Page 3 of Framed and Forgotten (Ashen Wolves #3)

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K O E N

Avril had been sparing concerned glances at me throughout the week, clearly suspicious of my half-assed attempts of pretending everything was fine.

But as she glared at me with lightning bolts striking her tempestuous aquamarines, it was obvious she had no more doubts - she was certain something was off.

Just from the way she carried herself - arms crossed and twisted lips - I knew she didn’t plan on holding her tongue any longer.

My heart drummed. My head spun from the news I had just received and the adrenaline of facing my mate before I could even process it. Cornered, I found myself instinctively taking a slow step back. Avril didn’t like it, stomping forward boldly, her eyes piercing into mine with murderous intent.

“What in the fucking hell are you doing?” she growled menacingly, and I had nowhere to run to - quite literally, as she was blocking the only exit.

Shit! This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. I didn’t want to tell her now, before I had all the facts. She would react badly - understandably so - and I wished to spare her the anxiety until I’d been able to confirm that Nerine was telling the truth.

I released a shallow breath, trying to keep myself calm. “Did I wake you up?” I whispered back to her in a stupid attempt to buy myself more time to think.

A frown crossed her face, adding to her irritation.

“You’re not as sneaky as you think. You’ve been as nervous as a cat in a dog pound all week!

Sleep is not easy when you’re constantly on edge,” she accused.

A frustrated sigh pushed through her lips as she pinched the bridge of her nose. “Just answer the damn question, Koen.”

I hesitated, but only for a moment. What else could I do besides obey her? She wouldn’t let it go - not when I had given her every reason to be preoccupied - and lying to her was out of the question. I couldn’t do it if I tried, and it’d only make the situation worse anyway.

Defeated, I admitted, “I had to call Nerine.”

The continuous growl rumbling in her throat grew even louder. “You left our bed in the middle of the night to talk to your ex-wife?”

“It’s not what you’re thinking.” I immediately blurted out, reaching to touch her, but she dodged me violently.

I wasn’t used to seeing Avril jealous, but I couldn’t blame her. The way I handled the situation made me look absolutely suspicious. If I were to make it right, I needed to show her that I was being entirely transparent with her.

“The incident with her pup… It was eating me up,” I continued to explain. “I had to get this story straight.”

Fury blazed in her eyes. “You said-”

“I know what I said,” I cut her off.

Pain flooded me when a strike of disappointment crossed her face, but she shook it off quickly. She lowered her head, releasing a huff before facing me again. “So, it was a lie then,” she assumed. “You did sleep with her.”

“No!” I yelled in repulse, but squinted my eyes when I realized that was not the truth. “I mean, I did, but I…I didn’t know it had happened. I couldn’t remember.”

A half scoff, half chuckle escaped Avril. “You want me to believe you completely forgot about the first time you ever had sex?” Utter disbelief was written all over her face. “And what? After some pup comes running up to you, you’ve suddenly had some revelation?”

I sighed at how badly this was going. I was exhausted, concerned, and confused. It was hard enough to get my thoughts together, and her interrogation - although justified - wasn’t helping.

In a final attempt to get her to listen to me, I said, “Look, Avril. I can explain.”

“Please, do!” she yelled. As she uncrossed her arms, a terrifying amused smile played on her lips. I’m dying to hear your excuses!”

The louder she spoke, the more I lowered my voice. If this went on, we would wake up everyone in the packhouse. And the last thing I needed was an audience.

“I’ll tell you the truth,” I reassured her, my tone soft, almost trembling, begging for understanding. “Just…can we go back to our room first?”

“Why?” She raised her voice yet again. “Are you afraid someone might hear your confession?”

“Please, Avril.” I begged her, looking straight into her eyes in hopes my vulnerability would reach out to her.

Although she never gave me a vocal response, she turned her back to me in the end.

As she stormed down the hallway toward our room, I dragged myself after her.

Once inside the alpha chambers, she didn’t bother taking a seat.

Spinning to face me, she opened her arms, impatiently gesturing for me to explain myself.

“Okay,” I breathed out, taking one last second to organize my thoughts before revealing, “On our last day together, Nerine drugged me.”

Avril’s attitude shifted completely. A hint of regret flashed in her eyes as she started putting the pieces together.

Nonetheless, I continued, “She’d always been adamant about trying to win my heart.

Aside from every measure I took to ensure our relationship would be strictly political, I was clear with her from the beginning that I wasn’t interested in being romantically involved with her - or with anyone else other than…

well, you,” I confessed, watching my mate’s expression change as she sensed the truth behind my words.

“Still, she thought I could fall for her if I gave her a chance. Of course, I never did. So, she decided to create her own opportunity.”

My mood darkened as I was forced to relive the memory. Anger washed over me, both at Narine for what she had done, and at myself for falling for her trap. I didn’t notice I had clenched my fists until Avril’s soft hands wrapped gently around them.

Regaining my focus, I went on, “She walked into my room with two cups in her hand. Said she’d prepared some tea for us, apologized for being so insistent for two years, and thanked me for my patience. She told me she just wanted to have one last conversation with me.”

I sighed in frustration, massaging my temples.

“I should’ve questioned her intentions. All I can remember is waking up the next morning with her in my bed.

I was furious. When I started screaming at her, she said she thought I would change my mind if we spent a night together.

But when she realized that her plan backfired, she reassured me nothing had happened between us.

She said she accidentally gave me too high a dose and I just passed out.

” I grunted, acknowledging that I had allowed her to trick me yet again. “I shouldn’t have believed her.”

After a moment of silence, digesting the story, Avril spoke, “And when her pup called you daddy…”

I nodded, releasing a heavy sigh. “It all came rushing back. It hit me that she could’ve been lying. That we might have done more than just share the bed.”

Dead silence filled the room for a moment until she broke it, her voice frail and hesitant, barely a whisper. “Is it true then? Is Elias your son?”

There it was - the million dollar question.

Drained, I flopped down on the edge of the bed, placing my elbows on my knees and intertwining my fingers to let my forehead rest on my hands.

“That’s what she’s claiming,” I revealed, my voice heavy.

Even without looking at her, I could feel Avril freezing in front of me.

In an attempt to soothe her, I added, “But I’d rather get a paternity test done than trust her word again. ”

“How the fuck does she know it’s yours if she never did a DNA test?” Avril asked, her anger now directed at my ex-wife.

“I’m assuming she hadn’t slept with anyone else during that time.” I shrugged, finally lifting my face to glance at her. “But, like I said, she could be lying.”

“Do you think he’s yours?” she pressed, and I could hear her heart racing as she awaited my answer. I hated putting her through that.

“I don’t know,” I said sincerely. “It’s possible, but it’s highly unlikely.

Nerine and I were together just one time, and I didn’t mark her, which makes it even less probable that I got her pregnant,” I observed, but rationality did little to soothe my worries.

“I just…need to be sure I’m not the father. Only that’ll put my mind at ease.”

Avril drew closer, each step careful, uncertain. As she stood right in front of me, she asked, “What if the pup really is yours?”

The possibility terrified me, but I forced myself to appear calm, hoping it would ease her fears.

With a slow, deliberate motion, I untangled my fingers and reached for hers.

I brought her hand to my lips, pressing a long, firm kiss to the back of it before gently tugging, inviting her to sit beside me.

Grasping her head gently between my hands, I tried to ease both our worries “Let’s just wait for the results of the paternity test, okay?” I leaned in to kiss her forehead, searching for her eyes again as soon as I pulled away. “There’s a big chance I’m just overreacting.”

Although apparently still unsure, she nodded, accepting my idea. She crawled closer, resting her head on my shoulder as I brushed her hair with my fingers. We stayed there for a moment before going back to bed.

After sharing my worries with her, I was finally feeling lighter and able to rest a little.