Chapter 6

Roland's POV…

Ronan sat with his legs just swinging above the ground, he wasn't crying but his eyes still held sadness in them as they were puffy.

Whatever was happening, this child didn't deserve to go through it.

My chest felt tight and my throat dry as I looked at him. 

“What flavor do you prefer?”  I asked, still bending low to meet his height.

There was something about this child that set my wolf off, he was so restless around him.

The last time my wolf was this restless was the night I rejected Zyra.

My own wolf didn’t speak to me since that night, he went silent but I knew he was still there.

But around Ronan, my wolf whimpered. 

It was the most sound he had made in years.

“Mint chocolate chip ice cream.” He beamed at me. 

I raised my eyebrows in surprise.

“That’s my favorite flavour.”

“Really?” 

“Yes,” I replied.

Most people thought it was weird that I loved mint chocolate ice cream.

I cleared my throat, “That's a rare flavor for a child.”

“I know, mummy says it all the time, she says it tastes like toothpaste.” 

I almost laughed, but bit my lips to stop myself.

We fell into silence before Ronan spoke again.

“Mummy worries a lot about Nana, Papa, and me, she doesn't have anyone to help her.” 

He didn't mention his father, so I figured they were no longer together.

I didn't know why a part of me was glad to know they weren't together.

But what asshole leaves a woman alone with a child this young?

If I ever met him I wasn't sure I would be able to stop myself from landing a few punches.

“It's because she loves you all so much,” I replied, soothing his cheeks. 

“I know, but I want someone to love mummy too… would you love my mummy, sir?” 

I nearly choked on my own saliva.

“Let's hurry with our ice cream before it melts,” I said ignoring his question.

I hoped he would press further into the matter and thankfully he didn't.

After we had ice cream, we waited some extra minutes for Zyra to show up, but she was running late.

“Sir, we need to get back to the Pack soon. We have spent way too much time here.” Christopher spoke through our mind link.

I shut him off.

“Why don't we head into the mall for a bit and get you some toys?” 

Ronan’s eyes lit up. 

At that moment I knew I was ready to give him whatever he wanted.

“But sir.” Christopher tried to butt in, but I shunned him with my stare.

By the time we got back to the ice cream shop, Zyra was already there.

She was pacing back and forth in front of the shop.

Once she noticed us she ran towards us taking Ronan in her arms, “How many times have I told you not to leave with strangers?” she scolded Ronan.

“But mummy he's not a stranger you allowed him to take me for ice cream.” 

“Only ice cream…” she responded.

“I was worried sick when I got here and didn't see you.” 

“You were taking quite some time in the hospital and we were done already.” 

“Oh, my boy.” She drew him closer, placing kisses on his forehead.

But her eyes remained on me with warning in them.

“I would drop you both at home.” 

“Thank you, you have done enough.” 

“I insist.” 

“And I said No!” 

“Mummy don't be rude, he was just being nice.” 

I smirked at his response.

Zyra sighed, “Okay you can drop us off.” 

I knew she only accepted because of Ronan, else she wouldn't be caught dead in the same space as me, not after what I did to her. 

During the ride back to her place she was so quiet and lost in thought as she just stared out the window.

I wasn’t in the right place to pry, I had no right.

“Ronan, why don’t you go in, I want to speak with Roland.”

“Okay, mum.”

“Bye Mr,’ Ronan waved goodbye while holding a mischievous smirk.

“I am grateful for the help today, but please let’s never cross paths again.”

My chest tightened at her words, I wanted to hold her in my arms and hug her tight.

Five years later, and I am finally seeing her again and it wasn’t one of my dreams.

How cruel could the moon goddess be towards me?

“I have a good life going on here…” Her voice came out croaked a bit as she swallowed hard.

“…please don’t ruin this for me too.” 

Had I ruined her before? Everything I did was for her own good. If anything she ruined me.

I nodded. 

That was the only thing I could do.

“Goodbye Roland.” 

She went into her house not looking back, it was almost like the moon goddess wanted to just remind me of the pain I had suppressed all these years.

My wolf whimpered as she withdrew inside, her scent fading along with her.

Could I still perceive her scent? 

I knew he resented me for the rejection, but that was better than what would have happened if I acknowledged our bond.

“Are you really that blind?” Christopher scoffed beside me.

“What?” I answered harshly, I wasn’t in the mood for his bickering at all.

He shook his head, "I wonder how you lead an entire pack and yet you can’t see what’s right in front of you.”

I raised my brows in confusion, “And what’s that?” 

“The child is yours for goodness sake!”

“What do you mean by ‘yours’?”

“Didn't you say you had a one-night stand five years ago?”

“The child is four, he couldn't be mine.”

Christopher shook his head, “Who says Zyra won't be lying?”

"You both look alike.” “....too alike,” He added.

Could that be the reason my wolf’s uneasy around them?

“Run a DNA test on him Roland, at least to be sure.”

"If she lied about his age, what makes you think she would allow me to run a paternity test

on him?”

“Who said she has to know?”