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

ing, not wanting to run into him and have an awkward conversation

nnocent eyes and explain that

't...

htly ajar, and I saw Daniel sitting in a chair in front of Kieran's desk like a visi

hands in his. "Mommy and Daddy won't

s lower lip trembled.

Surely he wouldn't tell our son he didn't love

walked over to Daniel's side and took his

world," he said. He reached up and gently patted Dani

anted to hear those words from Kieran, and now, ther

ve him Daniel. He only tolerated me for a decade because I was the m

ional love was res

sound e

ped up, wolf-quick, those gold-f

olly, rising to his full height. The Alpha voice. T

reath and pushe

d went to me, throwing h

kissed the to

d, looking up at me w

d his he

some space, okay? Go help C

pouted.

word carried the

eassuringly. "We'll talk

lked out, his should

the door

pers in my hand. Something unre

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

the desk. "Yet here you are with moving plans and legal docume

we'd been married. But admitting that would only give him more ammu

dress of your new home," he said. "My son and I will have dinner, the

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

, shouldering a large duffle bag. I frowned. No way that was all Daniel's things. Ki

eyes lit up. I exited the car as

im over," Kieran sn

y, I just

It's bad enough you're moving my son away from m

d... It's okay." His voice was soft but steady. "W

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

e flicked to me, cold and dismis

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