The more I considered the possibilities, the more I realized that Claire was likely an innocent here, under the influence of Ivan. Ivan was an Alpha, after all, and as independent as Claire could be, any young woman could find herself convinced by an older man.
Ivan probably liked Claire from the start and tried to woo her out from under my very nose. Perhaps he was the true mastermind here, creating a scenario where Claire was free to be with him even though she had been bound to me.
“Xavier,” I said, calling my Beta into my office. “How much do you know about Alpha Ivan?”
Xavier gave me a curious look. “I know some things from my previous investigation into Raven. Would you like me to try to look closer?”
“Gather what you have right now, but… yes. I want to know what we can, specifically in relation to his past, and his love life.”
Xavier understood. I’d already told him that Claire was alive and that she was with Ivan now. He was a smart man and could easily connect the dots of my interest from there.
“Yes, Alpha,” he said, and nodding, left the room.
For the next few days, we both did our research, calling in favors and asking questions of mutual acquaintances and friends. Xavier dug a little deeper, and to maintain plausible deniability, I did not inquire as to how he obtained his sources.
I trusted him, and therefore trusted any information he would uncover, even if I didn’t know exactly how he had got it.
After those few days, Xavier presented me with a thick folder. It thumped as he dropped it onto the desk. At once, I opened the folder to read inside. It didn’t take long for me to receive my first shock, and then my second and third.
First, Ivan had no fated mate. Given his slightly older age, that was somewhat unusual. Though it did happen where werewolves didn’t ever find their fated mates. For it to happen to an Alpha felt particularly cruel.
Perhaps in keeping his pack so isolated, he had actually hurt himself. His mate could have belonged to another pack. someone far away from him that he never allowed himself to meet, in keeping so close to his pack.
Though he was now bound to Claire, they weren’t fated mates. I knew, because Claire, before I had rejected her, had been fated to me. I supposed they could have had a second–chance romance, but it seemed unlikely, especially if this report was
true.
I had no reason to doubt it.
On the next page in the folder was a report of some rumors that haunted the halls of the royal palace.
Per old servants and rumors of the court, Ivan had once been enamored with the former Luna Queen. They had been friends as children, but the Luna had chosen the King as her love, rather than Ivan.
My family had strongly supported the union. I wondered now if van had tried to steal Claire as some kind of revenge against my family,
Could that lead to him hurting Leo?
No…. I didn’t truly think that. Ivan might have broken my own relationship, but he had also worked with me in protecting the children, as Claire did. Whatever was between us, I didn’t think would hurt the children.
I would still be watching for any signs that Leo was being neglected however.
16:14 Sat, Jan 31
Chapter 146
With Leo’s visit approaching in only another day, I was being faced with a choice.
Was anything in the folder enough of a reason not to send Leo to Ivan’s pack?
As I continued to skim, I just didn’t think so. Much of the folder was very dry. Ivan was a man with much influence in the kingdom, but he didn’t use it all that often and seemingly never for ill. It truly just seemed like he wanted to be left alone.
Particularly after the death of the Luna Queen.
Still, I was on the fence about sending Leo away. I didn’t want him to have to face an uncaring mother.
Yet, when I went to check on him in his room, I found him packing.
“I told Nova I’m coming,” he said, smiling. “She’s so excited and so am I. There’s so much she’s going to show me.”
He was so excited that I decided I couldn’t stand in his way.
“Let me help you pack,” I said, and went to help.
When the time came, I had to take Leo to the border. We took a car, stopping a few yard away. Then, as I carried the bags, Leo and I walked the rest of the way to the border between the two packs.
I was tense, expecting Ivan to be there, but true to my conditions, only Claire was there, with Nova beside her.
“Leo!” Nova called.
“Nova!” Leo replied, just as excitedly. He started to run, then, crossing the border like it was nothing to hug his friend, now half–sister.
I moved slower and was unwilling to cross that line. I left Leo’s suitcases on the edge of the border.
Claire walked forward to collect them. She avoided my gaze.
There were so many things I wanted to say. I wanted to yell, to shout, and even to beg – all for her to tell me the truth of what happened six years before.
But I didn’t want to fight in front of the kids, who were within earshot. Maybe I didn’t want them to hear the truth either. They should be kept innocent from all of these things, the potential moral failings of their parents.
I couldn’t even speak ill of Ivan with Nova there, not wanting to speak badly about her father that she might overhear.
“Thank you for bringing him,” Claire said to me.
I didn’t trust myself to speak to her, so I just grunted.
After taking the suitcases, Claire turned, moving closer to the children. Seeing her, Leo hugged her as well, as did Nova. The three of them embraced for a long time.
Across the border, I could only watch, feeling like an outsider.
My wolf stirred, agitated, within me.
I understood the feeling.
This should have been my family. Instead, I was looking from the outside in on some other man’s life.
It tore me apart. It made me want to call my son back, to take him back home and away from here.
But he was also smiling. I couldn’t ruin this for him, even if it ripped me apart.
16:14 Sat, Jan 31
Chapter 146
Ending his hug with his mother, he turned and looked at me. He waved.
I waved back. “See you in a week,” I told him. “Right here in this spot.”
“Okay.”
“Be good.”
“Okay. Bye!” He turned around then, and the three of them began to walk away.
My heart ached with each step leading them away from me.
My wolf paced, furious, but there was nowhere for that fury to go. The trio weren’t in any danger. They were simply… leaving me behind.
Eventually, they moved out of my sight. Some warriors were watching me from the other side of the border, and I knew I had worn out my welcome.
Frowning, I turned and walked back to my car, feeling more alone than I had in a very long time.
AD
