Page 27

It's more a question than a statement and I nod.

He places Landon in my arms before shuffling out the room.

I let out a shaky breath that turns into laughter when I notice Landon's wide eyes watching me with curiosity.

I bop his nose. "Soon. We'll get out of here soon.

Then, it'll be just us two. You would like that very much, wouldn't you? " I whisper-ask.

He starts crying.

"So, basically, you're telling me if you found out you were being stalked by a hot guy who probably had plans to kill you later, you would—" I close Landon's ears. "—fuck him first?"

I let go of Landon, ignoring the searing sensation of having my nipples sucked on. It hurts like fucking hell.

Lilia kicks her foot up and down in the air, popping a chip in her mouth. "Depends on how hot he is."

I shake my head. "You read too many books."

She shoots me a sharp look. "You read too little." She turns on her belly, eating all my snacks. "How are you and Soren? You guys hit it off yet? If I have to stand one more of your longing looks across dinner, I might just toss my clothes into the oven."

Explaining to Lilia why Landon's hair was blonde was much easier than explaining the dynamics of my relationship with Soren.

Last she was up to date, I confessed to actually having the hots for him and she had all too happily advised me to seduce him.

Force him to take the first step since I had been the one to always draw the line.

Make him see I was ready to try something new with him.

I want nothing more than to take it all back now. My throat tightens and I blink back tears quickly.

I haven't told her Ronan is Landon's father, but she'll figure it out soon enough, I'm sure. Much like everyone else.

"Not quite," I murmur. "You said you had a few friends on the human side?"

She nods, unsuspecting of the drastic change of subject. "Manhattan. Why?"

I shrug nonchalantly. "I'd like to visit sometime." More like run away again. "Do black cards work the same here and over there?"

Another nod, but she's scrolling along her phone absentmindedly. "You're not planning on running off, are you?"

I stiffen. "Of course not." Not yet. I haven't decided what to do with the knowledge that Luna Kaida had tried to kill me. Or if she might still be trying for goddess knows what reasons.

The pain in my sore nipple reduces and I peer at Landon's sleepy face. It feels natural, bending over and kissing both his eyes, then his nose, then his cheeks. He doesn't stir, his breaths evened out. "He's out."

Lilia hops off the bed. "Great. I'll get your coat.

Not sure why they had to pick now of all times for the Hunt.

" She disappears into my closet. "It's so damned cold.

Pretty sure there are no bears foolish enough to be sitting pretty waiting to be maimed.

Wait. Do you think animals have frostbite? !"

The wet nurse slips inside at my call, taking Landon to the nursery with her, and I let myself think about it for the first time since Soren announced it yesterday afternoon.

The Hunt.

When heirs are born, it is tradition that a Hunt be hosted by the Alpha, where a grizzly bear is hunted by the pack, the kill gifted to the father so that its hide might be skinned and made into a coat for the Alpha pup.

It is usually a smaller affair, but because Soren is Head Alpha and most of the guests who had been at the gifting ceremony still take up residence at our home, it will for sure make the news.

And that bothers me a lot.

Because Ronan is still here, and while Soren might not take him seriously, I've gotten more than five notes from him to meet privately, to let him meet his son.

I've ignored them all because I can't deal with his bullshit right now. Not when I'm still trying to find a way out of this agreement with Soren.

Lilia returns with a black coat that I shrug into, handing me a pair of matching gloves and we head downstairs, gossiping about Lilia's stay in some city named New York and something about bikers in masks.

The Hunting Party—about thirteen of them—is right outside.

Alpha Baldwin—my estranged father—and my asshole half-brother Quinn stand off to the left with a woman I don't recognize.

There's Tova and Kaida with Beta Dean and Axel.

The latter seems all too pleased with whatever Kaida is saying and my gaze lingers on her, practically boring holes into her back.

But someone else catches my eyes.

My steps falter miserably when I catch sight of another blonde head in their midst.

The hair on my skin rises as two different sets of eyes land on me, crawling from my hair in a high ponytail to the coat that hugs my upper half while revealing my ass that's grown slightly fatter in black pants that look like they've been glued to my skin.

And down they go still, past the flare of my hips, past my thighs, halting on the small black boots Soren had gotten me last month on one of his many trips.

Both Soren and Ronan exhale sharply and my cheeks heat. I fight the insane pressure to hide behind Lilia or run upstairs to change into something else.

"Is it just me or is Alpha Callahan staring at you? Not just staring. He looks like he wants the cookie, Fina," Lilia whispers, pinching my ass.

No, Lily. It isn't just you , I don't say.

Ronan's stare is intimate, scorching, and where there used to be an intense feeling of warmth, love and need, there are only slight tingles. Like my body still recognizes him, even if I have moved on.

His lips part, as kissable as they once were, and I feel strange, my skin too tight for me.

Conflicted.

I loved him before that accident, as much as I hated him. It's been nine months since then and my mind feels warped, unable to decipher what my emotions are where he is involved.

His scent of myrrh still holds that familiar power over me, the kind that used to make me press my nose against his neck and flick my tongue over his skin.

I wonder if he still tastes like crackling flames. I wonder if he still finds it hard to sleep with other people around. I wonder if he kept the charm I got him that dangled around one of the poles of his bedframe.

Ronan's brown eyes soften, his gait changing. And I recognize the man I fell in love with. The man I would have given everything for. When he moves, I find myself rooted to the spot, unable to decide if I want him to hold me or if I want him far away from me.

But Soren steps into the space between us, cutting off my view of Ronan, and with the momentary interruption, my wits return to me.

Soren holds up a violet scarf that matches the color of my eyes and my skin flushes when he wraps it around my neck carefully. "Because the cold gets you often," he murmurs, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of my head.

Every thought of Ronan flees from my mind, consumed by Soren. My anger for him. My attraction to him.

"Thank you," I whisper, fighting my feelings.

Soren, completely oblivious to the battle happening inside me whispers again, aware that everyone can hear us, "You just might kill me if you keep wearing these around.

" He emphasizes his words by running his knuckles down my hips, so close to my ass.

Closer than he's ever dared to touch me before.

And despite knowing he's a piece of shit, my toes curl and my ovaries do a little waltz and backflip.

His hands ghost my ass, not quite touching, but not...not touching either and I hate the breathy, needy whimper that escapes me.

Soren steps away then, and I am surprisingly reminded of our audience. Everyone pretends to be looking at something more interesting, but Ronan, he's glaring, his eyes like liquid flame.

My heart falls. A part of me still cares, possibly even longs for what we had. Though, a larger part of me wants Soren, enough for Ronan to become an afterthought.

I break off our staring contest when I notice Tova watching us.

I haven't yet had the opportunity of meeting her in person—other than running into her at the party back in the South, and though I'm not so petty to define a person by the first impression they made on me, I can't bring myself to breach the distance between us and talk first. Not that I think she'd want to anymore.

Not with her husband openly devouring me.

Gods, this can't end well. And I bet the only reason why Soren did that was to lay his claim on me pretty thick.

Again, this cannot possibly end well.

Lilia, meanwhile, stares at me with her jaw unhinged. And then she squeals like a maniac. "That was fucking hot, Fina! Gods, I could listen to him talk all day long."

"Shut up!" I whisper-shout, rubbing my cheeks that I can bet are a bright shade of crimson. Thankfully, Eric cranes his neck, glaring at Lilia who winks at him and giggles.

Wish I could be that free. The tension in the air is thick enough to cut through ice. Someone's sniffling. I think it might be Tova. Gods, why do I feel like I've done something wrong?

The walk to the entrance of the woods is mostly filled with chatter, and though I know I should be walking ahead with Soren, I stick to Lilia's side instead. She is more fun anyway, or so I convince myself, when in truth, I'm running from my lying husband and his silver tongue.

"The bear was last seen moving along the eastern ridge at dawn," Soren explains when we reach the woods. He rotates the rifle around his finger and something about Soren holding a gun makes me warm inside. It's hot. "It's a big one, already wounded, no thanks to Eric's over-enthusiasm."

That earns laughter across our small group, but he continues. "Which means it is meaner, angrier and ready to take a chunk out of your sweet, soft flesh." His gaze sweeps over us, lingering for a little bit on me, like the last part had been directed at me.

Sweet, soft flesh.

Lilia pinches my ass again and I swear I've gone red. It's a bit much, even for Soren, and everyone's noticed. I mean, everyone.

He breaks eye contact. "If it charges, don't play with your food—take it down fast. And for the love of the gods, don't shift unless you're ready to fight. A wounded bear is still a bear, and it won't care that you have pretty canines."

Another round of laughter and he makes a beeline for me. He presses the rifle into my hand. "You will watch, but I need to know you'll be safe. The woods can be a tad unpredictable and lost in the thrill of the hunt, things could get a little..."

"Wild?" I echo, wrapping my fist around the gun and pushing the pointer against his chest.

He laughs a little. "Yes, wild." He looks like he wants to say something else, but Eric's voice suddenly rises, drawing our attention.

"You cannot be a part of it. You aren't even from here," Eric repeats and my heart sinks when I see Ronan adjusting a crossbow.

Soren frowns, approaching the pair and for a moment, their voices rise, mingling. Ronan wants to be a part of the Hunt. Eric says it is not his place. Tova doesn't understand why the hell Ronan would want to be a part of this, but she also doesn't like that Soren is refusing to let him take part.

I watch them argue like teenagers over who'll kill the bear for my son.

And in a blink of an eye, everything spirals out of control and there's yelling and words are flying here and there.

"This isn't a fucking spectacle, Callahan. It's tradition. A rite. A father's rite," Soren growls, voice low.

Ronan takes a slow step forward, the tension between them stretching so tight it could snap.

And now it's a pissing contest. What are they going to do next? Measure dick sizes?

I am so wrong because Ronan's next words make everyone still, the weight of them unsettling.

" Then I should be there. He is my son, after all. Not yours. "

Soren exhales deeply through his nose, trying to steer the conversation back under control, but I can see the gears turning in their minds, the way they note Ronan's blonde hair and his face.

And my heart's racing because they're turning to look between me and Ronan, like they can almost imagine it, see it.

And when Tova looks at me with disbelief, hurt, betrayal and hate, I want nothing more than to crawl into a hole and hide.