Chapter 27 27
Aurélie POV
“How about this one, Mummy?”
Delphine reaches up, offering me a blackberry plucked from the thorny bush, her eyes wide as she waits for permission.
“Try it. If it’s yummy, then yes,” I encourage, smiling as we stand in one of the open fields near the woodland border.
She pops it into her mouth. When she turns toward me again, her entire chin and lips are stained with dark purple juice, and I burst into laughter.
I used to come here with my parents same bushes, same sunlight, same sweet, earthy scent. And judging by the abundance, I’ll have more than enough to bake a pie for dessert tonight.
“Aurélie!” Fabrice’s voice carries across the field as he strides toward us. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, fine.” I brush my fingers over Delphine’s hair. “Théo said an alpha arrived to discuss joining the alliance…”
“Oh?” Fabrice crouches beside Delphine, helping her reach the higher berries.
“Yes. He wants his identity to remain anonymous for now.”
“Is he still here?”
“Yes. Théo has him in the courtyard.” Fabrice waves me on. “Go. We’ll finish up here.”
“Right. Thank you.”
I head toward the Alpha house, checking repeatedly for stains on my clothes. Showing up to greet another alpha with blackberry juice smeared across my shirt would not make for much of a commanding first impression.
Cutting through the back field, I hear Dominique’s excited voice drifting ahead. But as I round the corner of the Alpha house, my steps falter my heart slamming to a stop.
His laughter rolls through the courtyard.
Damien.
I freeze in place. He lifts Dominique as though the boy weighs nothing, settling him on the bonnet of a red sports car the same way Damien now leans there, relaxed, too close, too familiar.
Panic surges, hot and sharp. My son.
My son.
Mine.
Damien looks different than the last time I saw him four years ago. His hair is shorter now, still long enough to brush the top of his ears, but nothing like the untamed length he once wore. He pauses, sniffing the air, scanning the courtyard then shakes his head, clearly dismissing whatever his wolf sensed.
Good. I’m still far enough away. He shouldn’t catch my scent… I hope.
My hands curl into fists. Rage claws up my spine at the sight of him standing there so casually laughing within the very borders his orders once bathed in blood.
How dare he show his face here.
How dare he laugh.
How dare he even breathe the same air my children breathe.
My wolf nudges, trying to soothe me, whispering assurances that he wouldn’t harm what is his.
But he doesn’t know. Damien doesn’t know.
“Théo?” I snap through the mind-link, my tone hard enough to make the warrior jolt.
“Alpha?” His response is startled I rarely sound like this.
“That is the Bloodnight Alpha King. Get him off the grounds. NOW.”
Théo reacts instantly. He pulls Dominique off the car, shielding him with his body just as four more warriors form a tight protective line behind him.
Damien stills at the sudden shift in atmosphere. His expression sharpens, reading the hostility, the tension, the dawning realization that he is no longer welcome. He murmurs something to Théo who nods stiffly before Damien steps back and climbs into his car.
The red sports car tears away toward the exit.
“Make sure he leaves the territory,” I order through the link.
“Yes, Alpha. I’m so sorry I didn’t realize who he was.”
“Well, now you know what the enemy looks like.”
I approach from the side of the house where the warriors stand with Dominique, keeping him in their protective circle until I reach them.
“Mum! You just missed another alpha!” Dominique announces, excitement shining in his eyes.
“Did I?” I ask lightly.
“Yes! But Théo said he had to leave.” He frowns until I rest a hand on his shoulder.
“We picked so many blackberries. Want to help me bake the pie?”
“Nah, that’s okay. I might go play in my room.”
“That’s fine, sweetheart. I’ll need to talk to you later.” I kiss his head and send him toward the house.
“Fabrice,” I mind-link, my heartbeat still unsteady. “Emergency meeting. The alpha was Damien.”
“I don’t understand how he got past security,” Fabrice growls an emotion he rarely shows. He’s the calm one, the steady one. But right now? He’s furious.
“I’m sorry, Beta,” Théo says, guilt heavy in his voice. “He claimed he was an alpha wanting to discuss the alliance. His aura was reined in.”
“Yes,” I snap softly, taking my seat at the round table. “That sounds exactly like him.”
“He was gentle with Dominique,” Théo adds miserably. “He didn’t give any cause for concern.”
“He was there the day my parents died,” I remind myself as much as the room. “He saw the sword. He saw the emblem.”
“Lucky he didn’t get much information,” Fabrice mutters as his temper cools. “What did he and Dominique talk about?”
“Not much,” Théo answers. “Mainly Dominique talking about being the next Alpha.”
Damn it.
So Damien now knows Dominique is the future Alpha of Darkvale.
Which means if my identity is ever revealed… he might begin questioning the children’s parentage exactly as Élodie once did.
Later that night, after getting the kids ready for bed, I walk down the dim hallway toward their shared room. The night lamp casts galaxies across the ceiling, spinning stars and planets in a slow, soothing dance while a soft lullaby hums beneath it.
Their twin beds sit side by side small doubles. Lately, more often than not, I find them curled up together in one bed by morning. They shared my womb; perhaps part of them still needs that closeness. Especially Delphine. She wakes easily from nightmares and crawls into Dominique’s bed for comfort.
“Shh, Mum. Delphine’s asleep.” Dominique presses a finger to his lips, sitting cross-legged with a picture book open in his lap.
“And what about you?” I tease quietly.
“She wanted me to stay till she fell asleep just in case there were monsters.” He shrugs, protective and sweet in the same breath.
I look down at Delphine. Her cheeks and fingers are still stained purple even after her shower. She’ll need a long soak tomorrow morning.
“I think you’re safe for tonight. Come on your turn.” I take the book and set it on the bedside table.
As he settles under his blankets, I sit on the edge of his bed.
“Dominique… the alpha you met today. What did you tell him?” I keep my tone casual, light, so he won’t feel guilty.
“Just that I’m the next Alpha.” He blinks up at me. “I liked him. Is he going to join us?”
“I’m not sure,” I answer honestly, smoothing his hair. “But you have to be careful what you say to strangers”
“He wasn’t a stranger,” he interrupts.
“Oh no?” I raise a brow.
“No. My wolf said we could trust him.”
He curls deeper beneath his blanket.
“That he would help keep us safe.”