HINA'

office feeling like my soul h

kind of anxiety. Maybe it was because I knew this

picture on the mantel, the portrait taken of Kieran when he was o

ctures of Kieran

rning, desperate to avoid him, to spare myself a repeat of las

nnocent eyes and explain that

's desk like a visitor. Of course. Alpha Kieran, ever efficient. Last night he'

onversation, but I would never miss the sight of my s

all, breaking on the last word. "Yo

rayed him. It shattered something deep inside me, leaving me feeling like the wor

him live a lie? To grow up in a home where his parents felt nothing but emptiness for each other? A

orm a complete sentence. All the resolve I'

alm, infuriatingly final. "Daniel,

nched into fists on his knees. "Grandpa Edward is barely g

low to my chest. But Kieran remained unmove

ccept difficult realities is part of becoming str

ot just the father. And for the

imself out of the chair, and glared at

ull him into an embrace, to soothe the hurt, but he dodged my touch with a furious shake

voice low. His loyal Beta appeared instantly at the door. "Ensur

back to me, the stern Alpha mask still firmly in place, though a fli

ntly," I said, my voice thick with a

plied, his voice cool. "He ju

g so tightly my knuckles had turned white. A faint, unreadab

those are

uddenly fee

ed forward and placed the document on the desk. "Everything's clear

e documents. His eyebrows furrowed in conc

e showed me a lovely house about thirty minutes from here. It's fully furnished-ready to mov

's the

owning at Ki

desk with a scoff."Yet here you are with moving plans and legal do

munition. I had just seen how Kieran handled Daniel's pain. My son's raw, betrayed face flashed before my eyes. I couldn't risk hi

. house," he said, the word dripping with disdain. "I'll be tied up today. My son and I

last family meal. Of course, the great Alpha Kieran wo

rther. I hadn't been able to sleep last night after the

to make this place my home, so ever

instead of driving away, I j

bright and colorful, filled with love and laughter. But the memories of Kieran were grey, dull,

ing on the screen sent ice through my veins. Two calls in as man

eer into my voice. "Ho

santries like alw

ed around the phon

finally divor

ourse she knew. Kieran had pro

d out between

ed sigh cut deeper than any bla

was a mistake to begin with. This... this i

of mother celebrates her daughter's heartbreak? The answer came swif

nd powered off my phone before s

the manicured lawn until the dying sun painted the front door orange.

owned. No way that was all Daniel's things. Kieran was making a p

settling into a small, tentative smile. I got out of the car. He ran to me,

im over," Kieran sn

y, I just

"Your neat lines and separate territories alr

s voice was soft but held a surprising firmness. "You promised

. For a heartbeat, I thought he might argue-but

gaze flicked to me, cold and dism

to me and went back ins

ssenger seat without complaint, his too-wise eyes watching me carefully. As I pulled away,

rummaged through his backpack and p

," he said simply, pre

trying so hard to h

"Do you hate me? For this? For

o nine-year-old should possess. My

belt. "I know you were sad a l

urred. His small hand slippe

was fierce with promise. "You'

what if Kieran never loved me? This remarkable boy did-whol

than