Page 5

The next morning, the nerves hit me hard. For the briefest of seconds, when I open my eyes, the world is fresh, clean, and new. But the moment I think of my son, last night’s events come screaming back to me.

Galen is here!

I take a couple of deep breaths, wondering if he’s still on the couch where I left him or if I’ll have to dodge him in the kitchen or bathroom. I could cower in bed, trying to avoid the situation entirely, if it wasn’t for Nico.

My baby.

I pull myself out of bed, knowing no matter how bad I feel, Nico will be worse off. The nightmares and episodes have been steadily getting more intense, and I know he’ll wake up sore and hungry. And still exhausted, even if he slept all night.

Before I fully get up, I grab my phone to see that Iris has messaged back. Everything happened so fast yesterday, I didn’t get a chance to talk to her. But before I went to bed, I sent her a text, asking if it was possible to break the contract now.

Hi Clara! Thanks for your message. It is possible to negotiate the contract, even though both of you have signed, but the agency has worked hard to match the two of you. So, I’d advise you to at least give it a try for a week before we start talking about any fallout that might occur from deciding to change the terms. Does that sound okay to you?

I stare at the screen for a moment, not really knowing what to think. I knew when I signed the contract that it was binding, and that there would be some legal—and possibly financial—repercussions to breaking it. I just didn’t think too hard about it at the time, and now that pen has been put to paper, it’s too late to worry about it.

Especially since I said yes to Galen, I told him I would give it a try for Nico. I can’t take his dad away from him now. Nico needs him.

I sigh, typing out a message. That’s okay, Iris, thank you. I’ll settle in a bit and then talk to you again soon. Thanks!

A few seconds later comes the reply.

Wonderful! I’ll be in touch. Best of luck, Clara!

I put the phone down and head to the bathroom, checking on Nico quickly as I go down the hall. He’s still asleep, but obviously restless, shivering and muttering in his sleep.

I try to put my worry aside and get ready for the day, but thoughts of Nico weigh me down, and I find it difficult to get moving. When I stagger into the kitchen to make coffee, I’m shocked to see Galen standing at the stove.

“What are you doing?” I ask nervously.

“Making some breakfast,” he answers, waving the spatula. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“No—” I start to reply, but Galen turns around, and I see he’s wearing a frilly pink apron adorned with the words: “You’re as sweet as sugar!”

He stares at me for a few seconds, spatula still held high as if it’s a rapier and he’s about to engage in a duel. When he sees me gaping at the apron, he looks down and chuckles.

“Oh, right. I found this hanging on the back of the pantry door. I didn’t have any other clothes, and I didn’t want to mess up my shirt with bacon fat, so…”

“It’s fine,” I say, holding up my hand. “Don’t worry about it.”

I cross the room quickly and sit down, keeping my eyes away from Galen. It’s ridiculous, but the sight of him slaving over a hot stove wearing a frilly pink apron has done unholy things to me.

Just imagine if he was naked under it. His shoulders would be bulging over the little lace ties, and the front would barely cover his thighs. All I’d have to do is lift it an inch—

“Coffee?” Galen asks, suddenly right beside me. I almost jumped right out of my seat.

And into his lap.

“You still like it sweet and milky, don’t you?” he asks as he puts the cup down in front of me.

“Yes,” I reply, picking up the cup and taking a quick sip so he doesn’t notice me drooling.

“Good morning,” Nico greets us hesitantly from the doorway. “What’s going on?”

“I’m making breakfast, kiddo!” Galen answers. “You want a big plate of bacon and eggs?”

“I sure do, Dad!”

A slight shock runs through me as I realize I’ll have to get used to those words.

“Here you go,” Galen says, putting the plate of food down in front of Nico. “After this, I’ll get you to pack some stuff, and we’ll get going.”

“To where?” Nico asks, shoveling bacon and scrambled eggs into his mouth.

“My place, of course! We’re going back to Quartz Key.”

“We are?” Nico asks, shocked.

“Didn’t your mom tell you?” Galen cocks his head at me.

I close my eyes. “I didn’t want to… not until I was sure we were actually going.”

“But we are,” Galen says, his voice rising slightly in question.

“We are,” I agree, taking another sip of coffee.

Galen brings over a plate for me, and the boys talk excitedly while they eat. I just sit quietly, listening to the conversation going on around me.

It’s starting to hit me, really hit me, that I’m going back to Quartz Key. I thought I’d never see that place again. I never even entertained the idea of going back.

There wasn’t anything left there for me. Not without Galen.

I can still hear the ugly words being thrown at me, the frenzied whispers whenever I walked by, and the deafening silence whenever it was time to be chosen for a team. I felt alone every day of my life, even when I was surrounded by people.

After my father died, I was raised in a foster home by a woman the town knew as Aunt Helen. She took on any orphans or abandoned children in the area. Life with her wasn’t pleasant. There was no abuse, but we lived right on the poverty line, and it was hard.

Even harder for me, with no shifter gene.

The other kids adopted by Aunt Helen ran away as soon as they got their shifting powers. I was stuck there until I was eighteen.

When Galen dumped me.

Too young to be an adult, but old enough to fake it and make my own way. I had no other choice.

Nico’s laughter drags me out of my dark memories. I can’t help smiling as I watch my son interact with Galen.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so happy.

The idea of returning to Quartz Key still unsettles me, but watching my son gives me strength. I know that I won’t take any of their disrespect now. Not only have I proved my worth to myself, but I also have my son to protect. I will never let them hurt him.

I don’t expect being Galen’s wife to help me, either. The pack’s prejudice against me was so brutal, I doubt anything could change it. There’s a good chance our marriage could even make it worse.

We clean up the kitchen and get ready to leave, our suitcases packed. We assure Nico that the rest of his things will be moved into his new home. He chooses a few of his favorite toys and books to take with him for now and is practically vibrating with excitement as we head out to Galen’s car.

“You live in the mountains, don’t you?” Nico asks Galen as he bounces up and down. “I can’t wait to see! It’s going to be awesome! No more school!”

“Well, hang on there, kiddo,” Galen laughs. “There is school, but it’s shifter school, so you’ll be doing very different stuff than what you did here in the human world.”

“I can’t wait,” Nico replies, his eyes shimmering. He throws his arms around Galen and hugs him tight. When Galen looks down at his son and ruffles his hair, a lump swells in my throat.

They love each other. They’re so connected already!

Was I wrong to keep Nico from his father?

The next words hit me like a physical blow.

“I’m so glad you came for us, Dad,” Nico whispers. “I always knew you would.”

Galen looks up at me, his eyes wide. I slowly shake my head and shrug. I never told Nico anything about his father, keeping things vague and hoping Nico wouldn’t ask too many questions.

“But you thought I was dead, didn’t you?” Galen asks our son, leaning back and holding on to Nico’s shoulders so he can look into his eyes.

“That’s what I told the other kids,” Nico answers, nodding. “And it’s what I tried to believe. But deep down, I knew you were a shifter, like me, and you had to be alive. And I knew that one day, you’d come for us.”

My heart screams in my chest as tears sting my eyes. I turn away and get into the car, trying to get myself under control.

Galen settles Nico into the back seat and pulls out onto the road. We begin the journey with Galen answering Nico’s excited questions as we drive through the forest. It doesn’t take long for Nico to tire out and fall asleep, and when his bright, chattering voice finally quiets, the silence suddenly becomes oppressive.

I curl up in my seat, facing the window. At first, I just pretend to sleep, hoping to avoid conversation with Galen. But eventually, I do nap, and I don’t wake until Lycan Pass dips suddenly into the valley near Quartz Lake.

I feel the shift in altitude as well as a change in air density as we drop from the range. I open my eyes in time to see the stunning view of mountains rearing up into the vibrant sky around us. The sun is setting, swallowed up by thick trees shielding the valley.

“Okay, not far now,” Galen says, pulling into the main road.

The old shops and houses come into view, and my heart seems to stop in my chest.

Nothing here but bad memories.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“Town hall,” Galen answers. “I had to tell them I was finally bringing back my wife, and they want to meet you.”

“What?” I gasp, my heart starting to pound. “Now?”

“Yes,” he affirms with a touch of regret. “Sorry, but they are eager to see that I actually have a mate and she isn’t imaginary. It’s just a quick meeting.”

My breath starts coming in short, sharp bursts. I feel like my tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth, and my pounding heart is about to crack my breastbone. Gritting my teeth, I fight to regain control for Nico’s sake.

I feel even worse by the time we stop in the parking lot of the town hall. Luckily, Nico hasn’t noticed my distress, and I hold his hand as we go up the wide stone steps.

Ahead of us, Galen shoves open the double doors. He strides confidently ahead of us into the main hall, a lofty space mainly used for town meetings or celebrations.

With only seven people in it, the room looks incredibly empty, but when all of them turn and look at me at the same time, it feels like I’m walking into a court of law, where I’m about to be found guilty for a crime I didn’t commit.

“Here she is, as promised,” Galen announces, waiting for me to catch up so he can take my hand. “I told you I’d be married by the next moon, and I meant it. Are you appeased now?”

There is a challenge in his voice and an arrogance to his manner that clearly shows he doesn’t give a damn what they actually think of him. He’s the alpha, and he’ll do as he pleases, but the elders can get awfully annoying about the old traditions.

Especially his mother… who so desperately wanted grandchildren.

My hand tightens on Nico’s as I look around the room, waiting for any of them to challenge me. Jacinta, a middle-aged woman who had only just joined the council before I left, looks me up and down with a cold expression.

“Clara,” she mutters, crossing her arms across her chest. I tilt my head, staring at her, not even giving her a nod.

Delia and Nathan, a mated pair and the oldest members of the pack, stand together and glare at me. Delia whispers something to Nathan, and he whispers back with a frown on his face.

“This marriage is binding, then?” Delia asks, addressing Galen and ignoring me.

“It is,” Galen says with an inviting challenge in his tone.

A dark-haired man I recognize as Sherman stands near a table in the back. He raises a glass in a toast, though no one joins him.

“Welcome!” Sherman announces in what sounds like a mocking tone. “You’ve done a great job satisfying tradition, Alpha!”

Galen shakes his head a little, not bothering to answer. Sherman is standing with a young blond girl I don’t immediately recognize. Another elder, George, comes closer but doesn’t even greet me.

But where is…

“So this is her,” a smooth, hard voice cuts through the murmur of the others, and I hear the sharp tap of heels on polished wood. The crowd parts, and Macy Ramses strides towards us, looking even more regal and severe than I remember her.

“Mrs. Ramses,” I choke out, trying to nod respectfully.

“Hi,” Nico says to her, looking around the room in confusion. Clearly, the reason for our frosty reception in the room has gone right over his head.

“Macy,” Galen greets, nodding. “I assume you’re pleased I’ve finally upheld tradition, since you’ve been so vocal about it over the last year.”

Macy presses her lips together and glares at him, drawing herself up to her full height. Her eyes flick over to me and then to Nico.

Don’t you dare say anything about my son!

Galen and Macy glare at each other for a few moments until Macy sighs and shakes her head.

“There is an official ceremony set up for tomorrow,” Macy says. “I will speak to you beforehand.”

She turns and walks back to the others, immediately engaging George in conversation and glancing back at me. It takes a moment for me to realize we’ve been dismissed.

“Come on,” Galen says to me. “Let me get you home. We all need to rest.”

“They don’t seem too friendly,” Nico says with complete innocence.

Galen laughs. “You just wait until tomorrow, son. There’s going to be a party, and everyone will want to meet you!”

I realize Galen is artfully not mentioning “Grandma.” That is, he probably won’t until Macy deigns to introduce herself.

She probably wants a paternity test. Galen’s new wife and ex-girlfriend showing up with a kid in tow must thrill her to the bone.

On the way back to Galen’s house, we pick up some pizza, and Nico munches through a few slices even before we get home. When we arrive, Galen shows me around, but I don’t pay much attention as I get Nico ready for bed. It’s not until my son is safely tucked in and Galen leads me to the master room that I realize we’ll be sharing a bed.

I stand in the doorway, staring at Galen as he turns back to me.

“Did you want to shower first, or just go straight to sleep?” He asks the question in an easy tone, as if we’ve been married for years and this is a completely ordinary scenario.

“Galen, I’m not sharing a bed with you,” I state.

“What?” he asks, frowning.

I scoff. “I don’t know what kind of idea you have about this marriage, but it’s all wrong. I’m not sleeping with you!”

“Clara,” he says, shaking his head. “This marriage has to look real. If the council doesn’t support the union, they will cause trouble for us, and I won’t be able to help Nico.”

“Are the elders going to knock on the window and spy on us to make sure we share a bed?” I ask pointedly.

“No,” he answers. “But my mother will ask Nico. I know at the moment, she’s struggling because she doesn’t want to accept you. Her wolf already knows the truth—that Nico is her blood—but she needs time to think it through. She will want to be around him—a lot—and if he tells her we’re sleeping in separate rooms…”

With intense anger rising in my chest, I realize he’s right. Macy would love the opportunity to try casting me out, especially if she could prove I was not devoted to Galen as a wife should be. She’d even try to use my son against me.

“I hate this, Galen!” I cry out. “This is not the deal I made.”

“What’s really wrong here?” he asks light-heartedly, a grin tugging at the edge of his lip. “Is it going to be too difficult for you to keep your hands off me?”

He crosses his arms across his broad chest, making his biceps bulge and strain against the shirt.

A strangled gasp escapes my lips, and I storm down the hall, throwing myself into the bathroom and locking the door behind me. I lean against it, wrapping my arms around myself as my cheeks burn with mingled arousal and frustration.

The worst part is, I can’t hide from him. He doesn’t need his wolf to know how much I want him… I can’t even hide it from myself!