Chapter 100
Claire’s POV
Leo’s request of his father shocked me. Given all that Daphne had put him through, how could he want Gideon to try to find him another mother?
And why would he even want one, when I was right here? Yes, he didn’t know that I was his real mother, but I tried to be there for him like a mother would, while also fiercely protecting him.
It wasn’t enough, it seemed. I was lacking, and for whatever the reason, Leo and Gideon were both distancing themselves from me.
The distance persisted at Gideon’s pack house. I took point behind Leo, following him like a bodyguard would. In the past, he would have made a point to make sure I felt like I was included, always talking to me or walking beside me.
Now, I was being treated like a regular bodyguard. Always two steps behind. Never spoken to or acknowledged. Inside, my heart continued breaking, even after I was certain there weren’t any whole pieces left.
By the evening, after making sure Leo was secure for the night and leaving his room, I was emotionally exhausted. I dragged myself forward to check on Nova, wanting to tuck her in for the night.
She was already in bed when I entered her room, but sitting upright, her back against the headboard, like she was waiting for
- me.
“There you are, Mom.”
“Sorry I’m late, honey,” I said.
“It’s okay.”
Moving toward her, I held the covers up for her as she scooched down into them. Then I helped wrap them around her, making sure she was nice and snuggly.
“Are you okay?” Nova asked me, which surprised me. Was I failing her too, if she was able to notice something was wrong? “You just seem kind of sad…”
“I’m okay,” I told her. “I didn’t mean to make you worry.”
“Is it about Uncle Gideon and Leo?” Nova asked me. “Because they are being kind of weird.”
I didn’t want to lie to her, but I didn’t want to worry her either. “It’s been a long day for everyone. I’m sure tomorrow will be better.”
Nova watched me for a minute like she wanted to say something else.
“What is it, honey?” I prompted.
“They found out about you and Uncle Ivan.”
I blinked. “About… us?”
“That you two are dating,” Nova said, matter–of–factly. “That’s why they are upset.”
Oh. Oh no. I had been so worried about Leo coming home and everything else that I still hadn’t cleared the air about Ivan and me. Gideon had the wrong idea, and it seemed both the kids did as well.
Why that would affect their behavior toward me, I wasn’t sure. But if that was what the problem was, to keep us from being
16:42 Mon, Jan 19
Chapter 100
37
$5 voucher
normal, than I was more than happy to clear up this misunderstanding. I had meant to anyway. I didn’t mean for it to go on this long, I had simply been distracted with the return home.
Nova, my daughter who knew she was my daughter, deserved the truth before anyone else. Gods, what she must be assuming. Did she think Ivan was her real father? I guessed I had never given her any reason not to.
I should have cleared this up long ago for her.
“Nova,” I said gently. Sitting down on the edge of her bed, I reached out and placed my hand over hers where they sat atop her waist. “I’m not now, nor have I ever, dated Ivan. He is a very good friend to me, and he helps us so much. But he and I are just friends. We’ve never been romantically involved.”
I watched as the wheels turned in Nova’s head, as she came to understand what I was saying.
“You… aren’t dating Uncle Ivan?”
“No,” I said.
“You haven’t in the past…?”
“No,” I said again.
“Oh,” she said simply and frowned. “But then why does he have a picture of you on his desk?”
This time, I was confused again. Ivan had a picture of me? No, that didn’t seem right. The only picture he had, that I knew about, was the one he never allowed me to see. The one of his lost love.
“I’ve never seen a picture of me on his desk,” I told Nova. “Are you sure you saw it?‘
Nova frowned deeper, and a line formed between her brow. “I’m not sure… I thought it was you…”
“It’s okay,” I said. Lifting my hand, I lightly dragged my thumb over the line splitting her brows. It eased away under my touch. “Don’t worry about a thing. You know the truth now, and that’s what matters.”
Nova nodded, her frown ebbing slightly. “You should tell Leo and Uncle Gideon. They didn’t seem happy about it either.”
“I’ll tell them,” I promised. “You get some sleep.”
Could the answer be as simple as this misunderstanding? Was this why Leo and Gideon had been acting so differently?
Since Leo was supposed to be sleeping, I resolved to talk to him first thing in the morning. Right now, though, I could speak to Gideon, who I know was still in his office. I headed there, going downstairs. At his door, the light was still on in his office, so I knocked.
“Come in,” he called.
I walked inside.
He looked up at me from his desk and then immediately dropped his gaze again. “Leo is alright?”
“Yes,” I said. “But there’s something I need to talk to you about. Amisunderstanding has been made, and it feels really important to clear the air.”
“It can’t wait until morning?”
“I mean, it could, but…” Truthfully, I wanted back the easy friendship I’d had with Gideon. I hated this new tension between us. Maybe it could wait until morning, but I was selfish. I wanted to fix things right here and right now, to have back what we’d lost.
16:42 Mon, Jan 19 MG
Chapter 100
Yet, before I could put a voice to any of that, another knock came at the door, and Xavier entered this time. He only gave me a passing glance before addressing his Alpha.
“Alpha, Sir. We have an unexpected royal visitor. They just crossed the border and are on the way here.”
“What a day,” Gideon cursed, even as he stood up. “Who is it? Ivan?”
“No, Sir. It’s Alpha Justin. And I believe he has his Luna with him.”
“Daphne is coming here?” I gasped.
Gideon lifted his hand and rubbed his forehead. “Raven, get more soldiers. People you trust. And entirely blockade Leo’s room from inside the house and outside of it. Nova too, if you’d like.”
I would do this, but I was also worried about Gideon facing this group on his own. “I’d like to be there to assist you,” I said.
Gideon gave me a long look.
“Have Peter take your place at Leo’s door, then meet me in the hall,” Gideon said.
With that, he left the room and we temporarily went our own ways.
After gathering more security for the children, and leaving Peter in charge, I rushed back down to the hall to stand at Gideon’s side, just as Alpha Justin and Daphne were given entrance.
Justin skipped all formal decorum, storming forward to face Gideon directly.
“Why have you been harassing my in–laws?” Justin demanded. Before Gideon could speak, he continued, “And what is this I’ve heard about my father–in–law being mistreated in jail?”
Gideon narrowed his gaze.
Justin again didn’t wait for him to respond. “If you want to keep this alliance intact, Gideon, then I demand my in–laws be allowed to transfer into my pack, and that includes Darius. I will be taking over his judgement.”
AD
Comment
