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Or one of the Greenbriar pack’s enemies would have.

I’ve been so distracted by these thoughts that I didn’t even think to check outside when I got out of bed this morning.

In my defense, I didn’t think Rowan would be waiting in the damn driveway. I imagined he’d lurk from afar or something.

“Earth to Mom?”

Noah looks startled at my speechlessness. I’m freaking him out.

I take a deep breath and offer him what I hope is an encouraging smile.

“Everything’s going to be okay, honey,” I tell him. “But I need you to listen to me very closely…we’re going to go outside to the car, and I want you to get right in the backseat. Don’t worry about the man in the truck. Don’t talk to him. Just get in the car and I’ll deal with it, then we’ll get you to school.”

My son furrows his brow. For the first time, it occurs to me how much he looks like his father when he does that.

“Shouldn’t we call the police or something?”

I try not to laugh at his suggestion.

“That man means you no harm, Noah,” I assure him. At least I know that certainly isn’t a lie.

I don’t bother telling him that the paltry West Pond Police Department isn’t going to offer much of a defense against the primary heir to the Greenbriar Alpha.

“But, Mom…”

“It’s fine. Let’s go. You don’t want to be late.”

Noah looks like he’s going to protest, but then he simply shrugs and pushes back from the table again. He stands there quietly, waiting while I tie my shoes and smooth down my hair and try not to think too hard about the fact that I’m about to confront the man who rejected me in a pair of oversized sweatpants and an old UNC Chapel Hill T-shirt from the thrift store. Whatever—there’s no time to change, and I don’t give a damn about impressing Rowan, anyway.

It’s hard not to hold my breath when I open the front door. I keep one arm wrapped tightly around Noah’s shoulders as I turn to lock it behind me, and then I keep him close to my side as we descend the porch steps. To my relief, Noah doesn’t put up a fuss.

Rowan watches his son during the entirety of our short walk to my car, but he doesn’t get out of the truck. I move briskly, trying not to let my anxiety bleed into Noah, but I know that my son isn’t stupid. He can sense that something very weird is going on.

Still, he obediently climbs into the backseat and doesn’t even pout when I shut the door. As soon as it closes, Rowan flings his own door open and hops out.

Is this his idea of respecting my wish that Noah decide on his own terms when he meets his father?

I scowl and move around toward the front of Rowan’s truck, concealing us from sight as he stalks toward me.

The first thing I notice about Rowan in the morning light is thefact that he has dark circles under his eyes. Did he even sleep at all? What was he doing all night anyway?

Did he go back to Greenbriar territory to tell them what he discovered here? For some reason, I don’t think he’d do that. Not yet, at least.

“You need to leave,” I say in lieu of good morning.

Rowan shoots a look back in the direction of my Jeep. I’m sure Noah has rearranged his position to try to watch us, but I’m grateful he hasn’t developed his shifter hearing yet, so he can’t fully eavesdrop.

“I’m not going anywhere until you introduce me to our son,” Rowan replies. His voice is calm, but gravelly with exhaustion.

In spite of the rejected bond, seeing my Mate in such a worn-out state causes a flicker of irritated protectiveness to come alive inside me. I choke it back down.

“Not right now, Rowan. He needs to get to school.”

He exhales sharply, and there’s a flare of frustration in his blue eyes.

“That’s fine. Tell me when, though. Name a time and place, Alina. I have the right to know him, and deserve to meet me sooner rather than later.”

It’s too early for this. I didn’t even get the chance to make coffee yet. “I don’t know…”