Chapter 18 Paternity Test Keh?
Kai's father arrived at noon in a black Mercedes with two security guards, and the entire staff went into overdrive making sure everything was perfect.
Because Alpha Darius Silvercrest had a reputation for firing people who disappointed him.
Elara kept Adrian in their room while she cleaned the main floor, but around 2 PM Margaret found her and said the Alpha wanted to meet all current staff in the main hall.
"Even me?" Elara asked.
"Everyone," Margaret confirmed. "Bring your son too, Alpha Darius is particular about knowing who's living on the estate."
Elara's stomach twisted because the last thing she needed was more scrutiny from the Silvercrest family, but refusing would look suspicious so she collected Adrian from Betty and carried him downstairs.
All the staff members lined up in the entrance hall while Darius Silvercrest stood at the center with Kai beside him, and Elara kept her head down and Adrian's face pressed against her shoulder hoping to be overlooked.
"I want to see each of you," Darius said, his voice carrying the kind of authority that made people instinctively obey. "Step forward when I call your name."
Margaret went first, then the head chef, then the groundskeeper, and one by one staff members stepped forward to be inspected.
"Sera Seahawks," Darius called and Elara's blood went cold.
She stepped forward with Adrian still clinging to her, keeping her eyes respectfully lowered the way omegas were supposed to around powerful Alphas.
"You're the new hire," Darius said, studying her. "The one who brought a child to live in staff quarters."
"Yes sir," Elara said in Sera's accent.
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you," Darius commanded.
Elara lifted her eyes and met his gaze, and for a horrible second she thought he saw through the disguise because his expression changed.
"What pack are you from?" he asked.
"Morrison pack in Oregon sir, it disbanded three years ago," Elara said, sticking to her cover story.
"And the child's father?"
"He's dead sir," Elara said.
Darius looked at Adrian who had turned his face to peek at the strange man, and something moved across his features that Elara couldn't identify.
"How old is the boy?" Darius asked.
"Two years old sir," Elara said.
"He looks like...." Darius started but then stopped, his jaw tightening. "Never mind, return to your position."
Elara stepped back into line and Darius finished inspecting the rest of the staff, but she felt his eyes returning to her and Adrian several times and her wolf was screaming danger.
When the inspection ended, Margaret dismissed everyone except Elara who Darius gestured to stay.
"Father, Sera has work to do," Kai said.
"This will only take a moment," Darius said and waited until the hall emptied. "Come closer." Darius said to Elara.
Elara approached slowly with heavy Adrian in her arms, and Darius studied them both with so much intensity that Elara was almost shaking.
"That child has Silvercrest blood," Darius said flatly.
Elara's heart stopped but she kept her expression neutral. "I don't know what you mean sir."
"Don't lie to me omega, I can see it in his features and his scent," Darius said. "Who's the father?"
"His father is dead," Elara repeated.
"Was his father from Silvercrest pack?" Darius pressed.
"No sir, he was from Morrison pack," Elara lied.
Darius turned to Kai. "You don't see it?"
"See what?" Kai asked, looking confused.
"The boy looks exactly like you did at that age," Darius said. "Same eyes, same facial structure, same scent markers."
Kai stepped closer and studied Adrian who had buried his face back into Elara's shoulder, and Elara held her breath waiting for the recognition that would destroy everything.
"He's a child, and all children look similar," Kai said finally. "And Morrison pack had distant relations to our bloodline, it's probably coincidental genetic overlap."
"Perhaps," Darius said but he didn't sound convinced. "Still, I want a full background check on this woman, verify her story about Morrison pack and the child's father."
"I have already done," Kai said. "She's clean."
"Do it again," Darius ordered. "And until we're certain, I want her activities monitored, no unsupervised access to sensitive areas."
"She's just a housekeeper father," Kai said.
"She's an omega with a child who carries our bloodline markers living in our home," Darius corrected. "That makes her a potential liability."
He walked away and Kai turned to Elara with an expression she couldn't read.
"Go take Adrian back to your room," he said quietly. "And stay there until I come talk to you."
Elara didn't argue, she just carried Adrian upstairs while her mind raced through worst case scenarios.
Because if Darius ordered a real background check then Sera Seahawks would fall apart and everything would be exposed.
She paced their small room for an hour before Kai knocked and entered without waiting for permission.
"My father thinks Adrian is my son," he said bluntly.
"That's ridiculous," Elara said but her voice came out too high.
"Is it?" Kai asked, moving closer. "Two years old, with a Silvercrest blood markers, he was also born around the same time I..." he stopped and took a deep breathe.
"When exactly was Adrian born?"
"Why, does it matter?" Elara asked.
"Because two years ago I did something I'm not proud of," Kai said. "And if there's even a chance that Adrian is my son then I need to know."
"He's not your son," Elara said firmly.
"Then you won't mind a paternity test," Kai said.