Chapter 280
More than before.
More than I ever thought possible.
+25 BONUS
The next day, I had barely made it back to Silverclaw before Joe flagged me down.
“Don’t forget,” he said, dropping a folder on my desk. “You’ve got that trip coming up.”
I blinked. “What trip?”
Joe gave me a look. “The one you insisted we book three weeks ago Trade deal. European delegation. That one.”
Right.
That trip.
Jeff
I rubbed my temples. The last twenty–four hours had knocked my brain off its axis.
Still, I picked up the phone and called Elena.
Her voice on the other end sent a bolt of heat down my spine.
“Hey,” I said, trying to sound casual. “I’m heading out of town tomorrow. Just a couple days. Trade summit, international pack relations.”
She was quiet for a moment. Then she said, “Could I come with you? Maybe bring Aiden?”
I froze.
Every instinct screamed yes.
Having them both with me–Elena at my side, Aiden running around the resort halls like a miniature Alpha on patrol–it was exactly the kind of domestic dream I’d tried not to let myself want
But Aiden…
I couldn’t stop thinking about the pressure we were putting on him. Asking a six–year–old to lie by omission every time he spoke. Every time he looked at me and didn’t call me what I was.
I hated it.
And I hated the idea of bringing him into a volatile pack situation. The foreign packs didn’t play by the same rules. Especially with Alpha heirs.
But I also hated the idea of saying no.
“I’d love that,” I said honestly. “Let me make a few calls. I’ll see what I can do.”
A few hours later, I called her back.
“I checked the agenda,” I said. “It’s… not a great setup for kids. There’s a lot of formal meetings. Security’s tight. And, full disclosure, this pack isn’t known for their warm welcome to outsider Alphas. Aiden would draw attention.”
There was silence.
I swallowed.
“But,” I added, “I’d really love to have you there. If you still want to come.”
1/4
Chapter 280
+25 BONUS
I expected her to decline. Elena was responsible to her core. Devoted. She never did anything without triple–checking that Aiden was safe, happy, and provided for.
I braced for her to say, “Maybe next time.‘
But instead, she said, “I’ll come.
Just like that.
And I couldn’t help but grin like a damn idiot,
We met at the private terminal.
She showed up in jeans and a leather jacket, looking like temptation bottled in sunlight. Her hair was braided over one shoulder, and she had a travel mug in one hand and sunglasses tucked into her collar.
When she saw the jet, she stopped.
“That’s ours?” she asked.
I shrugged. “It’s the fastest way there.”
She turned slowly, eyebrow raised. “Okay. Who are you?”
I grinned. “Just a guy who volunteers at a day care.”
She laughed. “You don’t just volunteer. You show up like it’s a calling. I assumed you were an Omega. And I thought that was great, by the way. I didn’t want to make assumptions about your status.”
I glanced at her. “That’s generous of you.”
She tilted her head. “But now I’m thinking… you’re not an Omega
I didn’t answer.
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re an Alpha, aren’t you?”
Still, I didn’t respond.
She stepped closer. “Okay, fine. I didn’t want to ask this before because I thought it might come off rude, but… what pack do you belong to?”
My stomach dropped.
There it was.
The question I’d been dreading.
The moment of truth.
Because even if she didn’t remember what Silverclaw had done–what I had done–there were centuries of history between our packs. Tensions. Rivalries. Blood.
We’d signed a peace treaty not long ago, but peace wasn’t the same as forgiveness.
If I told her the truth… would she still look at me the same way?
Would she still love me, even if she didn’t remember why she ever did?
I looked down at her hand resting near mine.
Warm. Trusting.
Chapter 280
And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t know what to say.
