Page 27 of The Wrong Bond (Wolf Billionaire #4)

CHAPTER 27

SHAWN

T he car hummed to life as I turned on the ignition, Arlene beside me. These past few days had been a blur of me losing control and forcing myself on Arlene.

I’d wanted to enact all my pent-up sexual whims from the past few years, but that was over now. I loved it when we shared a car ride like this, just the two of us.

I remembered all the times I’d driven her to her apartment or back to mine. Life had been so easy then, and the only problem we’d had was how society would view us if we ended up together.

Now, it seemed like we had much bigger problems, but in the midst of everything, I wanted to be with her. I’d grown so much as a person since Arlene had left, and I wondered if she could see it.

As I drove in silence, the familiar tension we’d always had still lingered between us.

I cleared my throat, the sound echoing awkwardly in the enclosed space. “So, uh, what’s your plan?” I knew it wasn’t the best conversation opener, but it was all I could do at the moment.

There were a lot of unsaid things between us, but we both needed time to process our feelings before coming to a resolution.

She turned to face me, a small smile playing on her lips. “I have no idea what to do now. For the past few months, I’ve been thinking of moving back to my old district, but I don’t know. I haven’t heard anything about rogue activity or if it’ll be safe for Ruby.”

The car seemed to tilt on its axis. That was where it had all started, and somehow, that made me feel more hopeful that this might work.

“It’s safe,” I assured her quickly.

She faced me fully now. “And you’re so sure about this because…?” she trailed off.

“Because I made sure that the downtown district would be safe for you if you ever decided to come back.”

“Well, I don’t know how to navigate moving back and managing the business from another city.”

“It won’t be easy, but I think you can do it.”

“Really?” she asked.

I nodded. “Or you can just quit and become my mistress again. I hear that’s a great job opportunity,” I said, trying to inject some of our old banter into the conversation, but it felt forced.

She chuckled, but it sounded a bit annoyed. Maybe it was too soon to make that kind of joke.

“Very funny, Shawn.”

I cleared my throat, trying to divert the conversation. “Why are you thinking of moving back?”

She shrugged. “It’s just been on my mind for a while. I miss the district and my friends. And maybe I could start a new bar downtown.”

“I know I have no say in any of your plans, but I would love it if you moved back,” I said. “It would also make it easier for me to be closer to Ruby.”

As we pulled up to her apartment building, I felt a strange sense of hope that something better was going to happen between us. No more back and forth this time, or a fated mate paying her off to leave me. It would just be Arlene and me trying to make this work.

“Well, we’re back at your place.”

She smiled. “Thanks for the ride, Shawn.”

“Would you like me to help you move? I can send my men—” I began to offer, but she cut me off.

“I have some loose ends to tie up, and I’ll be fine moving by myself.”

I nodded. I knew that loose end was probably Lucas, and letting him down gently. But even with the glimmer of hope I felt, I worried that Arlene wasn’t being as transparent as I wanted her to be. I knew I needed to be patient and give her time.

It had been almost a week since Arlene had gotten back to the city, but I hadn’t seen her yet, and there was nothing I could do about it.

I didn’t want to push it and drive her away. She had made the decision to move herself and her life back downtown, and I was going to give her the space to decide if she wanted to include me in her new life.

It was completely nerve-wracking. I had assumed that as soon as I’d severed my fated bond with Lora, it would be easy sailing from then on, but that wasn’t the case.

It was all in Arlene’s hands to decide if she wanted me in her life or not. And not being able to control that decision made me feel extremely powerless.

Now I was at Riley’s with Ethan. I’d not been here in quite a while. The interior was completely different than I remembered it, and it was less crowded than it had been five years ago.

Or maybe it was just because we were older now, and people my age rarely frequented Riley’s.

“I can’t believe we’re here,” I said to Ethan, taking a sip of my bourbon.

He sucked in breath, smiling. “I know, right? It feels like ages since we last came here.”

I chuckled. “Because it was.”

“After we swore off Riley’s five years ago because you were smitten with Arlene, I haven’t been here,” Ethan mused, looking around the bar fondly. “I missed drinking alcohol that cost an arm and a leg.”

I sighed. “Ah, the classic. Riley’s always had a way of drawing you back in.”

Ethan turned to me. “So you’re not scared of being here? What if the ladies start pining over you?”

I shrugged. “I seem to have lost my appeal after the whole thing with Lora.”

Unfortunately, no matter how discreet I’d tried to keep my treatment and its success, there was only so much I could do before the news spread all around uptown like wildfire. Very soon, half the town had heard about Shawn Elton trying to break his fated bond.

At first, there was a lot of slander to me and my family’s name. I didn’t speak to Mom and Dad for years because of it, but it all died down after a while.

That was what happened with gossip—for a while, it was all anyone could talk about, and then everyone moved on to some new drama.

“So how are things with Arlene? Any progress?”

The alcohol turned bitter in my mouth. How are things with Arlene?

Shawn of five years ago would be outside her apartment demanding an explanation for why she was obviously avoiding me. But I’d grown over the years, and I was no longer that man.

“I’m giving her space,” I responded.

“You have a child with her. Is this really the time to give her space?” Ethan asked.

I shrugged. “I’ve been visiting her frequently to see Ruby, but that’s it. That’s my excuse to see her, but there’s only so much I can do for now. I have complete access to Ruby. But Arlene? Not so much.”

I glanced briefly at my phone and dropped it back on the table when I didn’t see the text I was hoping for.

“And you don’t care?” Shawn asked me, a knowing glint in his eyes.

“I really don’t.”

“But you keep checking your phone.”

I chuckled, knowing he’d caught me. “Coral is having her pre-graduation party today. Just something small with family…” I trailed off.

“And you’re hoping Arlene invites you?”

I sighed. “I just want to be a part of her life. I did the experiment because of her and if I can’t be with her, I feel like I may have wasted my time.”

Just then, my phone dinged and I rushed to pick it up. And lo and behold, it was a text from Arlene.

Hey, I know it’s pretty impromptu and all, but Coral is having this small party thing and we’d love for you to come.

Ally

A small smile graced my face, but I tried not to show my excitement too much.

“So, you’re ditching me for Arlene?” Shawn whined.

“Obviously,” I said, getting to my feet.

“I’ll catch you later.”

“Bye, man,” I said, squeezing his shoulder.

With anticipation rushing through me, I drove to Arlene’s house, my heart pounding in my chest. This message could mean so many things, but I really wanted it to mean just one thing.

I wanted it to be a sign that she wanted me back and wanted this to work. I hadn’t been nervous like this in years.

I pulled up to her apartment building and raced up the stairs. When I rang the doorbell, I waited as someone opened the door for me. It was Arlene, looking as beautiful as ever.

“Hi,” I greeted her, my heart in my stomach.

“Hey, Shawn. Come in,” she said, stepping to the side so I could walk into the apartment.

Music was playing and most of the guests were around Coral’s age. It was more of a small college party, so I had no idea why Arlene had invited me. This was not my scene at all.

“Daddy!” A small voice called out as Ruby flew into my arms, her small body trembling with excitement.

“I thought you wouldn’t come,” she exclaimed, her eyes shining.

“Of course I came,” I responded.

Arlene shook her head and took her from me. “It’s way past her bedtime, but she wanted to stay awake to welcome you.”

“That’s sweet,” I murmured.

“I’ll just get her ready for bed and come right out,” Arlene said, leading Ruby away.

“Bye, Daddy,” Ruby said, waving goodbye.

I busied myself in the kitchen after congratulating a slightly drunk Coral. Arlene came back after a couple of minutes.

“You’re letting Coral drink?” I asked her as we hung out by the kitchen, leaning on the counter, drinking glasses of wine.

“She’s grown up now, Shawn. It’s scary.”

“What’s scary?” I asked her.

She shrugged, looked at me, and then looked away. “I don’t know.”

“You know you can talk to me, right? Like you did before?”

She took in a shuddering breath, her eyes on mine, as if deciding if she should trust me or not.

“Well, sometimes I’m scared that she’ll get sick again. I don’t know. I just have this gut feeling that something terrible is going to happen.”

I nodded in understanding. “Which is why you’ve created this wall around yourself to stop yourself from having fun?”

“I’m just being careful,” she countered.

“Are you being careful with us too?” I asked her, and a long silence passed between us.

I cleared my throat. “You can’t navigate life carrying fear from the past. You won’t be able to fully live. You have to let some things go. Coral is doing brilliantly right now, and she’ll keep being fine. You just have to enjoy the moment.”

Arlene smiled at me, her eyes shining. Oh, I’d missed her and her smile so much.

“Yeah, I can try to enjoy the moment a little more.”

“And let the past be the past,” I added.

She chuckled. “When did Shawn Elton become so wise? I feel like I’m talking to a completely different person.”

“That’s what time and experience does to people.”

“Well, I like this new Shawn.” She looked down at the ground nervously and added, “Thanks for coming anyway, and on such short notice.”

“No problem.”

“Anyway,” Arlene started excitedly, “I’ve been learning how to bake and I made this.”

She brought out a red velvet cake that looked absolutely delicious. She gave me a slice and I took a bite, my eyes widening as the flavors burst in my mouth.

“Wow,” I exclaimed, my mouth full. “This is delicious.”

She smiled. “I’m glad you like it.”

We sat at the kitchen table, talking and laughing, the tension of the past few days slowly dissipating. As time ticked on, the conversation became more intimate and flirty, and then our laughter was replaced by a comfortable silence.

I reached out and took her hand and surprisingly, she didn’t pull away.

“I know I said I’m here to congratulate Coral, but to be honest, I’m really here because I wanted to see you.”

She turned her hand so that our fingers were intertwined, her eyes on mine.

“I hoped that was why,” she said, and we both chuckled.

Our gazes caught and held, and in that moment, everything else faded away. The past, the future, the uncertainty—it all seemed to disappear. There was only us, in this quiet kitchen, connected by something so strong, I couldn’t explain it.

“I’m scared,” Arlene said, and I squeezed her hand.

“I’m ready to put in the work. Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it, Arlene.”

“Shut up and kiss me then,” she said, and I did exactly that.

Slowly, I leaned in, my lips brushing against hers before pressing on them fully. At that moment, I knew that the worst was over.