Chapter 5
1125 Words
Selene
The air in Kieran’s packhouse was thick with tension, pressing against my skin like a vice. My wolf paced restlessly inside me, unsettled by the sudden shift in my reality.
I never expected to see Kieran again.
Not like this.
And I certainly never planned for him to find out about Caelum this way.
But here we were.
And the possessiveness in Kieran’s eyes as he watched our son told me one thing—he wasn’t letting us leave.
I sat on the edge of the couch in the massive living room, holding Caelum close to my chest. He was still half-asleep, his tiny fingers curled into my shirt, unaware of the storm raging around him.
Across from me, Kieran stood with his arms crossed, his golden eyes locked onto Caelum like he was afraid to blink.
I could see it—the emotions flickering across his face.
Anger.
Shock.
Something deeper, something more painful.
And it made my stomach twist.
Because I had done this.
I had kept them apart.
And now, I had to face the consequences.
Kieran’s voice cut through the silence. “Why?”
I tensed, my grip on Caelum tightening. “Why what?”
His jaw clenched. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
I forced myself to meet his gaze. “Because I knew you’d do exactly this.”
His eyes darkened. “This? You mean claim my son?”
“He’s our son,” I corrected sharply. “And I wasn’t going to drag him into a world that didn’t want me.”
Something flickered in his expression—hurt, maybe—but it was gone in an instant. “That wasn’t your choice to make, Selene.”
I swallowed, my throat dry. “It was the only choice I had.”
Kieran exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark hair. “That’s bullshit, and you know it.”
I flinched at his tone, but I didn’t back down.
Because no matter how much this hurt him, it had hurt me too.
I had spent three years looking over my shoulder, three years raising a child alone, three years wondering if I had done the right thing.
And now, here we were.
Staring at each other across the space between us, a chasm of pain and regret stretching wide.
Kieran’s voice was lower when he spoke again. “Does he know anything about me?”
I hesitated.
Then, I shook my head. “No.”
His nostrils flared, his body rigid as if restraining himself. “So, what does he think? That he has no father?”
My fingers curled into Caelum’s soft curls, the guilt in my chest tightening like a noose. “He knows he has a father. I just… I told him you couldn’t be with us.”
The silence that followed was deafening.
Kieran’s golden eyes burned into me, and when he finally spoke, his voice was raw. “You told him I abandoned him?”
I flinched. “No! I never said that. I told him you—” My voice faltered. “I told him you didn’t know about him.”
His eyes softened, just slightly, before the anger returned. “And whose fault was that?”
My throat burned. “Mine.”
The admission felt like sandpaper scraping against my soul.
Kieran ran a hand down his face, exhaling sharply. He looked like he wanted to break something, to lash out, but instead, he turned his gaze to Caelum.
Our son.
His expression changed, the raw anger shifting into something else—something even more painful.
Regret.
Possession.
Love.
Caelum stirred in my arms, his little face scrunching as he blinked sleepily.
“Mommy?” His voice was groggy, his tiny body stretching.
I smoothed a hand down his back. “I’m here, sweetheart.”
Caelum’s golden eyes—so much like Kieran’s—flickered toward him.
He blinked at Kieran, curious but wary.
Kieran crouched down, bringing himself to Caelum’s level. “Hey, little man.” His voice was softer now, almost unsure.
Caelum tilted his head. “Who are you?”
Kieran swallowed. “I’m… I’m Kieran.”
Caelum studied him, then turned to me. “Mommy, he looks like me.”
My heart ached.
Because he did.
So much.
I forced a smile. “That’s because… he’s your daddy, sweetheart.”
Caelum blinked, his small face scrunching in confusion. “My daddy?”
Kieran’s breath hitched, and I saw it—the pure, unfiltered emotion in his golden eyes.
“Yes, little man,” Kieran said, his voice rough. “I’m your daddy.”
Caelum was silent for a moment, his tiny mind processing the words. Then, slowly, his lips parted.
“Where have you been?”
Kieran’s entire body tensed.
And my stomach dropped.
Because how the hell was he supposed to answer that?
I opened my mouth, but Kieran beat me to it.
“I didn’t know about you,” Kieran said, his voice strained but honest. “If I had… I would have been here.”
Caelum stared at him, his little brows furrowing. “You promise?”
Kieran’s jaw tightened. “I swear.”
Caelum hesitated.
Then, to my absolute shock, he reached out a small hand.
Kieran stilled.
Then, carefully, like he was afraid to break him, he took Caelum’s tiny hand in his own.
A breath I hadn’t realized I was holding escaped my lips.
Because despite the pain, the anger, the tension—this moment was real.
And it was theirs.
Caelum yawned, rubbing his eyes. “I’m sleepy.”
Kieran let out a choked breath, nodding. “Okay, little man. You get some rest.”
I shifted to stand, but Kieran’s voice stopped me.
“You’re staying.”
I turned to him, my stomach tightening. “What?”
Kieran rose to his full height, his expression unreadable. “You’re not leaving, Selene. Not until we figure this out.”
I bristled. “You don’t get to order me around.”
His golden eyes darkened. “You kept my son from me for three years. You don’t get to walk away now.”
My pulse pounded. “I did what I thought was best.”
“And now, what’s best is for him to have both of his parents.”
I swallowed.
Because no matter how much I wanted to fight him, I knew he was right.
I sighed, exhausted. “Fine.”
Kieran’s eyes flickered with something unreadable before he nodded.
“I’ll have a room prepared for you.”
I didn’t argue this time.
Because no matter how much I wanted to run, I couldn’t.
Not anymore.
This wasn’t just about me.
It never had been.
- Writer
