Chapter 28 Eiden
Eiden's POV
\[I wonder when Liam will video call me.\] I sent the message to Celeste.
I kept typing and deleting the message. I couldn't bring myself to say that I missed Liam. It was embarrassing, and I kept thinking about what he would think of me.
I blinked and glanced up at the sky. Celeste was there. The smile and look she only gave her sons, she finally gave them to me.
I was relieved to get a reply from Celeste. \[I'll ask Liam first.\]
Suddenly, I imagined Celeste talking to Liam. Her soft voice and loving gaze for her two sons warmed my heart.
She was a gentle woman. Otherwise, she wouldn't have let me get to know Liam. She might have made him hate me and refuse to meet me.
I stared at my screen, restless. I even ignored Gamma Nolan’s text asking me to hit a bar with him. Why did he dislike the new version of me this much?
I slapped my cheek, shook my head, and chuckled under my breath. “I’m going insane.”
Then I glanced around just to make sure I was alone and hurried into the elevator.
'You’re not guilty if you like her now,' my wolf said, grinning mockingly at me. 'But will she accept you? You’ll have to fight hard to win her heart.'
'What are you saying?' I snorted. 'I haven’t thought about that at all.'
'You can’t lie to me.' My wolf was so good at leaving me speechless.
\[Hey, bastard. Let my spy warriors out of your prison. Unless you want a duel to the death with me.\]
I snorted and rolled my eyes, ignoring Alpha Jackson's message. It wasn't his message I was waiting for.
"Alpha."
I looked up to see Gamma Nolan waving as I was about to get into the car.
I was planning to finish some work at home, but since Gamma Nolan had already swung by my company to pick me up, I ended up going to the bar with him. The guy had no one else to drink with.
“I’m not drinking.” I glared at Gamma Nolan when he turned to me after telling the bartender his drink order.
“Alright. Alright.” Gamma Nolan grinned broadly, raising both hands.
“I don’t understand why we all haven’t found our mates yet.” Gamma Nolan began to feel envious of the people who came to the bar with their mates. “When are we going to live happily with our mates?”
He always complained about the same thing. He was anxious about not having found his mate yet.
“Looks like you guys are unlucky because of me,” I muttered, propping my chin on my hand while staring at my phone on the table.
\[Liam doesn't know when he wants to video call you yet.\] My heart felt like it was being pinched every time I read Celeste's message.
I consoled myself by saying I could see Liam at his kindergarten any time I wanted.
“Why do you say that, Alpha?” Gamma Nolan looked at me in confusion. My words made him not touch his glass of alcohol, forgetting how much he wanted to get drunk.
“You know what I mean,” I said in a low voice. “Because of my arrogance in not accepting my fate, it made you, Beta, and Delta—”
“Hey, stop it, Alpha.” Gamma Nolan cut me off and patted my shoulder twice. “We don’t think like you.” He shook his head. “So get that assumption out of your head.” He waved his hand.
“But my assumption could be right,” I said stubbornly.
“No. You’re wrong.” Gamma Nolan shook his head, holding his glass of alcohol. “Moon Goddess doesn't want us to meet our mate yet.”
“You’re so sure of that, yet you still complain so much.” I gave him a sneer. He chuckled.
“Alpha.”
I turned around to find a dark-haired woman with a guy. It took me five seconds to realize she was my ex-girlfriend.
My brows shot up. I never talked to any of my exes, and they never spoke to me either. We were like strangers after breaking up.
“Nice to see you again, Alpha,” she said in a spoiled tone, a smile playing on her lips. “You haven’t been here in a long time. I was actually waiting for you.” She lowered her head, blushing.
I didn’t say anything, making her glance at her boyfriend as if asking him to help ease the awkwardness.
"Hmm." She looked at me again confidently. "I hope you find your mate soon. I wonder if my Luna is prettier than me." She smiled broadly, showing her bunny teeth.
The woman left with her partner. She seemed to be the only one who dared to say such a thing to me.
"I wonder how the pack members will react when they find out the truth," Gamma Nolan said. "But you can keep her secret as long as your son never posts photos with his mother."
The bar was bustling with people, and the music was blaring. No one was looking at us out of fear, and hopefully, they weren't curious about our conversation.
I glanced at the bartender, who was standing quite a distance away. No one even chose to sit at the bar counter.
“You know how creepy digital footprints are. Someone can always find our accounts.” Gamma Nolan asked the bartender to make him another drink.
I seriously thought about what Gamma Nolan said. He made sense, but there was no way I could stop Liam from posting pictures of himself with his mom.
So what about Levi? If he posted a photo with Liam and Celeste, people would still know who Liam's biological mother was.
I needed to think about this more deeply and, if possible, discuss it with Celeste.
I shook my head with a sad smile.
I didn't know if Liam wanted to be my heir. We'd only known each other for a month. If he didn't want to, people would forever not know he was my biological son.
My chest hurt at the thought of it. I had no idea why I couldn’t force Liam. That wasn’t like me; I never cared about other people’s feelings.
"I want to go to the Decagon River."
I left Gamma Nolan. I need some fresh air to think about all this, and I don't like the smell of his drink.
"Alpha. Wait for me." Gamma Nolan ran after me.
After ten minutes of walking, we arrived at the Dectagon River—the landmark that gave this pack its name. It sat near the back gate.
The river was always crowded. Nothing was special about it except its odd shape and the fountain built to make it look nicer.
I stood by the river, watching the still water, keeping my distance from everyone else. “They’ll love it if I bring them here.”
“Of course. Kids love the water.” Gamma Nolan nodded. He was the only one who heard me. Then he looked at me with wide eyes. “I didn’t realize you were close to her second son.”
I smiled as memories of the two boys flooded back to me.
“He’s fun,” I said. I looked at Gamma Nolan questioningly. “Shouldn’t I be close to him? But he’s always with Liam.”
"I don't think it's wrong," Gamma Nolan said as he put his hand on my shoulder and grinned broadly. "I'm just surprised you can handle kids so well. Good job, dude."
I smiled faintly. “I’ll keep learning to be a good father to them.”
I was shocked by my own words. But now that I think about it, there’s nothing wrong with considering Levi my son, right?
“Wow, I admire you.” Gamma Nolan was amazed by my positive change. “I’m so glad you’re taking responsibility for your son and also caring about your ex-mate’s biological child.”
My cheeks felt warm. Gamma Nolan laughed at my blush.
I grabbed my vibrating phone from my pocket, my heart pounding. Maybe it was Celeste, hoping Liam had changed his mind.
I tutted at the name on the screen.
“Why is he calling you?” Gamma Nolan asked, narrowing his eyes.
I shrugged as I picked up the phone and held it to my ear.
“Hello,” I said reluctantly.
“Hey, Alpha Eiden,” Alpha Jackson shouted, as if he were trapped in the woods begging for help. “Let my two warrior spies go tonight, or your wolf fights mine tomorrow morning.”
'Stupid question,' my wolf mocked him.
I snorted. “Okay. My wolf is expecting you tomorrow morning.”
“You’ll regret this.” Alpha Jackson hung up the phone.
“What happened to him, really? Why is he acting so insane?” I stared at my phone screen, confused.
“You know him so well.” Gamma Nolan chuckled. I cursed.