Gone

Rodney.

“Again?” Tommy groaned dramatically from the training mat. “I’m tired.”

“You need to be strong,” I said. No son of mine was going to be a weakling. My father raised a strong man, and so would I.

“But I’m tired.”

I folded my arms across my chest, staring down at the boy lying flat on his back in the middle of the training field. He was truly my son, which was honestly quite strange to take in. For years, I didn’t he existed but now couldn’t go a single day without thinking about him.

Tommy looked up at me with narrowed eyes that looked very much like Evie’s.

“You’re trying to kill me,” he gave me an accusing look. Instead of intimidating me, it made him look too adorable.

“You’re breathing. So unfortunately, no.”

“Did you hear that, Uncle Damien?” Tommy looked toward Damien, who stood nearby watching the training session with keen interest. “He admitted he’s evil.”

Damien snorted. “I’ve been telling people that for years.”

I ignored both of them. The early morning air was cold but sweat from nearly two hours of drills covered Tommy’s forehead.

Most children his age wouldn’t survive half this training. Tommy had complained nonstop but he kept getting back up which was the most important thing.

“Alpha training at three years old is child abuse.” Damien said as he went to lean against a large oak tree.

“He’s five.”

“Still abuse,” Tommy chipped in.

Damien laughed, earning a look from me.

My Beta lifted both hands innocently. “What? The kid’s funny.”

Tommy grinned proudly before wincing and grabbing his side. “Ow.”

“Did you pull something?”

“No. everywhere hurts.”

“That means the training is working.”

Tommy muttered something under his breath that definitely sounded insulting and Damien burst out laughing again.

“You’re teaching him things way above his age,” Damien said, coming closer. “Most pups his age are learning basic combat stances. You’ve got him running warrior drills.”

“He’s not most pups.”

Confidence is very important for an Alpha heir. I crouched slightly until I was eye-level with Tommy. “One day this pack will look to you for protection.”

Tommy’s face lost its playfulness and he listened carefully.

“You cannot afford to be weak,” I continued. “Not as an Alpha.”

“He’s still a child, Rodney.”

“And the world won’t care.”

Cold wind swept through the training grounds, carrying the scent of pine through the air.

Tommy stood again, wobbling slightly. I noticed his legs were exhausted. His wolf healing was still weak because of his age.

“She used to look like that too,” Damien said, suddenly reminding me of Evie.

I glanced at him. “What?”

“When you pushed her too hard.”

I looked away instantly, feeling guilty. I had separated a mother and son. Tommy had not yet demanded to see his mother but I knew that as soon as he got idle, he’d start asking for her.

For now he looked like he might collapse from exhaustion.

“Alright,” I said finally.

“You’re ending training early?” Tommy asked suspiciously.

“It’s been over two hours.”

Tommy took three steps before his knees almost gave out beneath him. I caught him before he hit the ground but he looked horrified. Without another word, I lifted him into my arms but he immediately protested.

“I can walk.”

“You were limping.”

“I’m walking with style.”

Damien let out a laugh behind us as I carried Tommy toward the pack house. Tommy leaned sleepily against my shoulder and I felt a strange warmth.

I had spent years chasing power and strengthening Crescent Pack but none of it had prepared me for this. The simple weight of my son half-asleep in my arms gave me feelings no amount of power could.

“Mr. Miller?” Tommy said when we reached the pack house and I set him down.

“What?” I said before remembering the name I’d used after bribing the actual Miller to teach in his place. I couldn’t wait for the day he started calling me dad.

“Did my mom really used to train with you?”

“Yes, she did for a while.”

“Was she good?”

I smiled, recalling past memories. “No.”

Tommy chuckled. “Really?”

“She was terrible.”

I remembered everything. Evie was so cute. She insisted on joining warrior practice despite being unable to hold a sword properly.

She would glare at me every time she fell but refused to quit no matter how exhausted she became. Guilt crushed me when I remembered she always wanted to prove herself worthy even when she already was. It was my fault for being so obsessed with the moon omega.

“Your mommy was very stubborn,” I mused with a smile. Damn I missed that woman. I missed having little body wrapped in my arms every night.

Inside the pack house, servants immediately rushed forward when they saw Tommy almost asleep against my shoulder.

“I’ll handle him,” I said before anyone could touch the boy.

Surprised looks followed me upstairs but I ignored them.

Tommy woke while I ran warm bathwater for him.

“I can bathe myself.” he said proudly. Tommy continued mumbling complaints while I washed dirt and sweat from his hair. I’d always thought child care was strictly a woman’s job but strangely I was enjoying it.

After bathing, Tommy sat wrapped in blankets at the kitchen counter while I cooked. The staff stared openly because Alpha Rodney cooking personally was apparently a sign of the apocalypse. Tommy watched with a smile while I prepared grilled meat and potatoes.

“My mom cooks better,” he informed me.

“I’m aware.”

“She makes the potatoes crispy.”

“You’re lucky I’m willing to feed you at all.”

He grinned. The boy smiled constantly, just like my Evie used to. By the time breakfast was ready, Tommy looked half asleep again but he ate enthusiastically anyway.

Halfway through his meal, Damien entered the kitchen. Something about his expression immediately put me on alert. The Beta waited until Tommy focused on eating before speaking.

“We have a problem.” He said through mind link.

“What happened?”

Damien glanced briefly toward Tommy.

“Evie’s gone.”

“What?”