VERENAEzra shrugs, his small shoulders slumping slightly. He casts his gaze down at the colorful pattern of the bedspread, his playful demeanor replaced by a sudden shyness. "I know he's my daddy," he whispers, the words so quiet I almost miss them.My heart stutters in my chest, a cold wave washing over me. He knows?The scene from lunch, the way he sat with Elijah. It all makes sense. The realization dawns on me. Was this why? How could I have been so blind?A tense silence stretches between us, heavy with unspoken emotions. My mind races, searching for the right words, the right way to handle this unexpected revelation.I planned to tell him when Elijah would be here again. But it seems that he already knows.“How…did you know, sweetie?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper. My throat tightens, a lump forming that makes swallowing difficult.He looks up at me, his eyes filled with a sadness that mirrors the ache in my heart. “I don’t know,” he mumbles, kicking his little legs back and
VERENA“Are you still angry at him?” he asks, and I shake my head.“No.”“Will you two be together?”“Do you want us to be together?” I ask, and he nods."I want to be with both daddy and mommy. Together." The simple wish echoes in my head. The corners of my eyes sting with tears. I pull him into another tight hug, the weight of his words pressing down on me. "We will be together, sweetheart," I promise him.Then I frown as a thought crosses my mind. “Sweetie, if you knew for so long, why didn’t you say anything about it?” I ask.“I didn’t know what to say or how to say it. I was confused. I thought maybe he doesn't want me. So I did not say anything,” Ezra mutters under his breath, the sadness latching to his voice. His shoulders hunch, and he buries his face in my waist.“No, baby. He wants you more than anything in this world. He loves you a lot,” I whisper, stroking his hair gently.“I want to see him,” Ezra mumbles, and I hum.“You will. He is eager to see you too.”“Then why did
VERENAAn hour passes by, making the anticipation rise in my chest while I work. He must be busy with his pack work.Ding!My heart leaps into my chest as I hear my phone vibrate, and I quickly snatch it from the desk, checking his message.‘You told him?’‘No. He knew and asked me about it,’ I reply.There’s no response from him. He’s definitely processing what I just said. I wait for a few minutes, and his reply arrives.‘What did he say? Does he hate me?’ I can feel the fear radiating off his message.‘No. But he wants to know why you didn’t tell him. I explained to him. He wants to meet you.’Ding!‘I want to see him too. I will come to the pack this weekend and talk to him.’‘That will be good.’‘I hope he will forgive me,’ his message reads, and I sigh.‘He doesn't hate you. He wants us to be together.’Silence.Ding!‘I want that too. Looking forward to it.’I smile at his message. I am eager to meet him again.The light from the desktop screen casts long shadows across my desk
VERENAMy anger evaporates and is replaced by a wave of concern.The words I have rehearsed to confront him die on my lips. “What happened to you?” I ask, worry lacing my voice.Carlisle’s head jerks up slowly, his gaze landing on me with a delayed reaction. “Hi to you too,” he mutters, his voice hoarse. A weak smile plays on his lips. The smile doesn't reach his eyes.I approach Carlisle, my steps quieter than usual. The plaster cast on his head seems to mock his usual composure. Did he fight with someone?“How did this happen?” I ask, my voice softer than intended.He blows out a breath that ruffles the hair at his temple. “Can I get a drink?” he rasps, his voice rough.Part of me wants to press him for answers, but the exhaustion etched on his face silences my protests. I nod and pad to the bar. I grab a bottle of scotch and pour him a glass, the ice clinking softly against the rim.He takes a long gulp, his hand wrapping loosely around the cool glass. Then, with a loud sigh, he le
VERENAThe memory of the jagged scar running down Elijah’s eye flashes through my mind. I remember him telling how hard it is to battle them, of the pain he has to go through. If even powerful Alphas like Elijah and Carlisle struggle, then what hope do I have?A wave of icy terror washes over me, constricting my chest and making it hard to breathe. My palms feel sweaty despite the air conditioner running perfectly fine inside the living room.Carlisle meets my gaze, his eyes filled with an emotion I can’t understand. The hardness that has settled a moment ago melts away, replaced by a flicker of concern. “I saw your messages,” he says, his voice calmer than before. “How’s Ezra?”I purse my lips. He doesn't know—not about the full extent of what Ezra had faced. I only messaged him about transferring Ezra to the hospital and about the blood transfusion. “He’s…better,” I manage, the word catching my throat.Carlisle’s chest visibly relaxes, a sigh escaping his lips. "That's good news," h
VERENA“If we wait for them to attack us, then our packs will die, Dad,” I reply with a stern voice. “They are strong, but not invincible. If we all battle them together, I’m sure we will win. I will call all the neighboring packs we are in alliance with currently and set a meeting.”Dad’s frown deepens, a furrow etching itself between his brows. “Rena, I admire your spirit,” he says, his voice laced with concern. “But uniting the Alphas won’t be easy. Most haven't faced a threat like the Ashwalkers, and they might scoff at your warnings."A wave of frustration washes over me, but I quickly push it down. Defeat isn’t an option. “Then we’ll make them believe,” I declare, my voice firm. "We'll gather evidence, share what happened to Ruth, and convince them of the danger they face."Carlisle’s voice cuts through the tense atmosphere. “I’m in,” he declares, his gaze meeting mine. "If the other Alphas hear what the Ashwalkers did to my pack, they won't be able to ignore the threat." His wo
VERENA“Who are you talking about, Verena?” he presses, his voice low and dangerous. “It's him, isn't it? Elijah.” He hisses. “So you two are a team now?”I hold his gaze. "We're on good terms now," I declare, my voice firm and strong. “Also, he’s Ezra's father. He donated his blood to save him and helped us a lot. He loves Ezra and deserves to be involved in his matters as much as I do.”He scoffs and looks away. “So you choose him after all,” he says, his voice filled with disdain.“We have talked about this, Carlisle. And I haven’t forgotten about the way you behaved with me that night,” I say and cross my arms.Something flickers in his eyes before he says, “I’m sorry about that night. I wasn’t in my right mind.”My brows lift at him in shock. Well, I certainly did not expect him to apologize so quickly.“It—You know my feelings for you,” he confesses, his gaze filling with a vulnerability I haven’t seen before.A lump forms in my throat. “I have always tried to tell you not to ex
VERENAMy heart tightens at the pain in his words, and I see him take a step back. His eyes glisten, but he hides it by looking away, placing one hand in his pocket that I am sure is clenched into a fist. “I know that I can’t have you,” he whispers.Seeing him like this makes my heart sink. Guilt washes over me. I know it is not my fault as I can’t control anyone’s feelings, nor can I force them. But he has been such a good friend to me. A strong support who has been there for me when Elijah wasn’t. If he hadn’t let me in his pack, I don’t know where I would have gone. I would have been a rogue.He clenches his jaw, and he looks at me, his eyes glistening under the light of the room. “It's not your fault. But it fucking hurts…” he laughs, the laugh having no humor to it. It's a mask that he uses to hide the pain he’s feeling. “Maybe I’m destined to be mateless for my entire life,” he says and smiles.“No, that isn’t true. I’m sure there is someone out there for you too,” I say to conso