped up in the moment to say much. My eyes were only on the man walking toward me with our son cradled in his arms like the most precious thing on earth.

Jayden stopped in front of me, his voice low, soft—so different from the alpha who ruled over territory and warriors.

“Hey there,” he murmured, leaning in and pressing a kiss to my lips—gentle, grounding.

God, I missed that. That quiet sweetness he only ever gave to me.

“Come on,” he said, turning with Abriel resting peacefully on his shoulder. “Let’s take him in.”

We walked inside, and everything felt like it slowed down around us. I couldn’t stop watching the way Jayden held him—closer than ever before. Like he’d finally gotten back something he thought he’d lost.

---

Once Abriel was tucked under his sheets, his favorite bear curled beside him, I turned to Jayden, my voice low.

“You look exhausted. Have you eaten anything?”

He shook his head. “Didn’t have the chance.”

“I’ll get you something,” I said, brushing past him. “Go freshen up. I’ll meet you in a moment—”

His hand caught mine.

“That can wait,” he said gently but firmly. “We need to talk.”

I stopped. My chest tightened. “What is it?”

He looked at me with eyes that carried something heavier than just exhaustion.

“I just met Gabriel.”

I sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, my voice sharper than I intended. “Why? I made it clear to him that Abriel isn’t his son.”

Jayden nodded. “I know that very well. I told him the same. I just wanted to make sure he knew to stay away for good.”

“But?” I asked cautiously, already feeling the tension coil back into my spine.

“But,” he said, exhaling deeply, “he said something that stuck with me. Something about what’s happening with Abriel being… bigger than us. That we need to work together to help him.”

I stared at him.

“And you trust him?”

Jayden’s jaw tensed.

“No,” he said, the word cutting like stone. “I don’t trust him. I don’t know what his angle is. But if there’s even a small chance that working with him will help our son be the little boy he’s supposed to be… then I’m willing to do it. I’ll walk through fire if I have to.”

I reached over and rubbed slow circles across his back—up, then down—my hand small against the strength of him.

He closed his eyes for a second, like the warmth helped settle something inside.

Then he looked back at me, a small flicker of a smile returning to his tired face.

“How have you been today?” he asked, his voice softer now. “You two gave me a huge surprise tonight.”

I couldn’t help the smile that curved my lips. “I couldn’t believe it myself. He told me he wanted to wait for you. Said he needed his goodnight kiss from Daddy before sleeping.”

Jayden looked toward the bedroom door, like he could still feel that moment echoing through it.

But then I sighed.

“We have another problem.”

He turned back to me, brows drawing together.

I said it clearly.

“Lauren told her mother.”

He went still.

“She told her she became a werewolf. She says she didn’t mention anything about you or the pack—but…” I trailed off, my tone hardening, “I don’t believe her.”

Jayden’s face darkened.

The peace of a moment ago flickered.

And we both knew—we weren’t done fighting to protect our son.

Not even close.

I could see the tension coiled in Jayden’s shoulders, the way his mind was already running toward a dozen worst-case scenarios.

But I placed my hand over his.

“Let me handle Lauren’s mess,” I said quietly but firmly. “Let me go over there and silence her mother before it becomes anything bigger.”

He looked at me, jaw clenched. “And what if she’s already said too much?”

“She hasn’t,” I said, shaking my head. “I know her mother. My aunt might not like me—but she protects her own. If it means keeping Lauren safe, she won’t say a word. Not if it puts her daughter in danger.”

He stared at me for a long second.

Then finally gave a slow nod. “Fine. Do it. But make sure it’s done right. I don’t want to be cleaning up someone else’s recklessness later.”

I nodded back, just as firm. “Trust me. I won’t let this become a problem.”

He exhaled and leaned back a little, finally letting the conversation settle between us. But I wasn’t done.

“There’s something else,” I said, the words a little more hesitant this time.

He raised a brow. “Yeah?”

“I think… I’ve figured out a way to reach them.”

Jayden’s entire expression shifted. “The spirits?”

I nodded. “They’ve been avoiding me, showing themselves only when they feel like it, warping my son’s mind with things I don’t understand. But if I can force the connection—if I can pull them in instead of waiting for them to come to me…”

“How?” he asked, sitting up straighter.

I hesitated. My fingers toyed with the hem of my sleeve, heart hammering as I met his eyes.

“You’re not going to like this,” I said quietly. “But it’s what I know will work.”

Jayden didn’t move, but the air between us shifted. He was listening—completely, intently. Waiting for the blow.

“I have to… kill myself.”