Chapter Five: Wren Meets His Father
1691 Words
Aariana woke before sunrise.
She had barely slept.
The image of Lucas standing across the council chamber remained in her mind.
Ros.
He had called her by the name she had buried five years ago.
Not Alpha Calder.
Not Aariana.
Ros.
For one brief second, she had been that girl again.
The girl who had trusted him.
The girl who had believed their marriage meant something.
Aariana pushed the memory away.
She dressed quickly and strapped her blade around her waist.
Today was the succession hearing.
She needed to be prepared.
Not distracted.
Especially not by Lucas.
A knock sounded.
“Come in.”
One of her warriors stepped inside.
“Alpha, the council has sent the schedule.”
Aariana took the document.
“When?”
“First session at nine. The bloodline claims will be examined before noon.”
Aariana nodded.
“And Wren?”
“He's having breakfast.”
“Good.”
She folded the schedule.
“Make sure someone stays with him.”
The warrior hesitated.
“He's already complained about having a guard.”
Aariana sighed.
“That sounds like Wren.”
“He said he wasn't a prisoner.”
“He isn't.”
The warrior waited.
Aariana looked at him.
“But he is seven.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Keep someone nearby without making it obvious.”
The warrior nodded and left.
Aariana entered the dining room a few minutes later.
Wren was sitting at the table.
His breakfast was untouched.
Instead, he was drawing something on a piece of paper.
“What are you doing?”
“Drawing.”
“I can see that.”
He turned the paper toward her.
It was a wolf.
A very badly drawn wolf.
Aariana stared at it.
“That's supposed to be a wolf?”
“Yes.”
“It looks like a goat.”
Wren gasped.
“It's not a goat.”
“Then what happened to its ears?”
“Wind.”
Aariana couldn't stop herself.
She laughed.
Wren smiled proudly.
Then his expression became serious.
“Mother?”
“Yes?”
“Why did that man call you Ros?”
Aariana's smile disappeared.
She placed her cup on the table.
“Who?”
“The man yesterday.”
“Lucas.”
She hadn't meant to say his name.
Wren noticed.
“Lucas.”
Aariana looked at him.
“He knew me a long time ago.”
“Before me?”
“Yes.”
“Was he your friend?”
Aariana looked away.
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Wren studied her.
“Was he your enemy?”
Aariana didn't answer.
“Finish your breakfast.”
Wren sighed.
“You always do that.”
“Do what?”
“Change the subject when I ask difficult questions.”
Aariana looked at him.
“You ask too many difficult questions.”
“Maybe you give too few answers.”
She stared at him.
For a moment, she saw Lucas in the boy's expression.
The stubbornness.
The confidence.
The way he refused to look away when challenged.
Aariana's chest tightened.
“Stay here.”
Wren nodded.
“I will.”
Aariana left the dining room.
She made it exactly thirty seconds before one of the guards entered.
Then another.
Then someone called for her from the hallway.
By the time she returned to the dining room, Wren was gone.
Aariana stopped.
His chair was empty.
The drawing remained on the table.
Her stomach dropped.
“Wren?”
No answer.
She moved quickly through the room.
The back door was open.
Aariana stepped outside.
Her senses sharpened.
She could smell him.
But his scent mixed with the unfamiliar scents of the old estate.
“Wren.”
Nothing.
Aariana's wolf stirred.
She followed his trail.
Across the courtyard.
Past the training grounds.
Toward the old west wing.
Aariana stopped.
That building had been closed for years.
It had once been where the Alpha's private records were stored.
The door was slightly open.
She pushed it wider.
Inside, footsteps echoed somewhere ahead.
Aariana moved silently.
“Wren?”
Still nothing.
Then she heard a boy's voice.
“Are you lost?”
Aariana froze.
A man's voice answered.
“No.”
She recognized it immediately.
Lucas.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
She moved toward the sound.
But before she reached the room, she heard Wren laugh.
Aariana stopped.
Lucas had found him.
Her first instinct was to rush inside.
Her second was stronger.
Listen.
She remained in the hallway.
Inside, Lucas spoke.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was exploring.”
“Were you told not to?”
“Yes.”
“And you ignored the order?”
Wren was silent.
Then he said proudly,
“Yes.”
Lucas laughed.
Aariana closed her eyes.
Of all the people in the territory, it had to be him.
She moved closer.
Through the half-open doorway, she could see them.
Wren stood beside a large wooden table.
Lucas was leaning against it.
They were looking at each other.
And Aariana suddenly understood why the sight hurt.
They looked alike.
Not completely.
But enough.
The same dark eyes.
The same stubborn chin.
The same habit of tilting their heads when suspicious.
Lucas was studying Wren.
“What's your name?”
“Wren.”
“Wren what?”
“Wren Calder.”
Lucas went still.
Aariana's fingers tightened around the doorframe.
Lucas looked at the boy again.
“Calder?”
“Yes.”
“Who is your mother?”
“My mother is Alpha Aariana.”
Lucas's face changed.
Aariana saw it.
Recognition.
Confusion.
Then something deeper.
Lucas crouched slightly so he was closer to Wren's height.
“How old are you?”
“Seven.”
“Seven?”
“Yes.”
Lucas stared at him.
Wren frowned.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because you look familiar.”
“Maybe you've seen me before.”
“Maybe.”
Wren considered him.
“What's your name?”
Lucas hesitated.
“Lucas.”
Wren's eyes widened.
“Lucas Voss?”
Lucas looked surprised.
“You know me?”
“My mother said your name.”
Aariana's heart stopped.
Lucas's voice became quieter.
“What did she say?”
“That you were someone from before.”
Lucas looked away.
Wren continued.
“Were you friends?”
“No.”
Wren frowned.
“You don't look like enemies.”
Lucas looked back at him.
“You're very observant.”
“My mother says it's important.”
“Your mother sounds wise.”
“She is.”
Wren smiled.
Then he pointed at Lucas.
“You have the same eyes as me.”
Lucas froze.
Aariana's breath caught.
Wren continued innocently.
“And you stand like me.”
Lucas stared at him.
“Do I?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe that's just a coincidence.”
Wren shrugged.
“Maybe.”
Lucas looked at the boy again.
Something in his expression made Aariana's stomach twist.
He was putting pieces together.
Not enough.
Not yet.
But enough to make her afraid.
Wren suddenly noticed something on the table.
A wooden box.
“What is that?”
“Old records.”
“Can I see?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because they're private.”
Wren reached for the box anyway.
Lucas caught his hand gently.
“I said no.”
Wren pulled his hand back.
“You sound like my mother.”
Lucas smiled.
“Then she must be strict.”
“She is.”
“Does she ever tell you about your father?”
The question hit Aariana like a blow.
Wren's smile disappeared.
He looked down.
“No.”
Lucas's expression changed.
“Do you know who he is?”
Wren shook his head.
“My mother says it's complicated.”
Lucas went silent.
Aariana could see the question forming in his eyes.
Then Wren looked up.
“Do you have children?”
Lucas's face became unreadable.
“No.”
Aariana knew that answer hurt more than it should.
Wren nodded.
“Then we're both missing someone.”
Lucas stared at him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then footsteps sounded behind Aariana.
One of the guards approached.
“Alpha.”
Aariana turned sharply.
“Quiet.”
The guard lowered his voice.
“I'm sorry. We couldn't find Wren.”
“I found him.”
Aariana looked back into the room.
Lucas had noticed them.
His eyes met hers.
Wren turned.
“Mother!”
He ran toward her.
Aariana caught him.
She pulled him close.
“Where were you?”
“Exploring.”
“I told you to stay inside.”
“I know.”
“And?”
Wren looked guilty.
“I wanted to see the old building.”
Aariana sighed.
“Never do that again.”
“Okay.”
Lucas stood several feet away.
His gaze remained fixed on them.
Especially Wren.
Aariana could feel the question hanging between them.
She stepped in front of her son.
“Thank you for finding him.”
Lucas didn't answer immediately.
Then his eyes moved to Wren.
“Seven years old.”
Aariana's heartbeat quickened.
Lucas looked at her.
“You said he was your son.”
“He is.”
“Who is his father?”
Silence.
Aariana's hand tightened around Wren's shoulder.
Lucas's voice became quieter.
“I think I deserve an answer.”
Aariana stared at him.
Five years of secrets.
Five years of protecting Wren.
Five years of telling herself that Lucas had no right to know.
But now he was standing in front of his son.
And Wren was looking between them.
Waiting.
Lucas took one step closer.
“Ros.”
Aariana flinched at the name.
Lucas's eyes remained on hers.
“Who is Wren's father?”
Aariana opened her mouth.
The truth rose to her lips.
Then Wren reached for her hand.
“Mother?”
Aariana looked down at him.
Then back at Lucas.
For the first time in five years, she had nowhere left to hide.
Her lips parted.
“Wren's father is…”
And the words stopped there.
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