2

The moment Kaelen’s eyes lock onto mine, my wolf shudders inside me. Four years of distance, four years of silence, and yet the mate bond still stirs faintly like a scar that never healed. I force myself to stand tall even though my knees threaten to buckle.

Kaelion clings to his arm, unaware of the storm brewing between us. “Mama! He caught me before I fell!”

The crowd’s whispers ripple through the square like wildfire. Aria? She’s alive? That’s the Alpha’s outcast mate…

Kaelen’s jaw tightens, his gaze fixed on the boy. His massive frame radiates danger, every muscle taut with restrained fury. “Aria,” he repeats, voice like gravel and ice.

I swallow hard, dragging Kaelion gently back to my side. “Thank you for catching him,” I say stiffly, my voice steady even though my pulse hammers.

But Kaelen doesn’t release us. His hand remains firm on Kaelion’s small shoulder, as if claiming him already. “This boy…” His eyes narrow, flicking between the child and me. “He’s yours.”

I know what he’s really asking. The resemblance is undeniable—Kaelion’s storm-gray eyes, the shape of his jaw, the way his hair shines black like midnight. My son looks like a mirror of the Alpha who once shattered me.

I lift my chin. “Yes. He’s mine.”

Kaelen leans closer, his scent—pine smoke and steel—wrapping around me, awakening things I’ve tried to bury. “Don’t play games with me, Aria. He looks like me.” His voice drops to a deadly whisper. “Tell me the truth. Is he mine?”

The crowd hushes, ears straining. Every wolf present is waiting for my answer.

Kaelion blinks up at me innocently, tugging my sleeve. “Mama, who is he?”

My throat burns. I want to lie. To protect my son. To keep him from this man who once cast me aside like garbage. But Kaelion deserves truth. And Kaelen… he deserves at least the blade of it, if not the whole.

I meet his gaze, fire sparking in my chest. “Yes. He’s yours.”

Gasps ripple through the wolves gathered.

Kaelen’s eyes blaze, his wolf flashing in their depths. He straightens, towering over me, fury rolling off him like a storm. “You kept my son from me?” His voice booms, shaking the air.

Kaelion flinches, pressing against my side. My protective instincts flare, my wolf snarling. “Lower your voice,” I snap. “You’ll frighten him.”

But Kaelen doesn’t lower anything. He steps closer, his shadow engulfing us. “Four years, Aria. Four years you hid him. Do you know what that means? You robbed me of my heir. You robbed me of my blood.”

Anger surges in me, sharp as a blade. “I robbed you? You rejected me, Kaelen! You called me a traitor, cast me into exile. Did you expect me to crawl back to you, begging for scraps of forgiveness while carrying your child?”

His jaw ticks, his nostrils flaring. For a heartbeat, guilt flickers across his expression before the Alpha mask snaps back into place. “You should have told me.”

“And you should have trusted me,” I hiss.

The silence between us crackles like lightning. The crowd is rapt, drinking in every word, every accusation. I hate that our pain has become a spectacle.

Kaelen finally tears his gaze from me to look down at Kaelion. His voice softens—not much, but enough to scrape against my heart. “What’s his name?”

I hesitate, but Kaelion pipes up before I can answer. “Kaelion. But Mama calls me Leo sometimes.”

Kaelen’s breath hitches. His eyes widen for the briefest moment before narrowing again. “Kaelion,” he murmurs, tasting the name. His gaze snaps to mine, accusing. “You named him after me.”

I bristle. “I named him what I chose. Don’t flatter yourself.” But my voice lacks bite, because deep down, part of me had done exactly that.

Kaelen’s hand clenches into a fist at his side. “This conversation isn’t over. You’ll come with me. Now.”

The command in his tone ignites every rebellious bone in my body. “No.”

The crowd gasps again. No one defies an Alpha, not openly. But I’m no pack wolf anymore. I’ve survived worse than his anger.

I grab Kaelion’s hand. “Come, Leo.”

Kaelen steps in front of us, blocking the way with his massive frame. His wolf hums beneath his skin, a dangerous growl vibrating in his chest. “You’re not walking away this time. Not with him.”

My own wolf snarls inside me, but I force calm. “Move, Kaelen. Or I’ll make you regret it.”

His eyes blaze. For a heartbeat, I think he’ll shift right here in the square. But then his Beta, Elias, rushes forward, bowing his head. “Alpha, perhaps this isn’t the place—”

Kaelen cuts him off with a glare, but then his gaze returns to me. “Fine. We’ll do this properly. Tonight. In my house.” His voice is iron. “You and the boy. Don’t test me, Aria. I will drag you there if I must.”

My heart pounds, but I lift my chin, matching his fury with my own. “We’ll come. But not because you command it. Because I choose to protect my son.”

Kaelen’s eyes flash at the word son, and something almost like pain flickers there. He turns sharply, barking orders to his wolves. The crowd disperses reluctantly, whispers flying like sparks.

I squeeze Kaelion’s hand, trying to steady my shaking. He looks up at me with wide eyes. “Mama… is he really my dad?”

The question pierces deeper than any blade. I crouch, brushing his hair back. “Yes, Leo. He is.”

Kaelion smiles softly, innocent, hopeful. “He looks strong. Will he protect us now?”

I swallow hard, glancing at the tall, imposing figure of Kaelen striding ahead. My chest twists with dread. “We’ll see, my little wolf. We’ll see.”

---

Kaelen’s packhouse looms at the center of Shadowfang territory, larger and grander than I remember. As we approach, memories slam into me—nights curled in his arms by the fire, mornings when I believed we’d rule side by side. Now those memories taste like ash.

Inside, the air hums with dominance, every wall etched with reminders of his power. Wolves bow as he passes. My stomach churns as I step into the house I once thought would be my home.

Kaelen dismisses the others, leaving only Elias. His eyes never leave me. “Sit.”

I remain standing, Kaelion clinging to my skirts. “Say what you need to say, Kaelen. Then we’ll leave.”

His growl vibrates the floor. “You’re not leaving. Not until I understand everything.” He gestures sharply to a chair. “Sit.”

I lower myself reluctantly, Kaelion climbing onto my lap. My wolf bristles, ready to spring at the first sign of threat.

Kaelen studies us like a predator weighing prey. His voice is low, dangerous. “Tell me how long you’ve been hiding him. Tell me why.”

My chest burns. “You want the truth? Fine. I found out I was pregnant after you rejected me. I left because staying meant death—for me and him. Do you think your wolves would have spared us, when their Alpha branded me a traitor?”

His jaw tightens. He says nothing.

I press on, fury shaking me. “I raised him alone. I bled for him, fought for him, starved for him. And where were you, Kaelen? Believing lies, wallowing in your anger while your son grew without a father.”

Kaelen’s fists tremble on the table. For the first time, cracks appear in his armor. His eyes soften as they flick to Kaelion, who stares back with curious wonder.

“He’s… strong,” Kaelen murmurs. “I can feel it. His wolf—”

“He’s not just wolf,” I cut in sharply. “There’s something else in him. Something dangerous. Last night, he summoned the river to protect us.”

Kaelen’s head snaps toward me, shock flashing across his face. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying your son is special. And that’s why I came back. Rogues are hunting us. Others will too. He’s not safe unless—” My voice cracks, and I hate myself for it. “Unless he has more than just me to protect him.”

Silence falls heavy. Kaelen leans back, eyes blazing with a mixture of anger, awe, and something unreadable. Finally, he speaks.

“Then he stays. Both of you. Here.” His voice is final, an Alpha’s decree.

My chest seizes. “You don’t get to decide—”

He slams his fist onto the table, wood splintering. Kaelion startles, pressing into me. Kaelen’s voice roars like thunder. “He is my son! My heir! And I will not let him out of my sight again!”

I rise slowly, clutching Kaelion close, my own wolf snarling in defiance. “And I will not let you destroy him the way you destroyed me.”

The air crackles, our wolves circling, testing, clashing even in silence.

This battle has only just begun.