Chapter 25 Win His Heart
Elijah
Leo liked her.
He hadn’t reached out to any woman voluntarily since his mother had abandoned him. I’d honestly been worried about whether he’d actually be able to heal from that trauma, or if it would ultimately lead to him developing a deep-seated hatred of women in general.
I’d really hoped that wouldn’t be the outcome, and with Adriana’s arrival, I could clearly see that it wouldn’t happen.
He enjoyed being around her and was constantly finding his way to her room. If I couldn’t locate him in his own room, all I needed to do was check hers, and I’d find him there laughing and smiling with her like they’d known each other forever.
I felt more at peace now, knowing he was spending time with someone responsible and caring. It had sort of naturally evolved into our daily routine at this point.
At the end of every day, we’d all gather in her room to talk about how our day had gone, laugh together, and play games. I’d never realized Leo was even capable of laughing this loudly and freely.
It felt good to have someone to talk to, someone who wasn’t just Leo or Hazel. Adriana listened so intently whenever I spoke about anything, and it made me feel like I was actually being heard and understood.
I genuinely enjoyed being around her. Leo, his wolf, and I all did.
Leo finally had someone he could playfully bother and spend time with while I was occupied with my work responsibilities. I was also working seriously on developing a comprehensive treatment plan for his speech impediment.
Now that he was in such a genuinely happy place emotionally, I was hoping we could use that positive momentum to our advantage with therapy.
Leo was growing up so rapidly, and when he eventually takes over the position from me, he’s absolutely going to need to be able to communicate verbally. Nobody else knows yet that I’m even planning on making him my official heir.
He is my first child, after all, isn’t he?
So he will definitely be my heir. That’s precisely why I’m being so intentional and focused about helping him learn to speak. I need him to start getting familiar with all the responsibilities and complexities of managing the pack as quickly as possible.
I’d been consulting regularly with his doctor, who mentioned there was an upcoming study focused specifically on children like Leo, exploring various different methods and approaches that could potentially help him talk.
Money wasn’t an issue for me whatsoever. I just wanted him to be able to speak.
This was exactly the primary reason I’d chosen to homeschool him in the first place. I absolutely did not want my son to be bullied by other children.
“Is everything alright?” Adriana had walked into my office one afternoon and caught me completely spaced out, lost in thought.
“Please, come in.” As she walked closer toward me, I couldn’t help the smile that appeared on my face. “How long have you been standing there watching me?”
“Not very long at all. I just didn’t want to disturb whatever you were thinking about so intensely. Is everything okay?”
Well, she was going to become Luna eventually, and she and Leo had already formed such a strong bond together.
“It’s about Leo.”
“What about him? Is he alright? Did something happen?” The immediate concern in her voice was obvious.
I smiled at her genuine worry.
“Yes, he’s perfectly fine. It’s just that I’ve been actively searching for solutions to help him. You know, for his speech impediment. I desperately want my son to be able to talk, Adriana. Sometimes I can see it so clearly in his eyes that he really wants to speak, that he really wants to play with other kids his own age, but he just physically can’t express it.”
She didn’t respond immediately, and I noticed she tilted her head slightly to the side like she was thinking something through very carefully.
“He’s homeschooled, right?”
I nodded in confirmation.
“That makes sense. Maybe we should actually start addressing that specific issue first. I completely understand that you’re trying your best to protect him, but I think you might be getting too deeply involved in every single aspect of his life.”
“He’s my son! I’m only trying to protect him from getting hurt.”
“Just hear me out completely, Alpha.”
“Call me Elijah, please. I’ve asked you before.”
She paused with her mouth hanging open slightly.
“No, thank you. Listen, Alpha—you absolutely need to let him spend time around children his own age. He needs to be able to express himself and interact without the constant watchful eye of his father monitoring everything. You’re always around him, you personally homeschool him, you’re the only one who plays with him regularly, you’re literally everywhere in his life. He needs space to be around his peers.”
I understood exactly what she was trying to explain.
“No. Kids can be incredibly cruel and mean. I don’t want them to hurt him.”
“I completely understand your concern, but you also need to remember that children actually have the purest, most innocent hearts. So if there was ever going to be anyone who would genuinely care for him nearly as much as you do, it would absolutely be those other kids.”
I wanted desperately to believe her perspective, but I really didn’t want to share the details of my own traumatic experiences with her yet.
“It’s alright. Thanks so much for your input and help. I’ve also been speaking regularly with his speech therapist. She’ll be starting formal lessons with him very soon.”
“I can help out with that if you’d like. I’m really good with children.”
And you’re the best with Leo specifically.
She reached out and gently touched my arm that was resting on the desk.
She spent as much time as she possibly could with Leo, never allowing him to feel lonely or abandoned, and it seemed like he enjoyed sleeping in her room more than his own now.
Normally, Leo would absolutely never fall asleep without that photograph of his mother carefully tucked under his pillow. But ever since Adriana had arrived here, I’d noticed so many positive changes in his behavior and demeanor.
It was like he’d become… brighter somehow. More alive.
When I went to her room that particular night to bid both of them a proper goodnight, they were already fast asleep together.
They looked like they were made for each other—the way she had her arms wrapped protectively around him, like she was genuinely afraid he might disappear if she let go.
“Goodnight, you two.”
I placed gentle kisses on both of their foreheads, feeling something flutter warmly in my chest as I did so.
Her phone was lying on the floor beside the bed, so I picked it up carefully to place it on the nightstand. That’s when I accidentally saw what was displayed on the screen.
She’d been actively researching and reading about various ways to help children with speech impediments specifically caused by psychological trauma.
“She’s not pretending or faking her interest. She’s genuinely invested in helping him,” Ezra observed quietly.
I know she is, but I was still trying not to become even more attracted to her than I already was. My wolf didn’t have anything to worry about, though.
“There’s no use in fighting against the way you clearly feel about her. I see exactly how you look at her whenever she’s around. She’s going to win your heart eventually.”
I think she already has. I thought, but I didn't say it out loud.