Page 35 of The Alpha's Bullied Rejected Mate

“Of course, you can’t,” he responded. “I can feel it. Your magic is weakening.”

She tensed.

“I would let you go see him, but I have to warn you, make no mistake. I won’t save you again. Next time you run and demons follow you, you are on your own. Both of you,” Marcus threatened.

He crouched beside her to unlock the cuffs.

“Remember, you are even bigger prey as a witch than I am,” he added.

Her eyes flared with a quick mix of anger and fear.

“That’s my warning.” He looked at her with a stern gaze. The chains fell to the ground in a crashing thud as they stared at each other in heavy silence.

***

Marcus watched from a distance as Aza immediately moved to her son’s side, pulling him into a deep hug, her earlier distress disappearing behind a mask of calm.

“Hey, sweetheart,” she whispered, smoothing the child’s blonde hair.

“How are you feeling?”

Riley blinked up at her with those unsettling hazel eyes, scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.

“Mama? Where are we?” the boy questioned innocently.

“We’re on a little adventure,” Aza said gently, her voice steady despite the circumstances.

“Remember how I told you sometimes we might need to take unexpected trips? Well, this is one of those times.”

“Are we going somewhere fun?” Riley asked, sitting up and looking around the enclosed bedroom space with curiosity rather than fear.

Marcus felt something twist in his chest at the child’s innocent trust. The boy had no idea his mother was a wanted witch, nor did he have any concept of the danger they were all in.

“We’re going to meet some new people,” Aza said carefully.

“There’s going to be a lot of traveling, and things might seem scary sometimes, but I need you to be brave for me. Can you do that?”

Riley nodded solemnly. “Of course, I will be brave, Mama. Are the new people nice?”

Aza’s eyes flicked briefly to Marcus before returning to her son. “Some of them are. And the most important thingto remember is that we will stick together, no matter what happens. Okay?”

“Okay.” The boy smiled, grinning at the idea of whatever adventure he thought they were about to go on.

Suddenly, Riley’s attention wandered to the door, where Marcus stood, and the boy studied him with open curiosity. Marcus tensed, a bit worried that the boy didn’t recognize him.

Why does that bother me?

“Uncle Marcus!” Riley screamed as his eyes widened in realization. Marcus heaved out a sigh of relief, and a slight smile appeared on his face before he thought better. He strode into the room and stood close enough at the edge of the bed to acknowledge the kid.

“Hey, little champ,” he called before he could think better of it.

Little champ.What the fuck?

Since when did he stop addressing kids by their names? Especially his target’s kid? But the smile Riley flashed him at the use of the nickname made his chest tighten, and every doubt he had about it was destroyed in that moment.

Suddenly, a wave of worry blew over the boy’s facial features, and Marcus’s brows furrowed at the kid’s sudden shift in expression.

As if sensing Marcus’s concern, Riley looked up at him and motioned for him to lower his body toward him by waving his small hand.