Chapter 103
Claire’s POV
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His coldness chilled me from the inside out, and in a moment of weakness, I thought about telling him the truth about me and Ivan. I had sought him out before to tell him such, but with the way he was acting now, so curt and annoyed, I didn’t really want to have that kind of discussion with him right now.
In this moment, I didn’t think it would change anything, and if it did, my question then would be, why? What difference did it really make to him if I was romantically involved with Ivan or not? Why was he letting that influence him in how he treated me?
Hadn’t I already proved myself a dozen times over, as a worthy confidant and protector? For him to ice me out like he was, all over my actually non–existent personal relationship with Ivan was an insult both to myself and to Ivan.
“If that’s all, I must insist you return to protecting my son,” Gideon said.
Anything I had wanted to say to him immediately disappeared from my mind. He didn’t deserve to know the truth when he was acting like this. Or, at the very least, it wasn’t any of his business.
“Very well,” I said, forcing my voice to be utterly devoid of any feelings. Then I turned and walked from the room.
As I arrived at Leo’s door, I relieved Peter, who I had left in charge of watching the children.
“They are both sound asleep,” he told me.
“I’ll take over now,” I said.
He nodded, then retired to his own room to rest. As a bodyguard sleep was a rare thing and needed to be claimed whenever allowed. I knew Peter was resting now so that he could relieve me later, and I could rest slightly before the children awoke.
At least, I was sure that was what he intended. I had no interest in sleeping at all tonight. With how fast my mind was reeling, I didn’t think I could find sleep even if I went searching for it.
I was annoyed with Gideon through and through. I couldn’t believe he was treating me so coldly after all this time.
Yet…
Gideon had to be under a tremendous amount of stress. Was it really so surprising that he would lash out at me?
Loyalty was clearly an ongoing issue for him, and though I had always proven myself loyal, perhaps the perceived relationship between Ivan and me brought my true loyalties into question. Maybe that was the real reason he had been treating me so distantly.
I frowned, unsure what to do. Irritated as I was at Gideon, I didn’t want him to lose everything. I hated everything I had gone through in our past, but… did I hate him?
Not enough for him to lose his role as Alpha.
I felt at an impasse and unsure what to do. I didn’t have many friends or people to talk to, far fewer that would be able to give me advice in this situation.
The only real friend I had was Ivan. He wasn’t in Gideon’s corner, and likely never would be, but if I went to him for advice, I was sure he would at least be honest with me. I needed someone with a level head to give me some help here. There was no one with a more level head than Ivan.
So as I stood in the hallway between the two children’s doors, I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Ivan.
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Chapter 103
Despite the late hour, I knew he’d be awake, so I wasn’t surprised when he answered right away.
“Claire. What is it?” he asked.
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“You won’t believe what happened here,” I said, and proceeded to tell him everything that had occurred, from Justin and Daphne’s arrival, to their lies, and finally to their threats. After, admitted, “I don’t know what I should do.”
“Why should you do anything?” he said calmly.
“What do you mean?” I was confused. That wasn’t the advice I had anticipated.
“You should stay out of it, Claire. Let whatever is going to happen, happen. It doesn’t affect you.”
“He could lose his pack…”
“And if he does,” Ivan said, “Then you could easily secure Leo’s custody. You’d only be hurting your own cause by helping
him.”
He was right. If Gideon lost his power, then I would gain some. But… it didn’t feel right, winning that way. And the whole of the pack would suffer.
I was torn.
I wanted to have both of my children under my roof, knowing me as their mother. And Gideon did not deserve my loyalty after all he had done to me.
But… I didn’t hate Gideon, even if I had right to. I didn’t want to see him lose everything he had spent his whole life working
for.
And I certainly didn’t want to see Daphne win.
“You will do what you feel is right,” Ivan said. “But think about it. This time, it is worth staying
out of it.”
I couldn’t sleep, not even after Peter came to relieve me as I had expected. I didn’t want to take my eyes off of Leo’s door, worried that Daphne might appear in the night to finish what she tried in the past.
My mind was also filled with unrest, debating back and forth. Did I help Gideon, or did I stand to the side and let what would happen, happen? I didn’t have to plot against Gideon at all Just… not interfere.
It wouldn’t be so hard.
But it still didn’t feel right.
In the morning, Leo woke hungry and wanted to go down for breakfast.
“I’ll follow you,” I said.
“Yeah, sure, whatever,” Leo said dismissively. My heart ached. I still hadn’t gotten to talk to him about Ivan and me either. But there were more important things to talk about now.
He needed to be warned about Justin and Daphne.
“Leo, you should know that
“I’m hungry,” he said. “Whatever you want to say can wait until after food, can’t it?”
He scurried off before I could say more. I moved quickly after him, even though it felt suspiciously like he was trying to lose me on purpose. He wouldn’t though. He was my son, and I was going to protect him from Daphne, even if he was being stubborn.
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“Leo, it’s really important that we talk for a moment,” I said, when I caught
“I don’t want to talk,” Leo said. “I just want to eat.”
“Yes, but –”
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up with him again.
Leo burst into the dining room, ready for breakfast, but then stopped immediately just inside the doorway. I stopped too, quickly, before I could run into the back of him.
Sitting at the dining room table, enjoying muffins and eggs, were Justin and Daphne.
I couldn’t see Leo’s face, but even his cars went pale.
Justin and Daphne looked over at us. Justin’s expression remained cool and indifferent, but Daphne’s face turned sickeningly
sweet.
Leo backed up a step, bumping into me. I steadied him by placing my hands on his shoulders. I hoped the gesture brought him comfort.
Daphne smiled. “Look at you, Leo. I swear you’ve grown in just a few months. Come over and sit next to me. Did you miss me, like I missed you?”
