Page 11

Lucien

The room seems to come to a halt as I stand there. My unwavering gaze is on the boy, not more than five, who is smiling up at me.From the color of his eyes, the curve of his jaw to the all-familiar mischievous glint in his gaze, everything seems familiar. It is like looking at a younger version of myself, and I can't shake the feeling that tugs at my insides.

"We have the same eyes!" He exclaims, stating the obvious, his smile widening. I blink, my mind a buzz of thoughts.Surely, if Aurora and I have a child, a son for that matter, she would've let me know.

I look up just then, meeting her gaze. The question in my eyes is all too obvious. But before I can process my observations, Aurora's voice cuts through the thick silence.

"Ronan, sweetie, why don't you and Damon give me a head start? I'll catch up in a minute." Her words seem to tumble out in a rush. She's nervous. I can tell by how she's fiddling with the handle of her clutch bag, something she does when she's anxious. It's a habit I had, on multiple occasions, made fun of when we were together."Go on, you two," she shoos, her voice a little too loud and forced, "I'll…I'll catch up with you soon."

I feel a growl rising in my throat as I watch Damon swiftly lift the boy off his feet, twirling him around, eliciting giggles of delight. His laughter fills the air, momentarily easing the tension that has been circling us.A wave of jealousy surges through me, unbidden and irrational. It is a feeling I cannot fully explain, a perfect blend of possessiveness, a primal need to protect him, and something else, something deeper.We lock eyes briefly as she straightens her dress, taking a few polite steps toward me."Is that…" I trail off, unable to spit out the question weighing on my heart.

She raises a brow, curiosity lining her features. "Is that his father? No, not at all. Damon and I haven't been together that long."

I shake my head, "That's not my question, Rora." I look up this time, holding her gaze as firmly as I can. "Is that my son?"I bury my now trembling hands deep within my pockets, far away from her eyes. I weave through my memory, putting the timeline together to see if there is even the slightest possibility that I have a son.

A warmth licks its way down my spine as I entertain the thought of being a father. Maybe this is what I have always wanted. But that feeling is quickly squashed by the realization that she has kept him away from me.

My anger bubbles, causing me to clench my hidden fists.Her eyes widen slightly, a flicker of what I read as guilt surfacing before she laughs, a forced cackle, "Don't be ridiculous, Lucien."

But I see it—the way her eyes dart to the ground and the brief pause before she forces a smile back onto her face. All of that raises questions in my mind. Besides, if my calculations are correct, Ronan seems to have been conceived around the time Aurora and I were still sneaking around.

"Did you keep him away from me all this time?" I ask, my voice higher than I intend.

Her expression is blank as she stares at me, shaking her head as if the mere assumption of it was beneath her, and she was not going to indulge me by providing answers.I struggle to rein in my emotions, not wanting to cause a scene, especially not here. She did not deserve that.

"I'd need you to give me direct answers for this," I reply, my face void of any emotion that could suggest anything other than seriousness to her.She turns to me. Her smile is gone, and in its place is a coldness I have come to know, "You don't get to stand there and demand answers from me, not anymore."

Her words hurt me. I can tell she knows that, but she doesn't seem to care in the slightest bit. Or at least, she's trying not to.I run my fingers through the strands of my hair, tucking loose strands away carefully, a silent attempt to steady myself. "Rora, this is important. I need to know the truth."

She scoffs, "You want the truth?" Her voice is breaking, but she doesn't seem to care. "Ronan is the result of a one-night stand I had with some human after I left the pack!"

Her reply catches me off guard because this is miles away from what I was expecting to hear. A one-night stand? Really? A now familiar jealousy skitters down my spine once again, settling in the pit of my stomach, but I don't believe her. The Aurora I know is not one to hop into bed with just anyone.

"You? A one-night stand? We both know you're not one to move like that."

She let out a humorless chuckle. "Try being told you're not enough by your mate and his father offering you money to stay away and then you can come back and tell me what you think I am capable of and what I am and what I am not. It's been years, Lucien, and you know nothing of the woman I've become or the things I had to go through to become her."

Her eyes are dripping with so much anger and contempt I feel my heart sink with disappointment. Until now, I did not realize just how much I had wished him to be my son.Her hand wraps protectively around her small frame as she continues, "He's my son, mine! He's the reason I managed to get through all those years after your betrayal! So, don't come in here making silly assumptions, Lucien."

The pair of eyes that stare back at me are fierce, and for a moment, I feel the weight of her wrath. I stand there, unable to say anymore. It's a good thing she's not done speaking because I was completely blank.

"That, right there," she gestures towards an unsuspecting Damon and the boy who are laughing about something, "is the closest thing to family I have, and I will not let you destroy it." A single tear makes its way down her face, causing my heart to squeeze with pain.

Hearing her call them her family fills me with fresh rage. That should be us, not him, I think to myself. But this isn't the time to bring that up.Guilt washes over me, a sensation that I'm starting to get used to. I have no right to throw accusations like this at her, none whatsoever."Rora…I'm sorry. I just…." I trail off for a moment, "I need to know. You, of all people, should understand that."

The thought of having a son for a moment was satisfying, and having that taken away hurt me in a way. Despite the striking resemblance, he's not mine. Accepting that is the hard part because even though it was for only a second, the possibility of me being his father had filled me with an unusual hope.I wanted so desperately to bond with him and guide him through life's challenges, as my father never did for me. I wanted to raise him in ways I wasn't. And I can't deny the other side of me that glowed with the possibility of a life with Rora. A child would definitely tilt things in my favor.

"I don't need you to be sorry. I need you to leave us alone."I bite back on my bottom lip, "I can't do that, not when I just found you."

"I wasn't asking, Lucien. I am telling you. This has gone on far longer than it should. End it." She turns to leave just then but pauses after a few steps, spinning back as if suddenly remembering something important, "Also, stop following me!"Her words float about me, echoing with a finality that leaves little room for argument. I say nothing as I watch her walk away, a smile forming on her face as she bends to plant a kiss on her son's forehead.He smiles back at her, his eyes wandering in my direction briefly before he looks away. I watch, heart heavy, as I let myself wonder if this is the life we would've shared if I had just stood up for her.

I wait for them to be completely out of sight before I leave. There was no need to redo any of this unpleasantness.

Looking down at the leather strap watch on my wrist, I let out a small sigh. It's a little past noon, and if I'm going to make it to the meeting of pack elders, I better get going—now.

I settle into my car, slamming the doors a little louder than is necessary as I make the drive back to the pack.The drive back is silent as I am lost in thoughts, my mind still struggling to comprehend everything.I force the car to a halt once I arrive home, letting my gaze sweep the compound. There are a few cars around, clear evidence of the elder's presence.

I recline further in my seat, running my hand through my hair as I sigh. It's about to be an even longer day, I think to myself as I make to exit the car.

I breeze through the house, making my way into the large room we have always reserved for meetings like these. As my eyes scan the faces present, I notice almost everyone is seated.Sneaking a quick glance at my watch, I clear my throat, "Gentlemen, thank you for making it down here just in time."

Turning to Liam, who is seated to my right, I continue, "Any news so far?"

"Nothing substantial yet, but we all have our ears to the ground," he says almost instantly. There's something in his eyes that makes me doubt his reply, but I say nothing, not right now, at least.

I nod absently, my mind drifting to the last time we registered an attack from our enemies.

"If I may?" A voice says, and I turn, nodding in its direction, "Go on," I say, my sudden interest masking my previous distraction."Your mate, Selene," he pauses, as though the rest of the sentence would come to me by some sort of divine intervention.

I raise a brow, "What about her?"

He holds my gaze as he answers, "Even a child can sense the lack of chemistry between you two." A few men at the table grunt approvingly, their outbursts causing him to go on. "We're at war. This is the time to put up a united front, as we cannot afford to look weak in any way before our enemies.""Are you telling me how to run my home?" I shoot back, irritation evident in my voice.

"I'm merely saying a child will present a united front and hope of some sort to the pack. Five years without a child is not a good look, especially with the circumstances plaguing us.

Before I can respond, another man picks up from where he just left off. "In the last few weeks, we have suffered minor attacks, some of which might not seem as much, but we know what's coming." He pauses to look around briefly, as if seeking the approval of everyone present. "This is an obvious attempt of the Silver Pack to weaken us so they can pounce."I recline further into my seat, a budding headache pressing against my temples, "I'm already looking into it.""Fortifying our defenses has always been a priority. We'll see how much more we can do." Liam says, coming to my aid just in time.The first man shakes his head, "It's more than that." He looks up at me, and for a moment, I can tell I am not going to enjoy listening to his line of thoughts.

"We wonder if you're the right person to lead us, especially at a time of war like this." His gaze lowers to his open palm as though something interesting has just landed on it. "The strength of a pack lies in the abilities of their alpha. We cannot afford to be…"

"I assure you, there is nothing to be concerned about. Everything is in place to ensure the safety of the people, and so far, it seems to be working.""I have no doubt you have everything in place. Your father was one of the best alphas across the community, and I would expect he taught you all that is necessary." He takes a brief pause, his voice growing more suggestive. "Our interests lie in a slightly different topic."I already know what this is about. I have a good mind to shut it down at this point and dismiss the meeting, but that'll only encourage them to come stronger. So, I give him a gentle nod to go ahead. "Like I said," he continued. "Your father taught you a lot, hence our faith in you. The people are worried there's no one for you to pass on your knowledge to, hence the fear of an uncertain future."A few nods and grunts of approval follow his words, giving him the confidence to continue and the courage to grow bolder. I don't interrupt.

What's better than letting a snake grow to its full length before cutting it?

I pause to look around, "Thank you once again for coming, this session is dismissed."

"Simply put, we're wondering when you and the Luna will give us an heir."Silence washes over the room as all eyes turn to me, eager, anticipating, and waiting. I let a few minutes pass just in case someone feels extra passionate and has something new to add. "Is that all?" I ask when no one says anything.

A few murmurs scatter through the room before another man echos a "yes" to a different person supplying the answer. It was a collective decision. I tuck the observation into my pocket and return my attention to them.

"I believe children come at their own time, and I'll not appreciate anyone putting my wife under the undue pressure to produce an heir. When the time is right, the Goddess will bless Blackwood with an heir. And if you have further arguments, take it up with nature," I add, sending the man who looks like he is gearing up to make a speech a silencing look.

"This will be the last time any of you will bring my family to the table to be discussed and probed. I will not stand for it."

"The situation with the alpha's family is always a subject of general pack concern," the first man points out. I have to dig my knuckles into my palms to keep my anger in check.

"Yes, it is, only when the situation is a hundred percent within my control."

Without missing a beat, he shoots back. "Are you saying you and the Luna are not capable of producing an heir?"

A deathly silence falls over the room the moment the words drop from his mouth, and I can see in his eyes that he just realized he had made a huge mistake.I level him with the most domineering and intense gaze I can muster. He takes a few steps back as if he can feel the heat from my eyes."This will be the last time any of you will raise this issue to my hearing. Not even in passing, and if I should hear any level of disrespect towards my wife, I'll make sure the culprit never gets the chance to say another word in their life." I take a deep breath, letting my gaze sweep through the room, lingering on each face. "Am I clear?"

"There's also the issue of your missing wolf and the security of the pack," a strong voice rings from the back. The silence that descends upon the court is almost palpable.

"If you would like to question my ability to protect my pack, you should be bold enough to show your face." I knew this day would come. I've been hearing little murmurs here and there. I didn't think any of them would be foolish enough to bring it up like this, but I never back down from a good challenge.

An older man with greying hair steps out of the gathering. "An alpha without his wolf is an impending danger. The least you can do is give the people an heir to look forward to."His voice is firm, and there's no sign of fear in his eyes. He's from one of those pure-blood families that have taken it upon themselves to stand for the interest of the pack.

I raise a brow at him after a brief assessment. "And how has my wolf's absence negatively impacted the pack?"

He opens his mouth to respond, but I don't give him the chance. If there's one thing I learned from my father, it's to never give your enemy an opening to manifest their strengths.

"As far as I know, my beta here ensures me they're patrolling at the border at all times. My wife, a capable Luna, has taken to training some women to defend themselves. Kids are able to go to school and return safely. Everyone is safe within the border, so what exactly do you speak of?"

He is wise not to give a reply, but I don't miss the angry tick on his lower jaw.I waste no time in dismissing the gathering before I am forced to make an example of one of them.As they shuffle out of the room, whispers echo around us. We sit in silence, Liam and I, as we watch each one of them. Once the last one was out the door, I turned to him, "Seriously, what is new?"He shakes his head, "The casualties this time are too many. We're keeping it low-key, but this is bound to come out soon."He looks like he wants to say more, probably asking how I felt about the confrontation, but decided against it.I'm grateful for his reluctance to bring this up in front of all of them, but still, I feel my chest tighten. The intention of the first elder was obvious. He wanted to shed extra light on the nature of my marriage with Selene while punching holes into my abilities.

I might not know the situation with my wolf. In the past five years, the healers have not been able to come up with a sustainable solution, only that he went away as a result of intense pain and desire to dissociate from me. Did I mention that the condition is equally a very rare one, and the best I can do is wait?Regardless, I'll not let some old man walk into my court and question my marriage and ability. I'll die before I see the day that happens. This is not the time for this. I already have pack elders questioning my ability to rule them, and now more bad news looms over us. I take a deep breath, my mind racing for a solution.I need to come up with something quickly. News like this is the shovel they need to bury me.