Chapter 4~ The confrontation

Things weren't supposed to happen like that. I was supposed to have a normal day at work and then rush home to my son. Then we were supposed to leave town and start up somewhere new.

I could barely hide the fear on my face as I saw my plans fall to shambles before my eyes. I had no idea Lucas would be at Christina's place. Christina stood at the door closely eyeing me and Caleb. I knew she would be interrogating me about that later.

“Mum! You're back! What took you so long today?” Lucas asked as he wrapped his little hands around me. I tried to regain my composure as I lowered myself to the ground to talk to him.

“I'm sorry honey, I got held up at work. That's all. Did you have a good day?”

“Yes but Tatia fell asleep already so I got bored watching TV and aunt Christina already made dinner. She kept some for you too!” He sounded so excited. That childish freedom was the reason I'd pick raising him among humans over raising him with the pack. I wanted my son to have the chance to be a child first and not just the next Alpha.

All the while, I could feel Caleb’s eyes on me but I didn't dare turn back yet.

“Why don't you go back in with aunt Christina I'll be right behind you”

For the first time since coming out, Lucas seemed to finally notice Caleb standing behind me and I saw something click in his childlike eyes. I wondered if he recognised Caleb as the man in his dreams who looked like him. If he did, he didn't say anything.

“I'll be right in” I muttered to Christina as she took Lucas inside.

I finally mustered up the courage to turn. Caleb stood still like a statue. His gaze was fixed on me so intently, it felt like he could see into my soul but I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

But then his gaze softened, and I saw a hint of something deeper, something vulnerable. “You've moved on” it was more of a statement than a question. I didn't give him a response. I only struggled to meet his eyes without faltering.

“That's your son?” He looked in the direction Lucas had gone.

“Yes he's my son” I put emphasis on ‘my’

Caleb was mine and mine alone. Lucas had no right to him and regardless of what he was thinking or what he thought he knew, I wasn't going to tell him the truth. I wasn't going to let him take my son away from me.

The tension between us was unbearable as Caleb seemed to be processing things. I could see his shock on his face, and pain which he was trying very hard to mask.

“Is he…?” Caleb’s voice was barely a whisper, but his eyes were fierce, searching.

“Is he what?” I met his gaze, daring him to say it.

He met my eyes and the sheer intensity in them caught me off guard. “Is he our son?”

Our son, he asked. If Caleb knew he would cease to be our son and become his son.

“No. Caleb, he is my son. Mine”

“So who's his father?” He probed further but I wasn't going to break that easily.

“How dare you Caleb. Who the hell do you think you are coming into my life to interrogate me about my son after you humiliated me”

“Emma…” His expression softened slightly.

“Don't. Caleb isn't your son and I'm glad he isn't”

Caleb stared back at Christina's house. His son was in there, a son he didn't know even existed and he would probably never know. His face hardened as his gaze flickered back to me.

“Tell me, who's his father?” Caleb held me by my arms, his grip was tight but not yet enough to hurt me. My mind was reeling in the moment.

I was scared. Scared that I would say the wrong thing, scared that I would lose my son. But above all I was scared that I would give onto my weakness, my desire to be with the man who had rejected me again.

“That is none of your business. Let go of me”

“Answer me Emma, who's the father?”

“His father is dead!” I finally screamed out of frustration. It was partly true because Caleb had been dead to me since the day I left the pack and I'd never looked back. “He was the first one that took me in when I arrived here and he died before I even gave birth to Caleb”

After my outburst, I saw Caleb stumble back, shock and denial clearly written on his face. My own heart stung. I couldn't bare lying to him but I had no choice.

“Caleb is my son. Don't even think for a moment that he's yours because if I'd been pregnant with your child, I wouldn't have ever had it” I knew I had to go to the extreme in hurting Caleb so he'd hate me and forget about me and move on with his life.

His fists curled up at his sides and I could see the veins on his neck and forehead so clearly I was scared they'd explode.

“So you waited what? A couple months to sleep with a random person? A human for that matter? Is that how much you loved me? Or were you just dying to leave so you could be with your lover?”

His words stunned me. How could Caleb think of me so lowly after knowing me for so many years. Did he really believe I'd do something so horrible?

“Stay the hell away from me” I gritted out as I walked towards Christina's house.

“No, Emma please. I'm sorry”

“No you're not, because that's what you think of me. I never want to see you again Caleb”

I felt my chest constrict as I walked away from him. It felt like the night of our mating ceremony all over again. It didn't matter how many times it happened, leaving Caleb would never get easier. This time it hurt even more and I couldn't force myself to get over the pain in my chest.

When I entered Christina's house, my eyes were red as I fought back tears. I refused to be weak, not now when I had to be at my strongest for Lucas. Christina Rose to her feet and immediately pulled me into a hug.

“Oh dear… come sit down” She guided me to the couch and left for the kitchen. She returned with a glass of water for me which I graciously accepted.

Once she thought I was more calm, Christina spoke.

“That's him, isn't he?” I looked at her already knowing what she meant. “That man is Lucas’ father” It was a statement of fact, not a question. It meant she'd put two and two together and she only needed a confirmation from me.

I didn't think there was any point in hiding it from her. Of course I couldn't tell her the entire truth but I could tell her this much.

“Yes. He is”

“Oh my goodness. How are you feeling?”

“I feel… I don't know. I can't even explain how I feel. I think I must be cursed or fate just loves to toy around with me. I finally thought Lucas and I were safe but then he shows up after all these years. I don't know how to feel”

“Did you tell him the truth? That Lucas is his son?”

“No. I didn't”

Caleb couldn't know the truth. Not now, or ever.