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Chapter 178
+25 BONUS
Chapter 178
DEREK
The bouquet was clutched in my hand like a shield, and I was two seconds from turning around and walking back
to the car.
I’d picked the damn flowers myself–real ones, not store–bought. Lavender sprigs for calm, moon roses because they reminded me of her, and a few wild frises from the edge of the Silverclaw valley. I didn’t know if it was too much. Or not enough.
The Moonstone packhouse loomed ahead, a perfect blend of elegance and earth, and I’d barely stepped onto the porch before the door opened and Elena was standing there
She wore jeans and a long–sleeved tee, hair pulled back, eyes sharp. Not unfriendly. Just… guarded.
“Hey,” I said, clearing my throat.
“Hey.” She eyed the flowers, then looked back up at me. “Are those for me or for the camping trip?”
I handed them over. “You. Figured I owed you something nice after ambushing you with a proposal under questionable circumstances.”
Her lips twitched, Almost a smile. She took them gently, holding them to her chest. “They’re beautiful. Thank you
That one smile made it worth it. Even if she buried it the next second under a tidal wave of mom energy.
“Okay, Aiden’s bag is by the door, but I added extra socks he always ruins at least two pairs. He’ll say he brushed his teeth, but check the toothbrush. If it’s dry, he’s lying.”
She was getting into the rhythm now.
“And no scary movies! He acts all tough, but then I’m the one getting woken up at three a.m. because he’s convinced a ghost is living in his closet.”
I nodded, trying to keep up.
“No soda after seven. He gets hyper. And he’s going to try to convince you that marshmallows count as a vegetable. They don’t.”
“Copy that,” I said. “No ghost movies. No sugar demons. Marshmallows are not a food group.”
She squinted at me. “And bedtime?”
Ten.”
“Nine,”
I smiled. “Nine.”
Her expression softened slightly. “He’s really excited. He wouldn’t stop talking about it last night.”
I tried not to puff up at that, but I failed.
“I’m excited, too.”
She handed me the bag and watched as I hoisted it over my shoulder. “Bring him back in one piece.”
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“I promise.”
wanted to say more so much more but her eyes flicked howard the clock on the wall behind me and she said, ” “You’ll miss him if you don’t leave now.”
Right. The school.
I jogged down the steps, threw the bag in the back of the St, and took one last look at her standing in the doorway.
She still held the flowers
And that almost–smile still lingered.
Aiden saw me before I even got out of the car.
a
“Dad” he yelled across the schoolyard, backpack bouncing as he sprinted toward me. He skidded to a stop beside the vehicle and flung his arms around my waist. “You’re really here! I thought maybe you’d forget.”
I
1 knelt so we were eye level. “Not a chance.”
His grin was blinding “Can I show you my classroom? And the tetherball court? And my best friends?”
“I’d love that,” I said.
We made the rounds–his teacher gave me a wary glance, but nodded when I introduced myself. The Moonstone kids eyed me like I might sprout horns, but Aiden’s enthusiasm was infectious.
“This is my dad,” he told them proudly. “He’s the Alpha of Silverclaw, but he’s also really cool and knows how to cook hot dogs and use a sword.”
The kids blinked. One of them asked if I knew how to wrestle a bear.
“I’ve wrestled a wolf who thought he was a bear,” I offered.
They nodded solemnly. Apparently that passed.
We packed his things and headed for the car.
“I told them I might not come back until Monday,” Aiden said as he tossed his backpack in the back seat. “If I like the wilderness enough, maybe I’ll stay forever.”
1 ruffled his hair. “Let’s see how you feel after two nights without indoor plumbing”
“Gross,” he said, wrinkling his nose. “But fair.”
The stables were quiet, a few of the horses already saddled, I’d had the gear prepped the day before–packs loaded, tack checked, trail cleared.
Aiden’s eyes widened when he saw the horses.
We’re riding to the campsite?”
“Western ridge,” 1 confirmed. “Too remote to
to drive. But the views are worth it.”
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Chapter 178
I handed him my phone. “Call your mom, okay? We won’t have cell service once we
Cool,” he said dialing.
+25 BONUS
get up there.”
I stepped away to give him privacy, but I could hear his end of the conversation–light, happy. He told her about the horses and promised to brush his teeth. Twice.
When he handed the phone back, his smile hadn’t dimmed. She says to keep me away from bears and don’t let me drink river water.”
