CHA 5

"I'm fine," she said, "now, if you please, I have some errands to run." She sidled around him and pushed open the front door, gesturing for him to leave. "Thank you for dropping by to check on me, but I don't need your help."

He looked at her in surprise for a moment before producing his best, most lupine smile. "Naturally not. You're doing fine on your own." He stood there for a second, his eyes scanning the house, and Sharon stood stock still. They both know it wasn't her house. It was only where she could hole up. "Don't worry, though. Your secret is safe with me," Sharon started to complain, but he put up a hand to stop her. "I'm not here to fight you."

It appeared she was going to fight him anyway, and he sensed the refusal coiling in her throat. But instead of that, she sighed, and tension dissipated from her body. "Please just leave, then."

He was half-disappointed that she was going to let him off so soon, but he didn't feel like pushing it. She looked as if she was about to blow up, and he didn't want to be in the middle of it.

So he saluted her in mock-fashion, turned, and left.

He didn't miss the look of relief on her face when she closed the door behind him.

The only thing he most wanted to do at this time was turn around and ask her why she'd left. He wanted to bring her home with him and have her remain there with him so he could keep an eye on her.

She'd lied to his face, and that had infuriated him, but he could see the fear in her eyes, and he knew that she was holding out for him to come and get what he wanted. That was how it was with an Alpha and his Omega. And even though she'd run off from the Tenzclaw pack without permission, she was still his.

But he wasn't going to force her. She was going to be his mate, and that meant he was going to treat her right. Even if she didn't get it yet. If she needed to take her time, he could do that. If she needed to feel like she had a choice in this, then that's what he'd give her. He wouldn't like it, but he'd do it.

Because at the end of the day, he would always get what he wanted.

***

He had only reached nine when he left Sharon alone, but he couldn't quite manage to actually leave the neighborhood. Something about Sharon and the way that she so desperately wanted him to leave her home set off alarm bells in his head. He knew she was lying about their son being home, but there was something more to it than that. He was sure of it.

So, instead of standing up and trying his hand at winning her over again tomorrow, he walked back into the woods behind Sharon's small house. The house was dark and quiet, with only one light lit in the kitchen. He stood there observing the house for nearly half an hour before he realized he had no idea what he was waiting for. What was he to do, lurk in the woods all night and try to catch her in a lie?

He needed a plan. His wolf did not like the manner in which he'd just left things with Sharon, but they couldn't exactly tromp back to her porch and demand that she tell him where their son was. She'd not had any reservations about her anger at him, and he knew if he pushed, she'd run again, this time permanently.

And he'd never see Alexander again.

He exhaled and rested his head against the tree trunk. There was no possible way that he could stay in the forest all night. Though the day was hot, it was cold outside at night, and he could feel the temperature dropping with each minute. It was spring, and he had on a light jacket, so he wasn't going to freeze or anything, but he wasn't exactly excited either about freezing his butt off like a fool outside a black house for hours on end.

Just as he had convinced himself that having a room at a hotel for the night was best, a light flickered on within. Then another one. He tensed, crouching forward, not breathing as he stayed as still as possible, watching.

Before he could creep forward to try to look through the windows, all the lights again went out. Silently, and as quietly as possible, Sharon opened the front door. She'd been dressed in a black pullover and leggings, an overloaded backpack on her shoulders and a big, blanket-wrapped package hugged under her arm. She shifted the package enough to leave the door, closing it quietly again with her foot before crossing over to the single car in the driveway.

His mind was racing with what she could be doing, but the only explanation that made any sense was that she was sneaking out at night to keep his son on the down-low from him.

He might have just stayed put or try to go around the other way and stand by her vehicle. There was no need to try to approach her, but the wolf insisted on it, so he got up, hissing as the leaves snapped under his feet. In the suffocating quiet of the night, it could have been a dynamite blast.

Sharon braked, her entire body rigid. She turned and stared at him. Her dark ponytail was high on her head, and her eyes burned with anger. The bundle in her arms wriggled a bit, and he was finally able to smell his son for real for the first time in seven years.