Chapter 14
Claire's POV
I bit the inside of my cheek as I looked at my daughter. This wasn't something that any six year old should have to worry about, especially when her own mother had no idea how to answer that question.
What about her dad? Would I take Gideon back if he asked? After everything he put me through six years ago, I knew he didn't deserve me. I knew it and yet…
Nova was still watching me with expectant, almost hopeful eyes. I ruffled her hair playfully before pulling her into a hug. “Let's work on getting your brother back, first. But before that, I think a certain little wolf needs a bath. What do you think?”
As I expected, Nova immediately wriggled out of my arms, shrieking wildly as she ran from the room. I heard Emma start chasing after her and I almost felt bad. Almost. I would have done anything to get out of that conversation.
“Smooth,” Ivan’s low voice came from the shadows seconds before he emerged. His frame took up the entire doorway, which would have been intimidating if I hadn't seen the faint hint of amusement hiding behind the steel of his eyes.
I shoved a knife into my boot. If I had my wolf back, I wouldn't need the stupid thing. But even for ‘normal’ wolves, rogues were dangerous. I needed all the weapons I could carry.
“If you think you can do better, next time I'll send her to you.”
I didn't even try to hide my smile as a look of abject horror came over Ivan's face. “You will do no such thing, Claire. I mean it. As your prince, that's an order.”
I chuckled. “My, my, my. The big bad Alpha Prince is scared of a six year old. What would the other packs think if they found out?”
Ivan's eyes narrowed as he bared his fangs. I rolled my eyes and continued getting ready. I knew he wouldn't hurt me. Emma had been right when she told me that the Alpha Prince wasn't as cruel as he would like the rest of the world to think he is.
In the beginning, I had walked on eggshells around him, afraid that I would offend him somehow and be punished. But as time passed and I watched how he interacted with those in his inner circle, it became clear that, though aloof, there was a warm and loving heart beating in his chest.
And while Ivan and I would probably never be the best of friends, trading secrets and braiding each other's hair, we'd settled into a relationship of light teasing, reassuring touches and having each other's backs. Anything more than that was out of the question. He was the Alpha Prince while I was…nothing.
“What, exactly, is your plan for your son? How will you get him back? I will advise that merely kidnapping him would not work. It would put the Night Mountain pack at war with the Silver Crescent pack. And while I have no doubt that we would win, there would be heavy casualties on both sides.” Ivan's questions interrupted my thoughts. I finished getting ready for my shift and crossed my arms, meeting his eyes defiantly.
“I don't know. Right now, I just want to be around him. And maybe while I'm with him, I can get some intel on what's going on with the Silver Crescent pack. Look for any weaknesses that I can exploit. But I promise I won't put the Night Mountain pack in danger. This is my home now.” This was my shelter in the storm. The only place that I felt safe. Plus, Nova was here. I would not bring war to her doorstep.
Ivan regarded me coolly, a thousand unsaid words behind his eyes,but he finally nodded and left without another word. I sighed before following him out the door. It was going to be a long night.
“Are you absolutely sure about this, Claire?” Peter asked once again as we pulled into Gideon's driveway. Ivan had reassigned him to be my bodyguard. I had tried to argue that a bodyguard needing a bodyguard seemed weird, but Ivan had pulled rank. So here we were.
“Yes and remember, it's Raven Larson here. Claire Hallow is dead.”
I climbed out of the car, expecting to be greeted by one of the staff members, but was met with Gideon's familiar face instead. His green eyes zeroed in on me and I lowered mine. To everyone else, I'm sure it looked like respect. But in reality, I was terrified that he would recognize me. It had been dark at the party.
“Thank you for coming, Ms. Larson. It means a great deal to me that Prince Ivan is willing to share you, as it were, but who are you?” I could feel his attention shift to Peter.
“I am here to protect Raven. Prince Ivan's orders,” Peter grunted and that was that.
Prince Ivan's word was law.
“So be it. I know you weren't expecting me to be here, but I thought I would talk to you about Leo before you officially start. His schedule is pretty easy. He gets playtime in the morning after breakfast, then he goes to his Alpha heir lessons until lunch. He gets a second playtime before he goes back to his lessons. You'll be finished by dinner since I should be back by then,” Gideon explained as they went inside the house.
I bit my lip to keep from asking why there wasn't any training. Alpha heirs began learning how to fight as soon as they could walk, but it didn't seem like Leo was getting any of that. It seemed especially odd since Gideon had mentioned multiple assassination attempts. Shouldn't Leo be learning at least basic self-defense?
“Leo is a bright child. He's kind and trusting. Except when it comes to ice cream. He's a vicious little wolf when it comes to ice cream. It's easier to just let him have it,” Gideon continued, chuckling warmly.
Listening to him talk about our son made my chest ache. I wanted to know more. I wanted to soak in every little detail. I had missed six years of his life. I didn't want to miss any more.
When we arrived at Leo's door, Gideon paused. A shadow fell across his face and his hand briefly squeezed into a fist. “There's just one thing that Leo is not allowed to do. If he ever asks about going out and looking for his mother, shut it down. I don't care what you have to do to change the subject. Just do it.”
My lips curled into a sneer and I was so glad that I was wearing a mask. I had absolutely no control over my facial features when it came to Leo.
“Isn't Daphne his mother?”
I felt Peter move closer. Whether to protect me from Gideon or to remind me to behave myself, I didn't know.
“That's none of your concern, Ms. Larson. Just follow my orders. I know you are part of Prince Ivan's pack, but this is my territory. The help doesn't ask questions here. Is that clear?” Gideon asked and before I could react, he used his finger and thumb to tilt my head up so that I was suddenly looking into his eyes.
An electric current zinged through my veins at the direct eye contact. The bond may have been broken, but it was one of the strongest magics. You couldn’t just get rid of it completely and I knew Gideon felt it too.
His eyes narrowed, brows furrowed in confusion. “Do we know each other?”
I took a step back and his hand fell. “No, we don't. I had never left pack lands before that
night.”
“Then why wear a mask? It's not like anyone would recognize you if that were the case,”
Gideon pressed and I fought the urge to take another step back. Peter shifted uncomfortably behind me.
“I was injured several years ago in a fight with the rogues. They left pretty nasty scars. It really unnerves other wolves so I started wearing a mask. I don't want to scare people and I don't want to scare the young Alpha heir either,” I explained hastily, thanking the moon and stars that Gideon hadn't inherited the ability to sniff out lies.
Gideon frowned and looked like he wanted to say something else, but he didn't press further. Instead he just opened the door and gestured for me to go inside. Relief flowed through me and I made a mental note to be more careful in the future.
Peter took up his post at the door entrance while I went inside to greet my son as his official bodyguard.
“Miss Warrior!” Leo cried as soon as he saw me, launching himself into my arms. I wrapped my arms around him immediately, breathing in his scent. And now that we weren't going to be interrupted, I had more time to study him.
Despite him supposedly being the Alpha of prophecy, Leo seemed smaller than Nova. In fact, he felt almost fragile.I couldn't feel any muscle definition as I ran my hands over him.
“Miss Warrior, that tickles,” Leo giggled as he pulled out of the embrace. He grabbed my hand and led me over to what was clearly his toy box. It was filled to the brim with all the latest toys. Leo began pulling them out one by one and showing them to me.
I listened with rapt attention as he explained each of his favorites. However, I was also evaluating his every movement. It was becoming clear that Leo definitely wasn't getting any training. He also wasn't the same strong pup that I had given birth to. His health seemed to be suffering as well.
“I know you’re my bodyguard and all, but thank you for playing with me. I don't get to play with people often,” Leo whispered as he clutched a wolf stuffie to his chest. A pang of sympathy and anger clenched my heart. They weren't treating my son like an Alpha heir. They were treating him like some glorified doll. That was going to change. I was going to find a way to train him if it was the last thing I'd ever do.
“Daphne doesn't play with you?” I asked, even though it felt like my heart was tearing in two. It killed me to think of her anywhere near my son.
Leo shook his head solemnly. “No, never. But…can I tell you a secret?” he asked, eyes shifting around nervously.
I nodded and Leo leaned in, cupping his hands around his mouth. “I don't like Daphne. She's mean.”
I bit my lip to keep from snarling. The bitch was dead. Absolutely dead. “What about your father? Is he mean too?”
Leo's little face lit up at the mention of Gideon. “Papa is the best papa in the world. He could never be mean!”
Relief flooded through me for the second time that morning. Not that Gideon didn't deserve to die, but I don't think I could have handled it if he had been mistreating our son. I might have broken my promise to Ivan right there and then.
A knock at the door had us both turning to it. A maid walked in to remind Leo that it was time for his Alpha heir lessons. He immediately pouted and clutched onto my arm. I patted his hand gently.
“It's okay. I promise I'll be right outside your lessons if you need me. And then we can eat lunch and play again. How does that sound?”
Leo nodded and we walked out of the room hand in hand.
After checking to make sure there wasn't any ambush waiting for Leo inside his classroom, I took up a spot right outside the door. I listened to the teacher drone on about pack rules and what it means to be the Alpha. I wasn't sure how Leo wasn't asleep immediately. It was so boring.
A familiar click clack of heels brought my attention to end of the hallway. Much to my chagrin, Daphne was making a beeline for me, her own bodyguards trailing behind her. What the hell did she want? As far as I was concerned, she and I had no business talking to each other.
“You, there. Since you have so much time to just be loitering in the hallway, why don't you make yourself useful and go pick up my laundry,” Daphne barked, red lips pulled back into a sneer.
I cocked my head at her. “I'm Leo's bodyguard, not your servant. I'm sure you have plenty of those. Why don't you go ask one of them?”
Daphne's fists clenched at her sides. “I am going to be Luna. You do as you're told.” I huffed out a laugh. “Not my Luna. You can't order me to do shit.”
Daphne's face turned red. I knew I shouldn't be provoking her, but I couldn’t help myself.
I couldn't maintain any sense of professionalism with this bitch was in front of me.
“Guards, grab her. I'm going to teach this little bitch a lesson,” Daphne ordered and the guards immediately started moving, no questions asked. Flashbacks to the hospitals played in bright flashes behind my eyes. Not again. She was never going to touch me again.
I darted around the guards and grabbed Daphne, pinning her by the neck with my arm against the wall. The anger had fueled what little of my wolf I had gained in the past six years. I had moved too fast and I was holding the next Luna with nothing but my arm. Too fast, too strong.
Behind the fear in Daphne's eyes, I could see the recognition. There had only been one wolf born that strong in our generation. Only one. And it certainly wasn't Raven Larson. Had I just given myself away?
“Claire?”
Fuck.
