He didn't speak. Didn't move. Just stared at me with those silver eyes, and I watched the storm build behind them.
"Get out," he finally said, his voice eerily calm.
"Jack, please, let me explain—"
"Get. Out."
I ran. I didn't stop running until I reached home, grabbed Cody, and locked the door behind us.
My hands shook as I held my son close. He was confused, asking why Mummy was crying, why we left Mrs. Brook's house so quickly.
I couldn't tell him. Couldn't explain that everything I'd built was crashing down around us.
The Alpha knew. He knew about Cody! And I had no idea what he'd do with that information.
My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.
We need to talk. Tomorrow. My estate. Nine AM. Come alone.
No signature. But I knew who it was. I typed back with shaking fingers: No.
The response came immediately.
This isn't a request. You will come, or I will come to you. Your choice.
I stared at the phone, my heart racing. He was threatening me. What would he do if I refused? Would he take Cody? Would he use his power to destroy me?
Fine. I'll be there.
I barely slept that night. Cody curled against me, innocent and unaware. I watched him breathe, memorizing his face in case this was the last time I held him.
At dawn, I called Mrs. Brook. "Can you take Cody for the day? I have an important meeting."
"Of course, dear. Is everything alright?"
"Yes. Everything's fine."
Another lie in an endless string of them.
***
The Blackthorn estate sat on the edge of the kingdom, surrounded by ancient forests. The gates were black iron, topped with silver wolves. Guards stood at attention as I approached.
"Aurora Bluey," I told them. "The Alpha is expecting me."
They let me through without a word. The main house was enormous, all stone and timber, built to withstand centuries. It looked like a fortress. Which, I supposed, it was.
A servant met me at the door and led me through halls lined with portraits of Blackthorn ancestors. All of them had those same silver eyes. All of them looked fierce and untouchable.
Cody would have fit right in. The thought made my throat tight.
The servant opened a door to a study. "The Alpha will be with you shortly."
I stepped inside and waited, my nerves stretched thin.
Minutes passed, then the door opened, and Jack entered. He looked different in casual clothes. Still imposing, still radiating power, but somehow more real. And more dangerous.
"Sit," he ordered.
I sat. He poured himself a drink and didn't offer me one. Just stood there, watching me like a predator deciding how to devour its prey.
"Tell me everything," he finally said.
"What do you want to know?"
"Start with that night. Why did you come to my room?"
I took a breath. "I was supposed to mate with someone the next day. Ethan. We'd been together for five years. But I found him with my best friend the night before our ceremony. I went to the tavern to forget. To feel anything other than heartbroken."
"And you chose me."
"I didn't know it was you. The room was dark. You were just... there. And I needed someone."
His jaw clenched. "So I was convenient."
"Yes. No. I don't know." I rubbed my face. "I was drunk and stupid and hurting. I made a mistake."
"A mistake that resulted in a child."
"Yes."
"My child."
"Yes."
He downed his drink in one swallow. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know who you were! By the time I found out I was pregnant, I was already in the human territories. And even if I'd known, what would I have said? 'Hi, Alpha King, remember that drunk woman who seduced you? Surprise, you're a father'?"
"Yes," he said coldly. "That's exactly what you should have said."
"You would have thought I was trying to trap you. You would have accused me of lying."
"You don't know what I would have thought."
"Don't I? You've accused me of lying and scheming since the moment I stepped into your office. You think I'm after something. That I'm working for your enemies. Why would telling you about Cody have been any different?"
He had no answer for that.
"I kept him safe," I continued. "I raised him. I've given him everything I could. And yes, I kept him from you. But only because I was terrified of what you'd do if you found out."
"Terrified of me."
"Yes."
Something flickered across his face. Pain, maybe. Or anger.
"Where is he now?"
"With his nanny. He's safe."
"I want to meet him."
My heart stopped. "No."
"That's not your decision to make anymore."
"Like hell it isn't. He's my son."
"He's our son." Jack set down his glass and moved toward me. "You kept him from me for four years. You don't get to keep him from me any longer."
"He doesn't know you. You'll scare him."
"Then introduce us properly. But make no mistake, Aurora. I will meet my son. Today."
I stood, shaking. "And then what? You'll take him? Make him a prince? Parade him in front of the kingdom?"
"I'll do what's best for him."
"What's best for him is staying with me!"
"You can barely afford your apartment. You work long hours. You have no support system." His eyes bore into mine. "I can give him everything. Education. Protection. A future."
"I give him love. That's more than all your money and power can buy."
"He can have both."
"Not if it means taking him from me."
We faced each other, the battle lines drawn.
"I'm not trying to take him from you," Jack said quietly. "But I won't be shut out of his life either."
"Then what do you want?"
"I want to meet him. Spend time with him. Get to know my son." He paused. "And I want to figure out what we're going to do about this situation."
"What situation?"
"Us. Him. The fact that the Alpha King has a secret child with an unmated woman." He ran a hand through his hair. "This will cause problems. Political problems. Problems I need to manage."
"I don't care about your political problems."
"You should. Because they'll become yours the moment this gets out."
The weight of his words settled over me. He was right. Once people found out, everything would change.
For me. For Cody. For all of us.
"I'll bring him to meet you," I said finally. "But on my terms. Somewhere neutral. Somewhere he feels safe."
"Fine. Where?"
"The park in the east district. Tomorrow at noon."
Jack nodded. "I'll be there."
I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me.
"Aurora. If you run, I will find you. And next time, I won't be this patient."
I looked back at him. "I'm not running. Not anymore."
"Good. Because like it or not, we're in this together now."
I left the estate with those words ringing in my ears. Together. What a terrifying thought!
