Chapter 6

I didn't even have the energy to gasp. My eyes shot wide open as I stared at Alpha Conan through the car's window, his big warm hand clamped on my mouth, stopping me from questioning.  My heart pumped wildly, as images of Jonathan kissing Luna replayed over and over in my mind.

I could hear my own heart shatter, piece by broken piece. How couldn't I have known? Of course I didn't. I had prided myself so much on being the perfect mother, with a perfect son and an even more perfect family, that I didn't realize that  my  family was slipping right through my fingers.

"She's not even his real mother." 

What the hell was she talking about? Memories of the day I gave birth to Jayden formed jarred pictures in my head. Everything happened smoothly, seamlessly, and I was convinced nothing went wrong. Besides, Jayden had his father's eyes, and my innocent looks.

Or was it mine?

Luna Samira was the queen of feigning innocence and sincerity, and it was only because of....her smile. My heart dropped, thumping even louder as I realized Jayden had the same smile. The kind where your eyes looked smaller, and people had no choice but accept your intentions. My lungs constricted, and for a moment I forgot I was still being held down by the Alpha.

I could still hear the snapping on twigs and Jonathan's wolf scent as he patrolled around, searching for the wolf who dared to spy on them, me. Suddenly, the Alpha shifted, but just very slightly. He wrapped himself around me, enveloping me in his scent. I realized that he was doing that to mask my scent so Jonathan doesn't get alarmed. The heat of his chest pressed against my back, and his breath was slow and steady along with his heartbeat. But I on the other hand, I was unraveling one silent tremor at a time.

Jonathan had been lying to me for years. How had I been so gullible?

"Just a little longer." Alpha Conan whispered.

I squeezed my eyes shut, focusing on the sound of my own shaky breath. I wanted nothing more than to escape from this dreadful reality, wake up from whatever nightmare this was and return to my normal life as a wife and a mother. Tears formed a dam at the back of my eyes, but I sucked in a slow breath to calm myself. I was still in front of the Alpha. Showing this much emotion would be embarrassing. 

But I couldn't help it.

Then a fleeting thought crossed my mind. Did Alpha Conan know Luna Samira had been cheating on him?

Just then, the sound of snapping on twigs disappeared. Alpha Conan's tension eased slightly, but he didn't release me immediately. "He's gone." He muttered, and I nodded.

The moment he let me go, my knees buckled, and I fell to the floor, hot tears forming streaks on my face. Sobs tore through my body, and my hands fisted the earth as if it could somehow ground me from the storm inside me. Only one thought raced through my head, why?

What was the reason for lying and manipulating me all these years? Why make me question myself over and over again if I was of no use? Is there something else I was missing?

Alpha Conan sat beside me, no particular expression on his face. He didn't speak, just let me break and shatter in front of him. When I finally looked up, my vision was blurred by tears, and he offered me his hand.

"Come with me."

I didn't ask where or why, I just needed to breathe in a place where no one else existed.

We got into his car and he started to drive, silently. I wrapped my arms around my body, desperate to stop the tiny tremors and staring at trees as they blurred past. As if my entire world didn't just crumble minutes ago. 

Soon we arrived at a wooden cabin somewhere on the outskirts of the city. It was untouched, hidden from the routes we patrol weakly. Alpha Conan opened the door and let me step inside. 

It was warm and simple, just a couch and four walls. I sank onto the couch and hugged myself tighter, like I was afraid I'd become completely broken if I let go. Alpha Conan stood watching me at the door.

"I don't believe Jayden isn't my real son. How could I not have known?" I muttered, not really expecting him to respond.

"That's wrong. You raised him and gave him a perfect childhood. You love him. That makes you more his mother than anyone else." He folded his arms, his gaze intense.

A fresh wave of tears threatened to pour. "But she's his real mother. She's the one he wants. My son pushed me away for another woman, looks at her like he's her savior. What am I going to do?"

Alpha Conan sat down carefully across me. "Blood doesn't make a parent Maya. It is far more complicated than just sharing blood."

I sniffled, wiping the bridge of my nose. A strange numbness settled in my gut, slowly replaced by rage. "I want to confront them. I want to know why they would do this to me."

Alpha Conan cleared his throat. "That's where you'll lose your son."

"But I want them to know I know."

He leaned forward. "If you do that, you'll tip your hand. And once they know you're aware, you won't be able to protect Jayden anymore."

"Have you always known?" I asked, slapping myself for not realizing Luna Samira was his Luna too.

Alpha Conan chuckled softly. "I never loved her, it was more of obligation than emotion. I'm only pissed off at the shame she has brought to the pack." 

My lips parted. "So you're not hurt?"

He shook his head. "Not in the least. The only person I care about is my son." 

Henry. The little boy whose life was an endless cycle of autonomous decisions. My heart ached for him, but I knew now wasn't the best time to bring it up.

"Do you think Luna Samira would hurt my son?" I said shakily. 

"I don't know what she's capable of yet, but we need to use the fact that they think you're oblivious as an advantage."

My brows squinted. "How?"

"She trusts that you're weak. You can use that to know what she's planning before she causes any more damage." He said.

"I don't think I'm strong enough for this."

"Look at what you've survived. You've already started the fight. This is just the next step."

I closed my eyes tightly, tears slipping out from the corners. After a while, I nodded slowly. 

"Okay. But please don't let her take my son from me."