Shadows Of The Past: Chains Of The Present.

TORREN

"Torren, if you leave, you lose all rights to him," Eryn said. I twirled my tongue inside my mouth.

"Are you threatening me?" I asked. She shook her head.

"No. I’m just asking you to do one nice thing for your son."

Saela had just called. Said Asher had a fever. They needed me.

I stared at Eryn for a moment, then shrugged.

"Just know this bonding trip won’t change my mind about the divorce."

“I don’t want it to,” she replied. “Just be a dad to your son for one day.”

She sounded like she was about to cry. Or did I hear that wrong? Maybe it’s just one of her new tricks.

She walked away, making no attempt to come closer or to win me back.

That wasn’t like Eryn at all.

*

My gaze lingered on the little boy, Niko.

Compared to Asher, he feels more like my child. Soft, vulnerable, and gifted.

Just like me, he’d unlocked his wolf earlier than normal. He’d be fine. He’s my son, after all.

I let my gaze linger till a sudden stir on my right got my attention.

Eryn was sleeping on the farthest part of the bench, on a makeshift couch that we had carried along with us and that felt…disturbing.

She used to jump at every chance to get closer to me.

Now she was keeping her distance? All because I asked for a divorce?

Suddenly she’s acting like I’m contagious?

She should’ve thought about the possibility of Saela returning before she threw herself at me, before she weaseled her way into my house by pleasing my grandfather.

Saela.

The thought of her washed away my drowsiness.

I sat up, grabbed my tablet, and tapped through to check on work.

The light from the screen made me squint.

I was checking on the progress of the awakening serum. According to the report, it was coming along well. If everything went right, Asher might unlock his wolf and avoid what happened to his mother.

Saela had experienced the same thing and had become unable to shift forever but even at that, I was sure to do everything I could do for my son.

“Daddy?”

I turned at the sound of Niko’s soft voice as he sat up.

“I’m really happy you came today,” he said. I smiled and reached over to ruffle his curls.

“Yeah? That’s good to hear, little man.”

I glanced back at my screen and paused.

A weird and messy shopping webpage was still open. I definitely hadn’t visited it.

My brain did a little spin and I remembered I had given my tab earlier to Asher to keep him occupied. What exactly is he messing around with on my tab?

I closed the page with a sigh and looked back at Niko.

He was staring at me intently.

“Daddy, can you also spend more time with Mommy?” he asked. “If you don’t like me, you can like her a little more.”

I clenched my jaw and glanced at Eryn again.

This vile woman. Now she was using our son to speak for her. I thought she was at least a good mother.

“Did your mom ask you to say that?” I snapped.

Niko immediately shook his head, “No!”

I closed my eyes, trying to stay calm.

Eryn had definitely asked him to tell me that. She is going through a child now? It was no wonder why she was laying on the couch looking so comfortable because she had coerced a child to talk to me about her.

Pathetic.

That’s who she was. The woman who climbed into my bed just to secure a place in my life.

Eryn.

My phone started buzzing. I sighed. Saela.

She couldn’t mindlink, not having a wolf. So if she was calling, it had to be important.

She’d mentioned Asher had a fever. Maybe it had gotten worse. Still, I was here with Niko.

Even when Eryn tried her best to act like the better choice, she could never be half as considerate as Saela.

Years ago, when I met Saela at the mixer, the pull was instant. I knew she was my fated mate.

That made Eryn’s lie even easier to see through.

Both our families had hated that relationship. And just when we were getting past it, Saela vanished.

I was devastated. Then angry. And worried.

She had no wolf. How would she survive?

When she came back, she told me the truth—my grandfather had threatened her to leave me and it aligned with the time I was running for re-election. She left so as not to jeopardize my chances.

The love we had? Maybe it was gone now.

But she came back with my son. I wasn’t going to turn my back on her.

Maybe it wasn’t love anymore. Maybe it was guilt, and duty.

“Torren?” Her voice came through the line. I cleared my throat and stepped out of the tent.

“It’s late. Why are you calling?”

“I was just worried… Aren’t you coming home?”

I sighed.

“No. I’m here with Eryn and Niko.”

She paused, then pouted. I could imagine it.

“Really? What about me and Asher? You’re staying with that woman all night? Torren, I’m worried. Asher’s fever is getting worse. I need you.”

Her voice was soft, sweet, almost trembling.

“I’ll be back in the morning, okay? I’ll send our best healer right now.”

“Alright,” she said quietly. Then after a pause: “You really can’t come back tonight?”

Asher might be worse than I thought. I have to go.

As I turned toward the tent, I saw Niko’s small shadow standing there, waiting.

He’s a strong, smart kid. I never had to fuss over him like I do with Asher—just check the tutor’s reports and the school updates each week.

But... somewhere along the line, I think I’ve missed too many moments.

“No. I’ll be back tomorrow morning,” I said and hung up.

"Eryn."

I froze. The voice echoed from deep within me.

My wolf.

He hadn’t spoken in a long time—not since the accident that weakened him.

He’d been so weak, he barely reacted when Saela came back.

And now? Maddox was speaking.

“Eryn? Nah, don’t worry. We’ll stay with Saela. She might not have a wolf, but we made her part of our pack. She needs us. She might even help you heal… That’s what I was told.”

His voice faded out again.

Silent.