THE ALPHA'S UNWANTED MATE

Chapter 13: Five Years Too Late

The apartment felt too small with Damien in it.

Aria stood by the kitchen counter, making coffee with shaking hands. The scent of it filled the tiny space, but it did nothing to calm the storm in her chest. She could feel his eyes on her back. Heavy. Intense. Like he was trying to memorize every part of her.

Five years.

Five years of running. Of hiding. Of pretending she was okay.

And now he was here. In her home.

“Do you want coffee?” she asked.

“Black. No sugar.” Damien’s voice was the same. Deep. Commanding.

Just like she remembered.

She placed the mug in front of him on the small table. Their fingers brushed when she let go. Electricity shot up her arm.

Both of them pulled back like they’d been burned.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was Leo’s soft breathing from the bedroom.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Damien asked finally. His voice was low, almost a growl.

Aria laughed, but there was no humor in it. She turned to face him, arms crossed. “And say what, Damien? ‘Hey, congrats, you got me pregnant the night you broke my heart and disappeared’?”

Damien flinched. The Alpha King. Flinching.

“I didn’t know you were pregnant,” he said. “I swear to you, Aria. If I had known—”

“You didn’t ask,” Aria cut him off. Tears threatened but she refused to let them fall. “You left that same night. No call. No message. Nothing.”

Damien ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. “My father was dying. The pack needed me. I thought... I thought you would be safer if I stayed away.”

“Safer?” Aria scoffed. “Do you know how hard it was to raise our son alone? Do you know how many nights Leo cried for a father who wasn’t there? How many times I had to tell him ‘Daddy’s working’ when I knew damn well you didn’t even care?”

Damien’s jaw clenched. “That’s not true. I cared. I still do.”

“Then where were you?” Aria’s voice cracked. “For five years, Damien. Five years.”

The apartment went silent. Heavy with 5 years of pain.

From the bedroom, a small voice called out. “Mommy?”

Both of them froze.

Leo appeared in the doorway, rubbing his eyes, clutching his stuffed wolf. He looked from Aria to Damien, confused.

“Are you shouting?” Leo whispered.

Aria instantly softened. “No, baby. We’re just... talking.”

Leo’s eyes landed on Damien. He froze. Then his little brows furrowed.

“You have the same eyes as me,” Leo said quietly.

Damien’s whole body stilled. The Alpha King who commanded armies suddenly looked lost.

“I know,” Damien said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Because I’m your dad, Leo.”

Leo blinked. He looked at Aria for answers.

Aria’s heart shattered. She knelt down to Leo’s level. “Yes, sayang. This is... your father.”

Leo was quiet for a long time. Then he did something that broke both adults.

He walked to Damien and held out his stuffed wolf.

“You can have him,” Leo said. “He helps when you’re scared.”

Damien took the toy with trembling hands. His gold eyes were glassy.

“Thank you, bud,” Damien whispered. “I promise I’ll keep the bad dreams away. For you. For Mommy. For both of you.”

Aria had to look away or she’d cry.

But outside the window, the moon was full and bright.

And in the distance, a wolf howled. Closer than before.

The peace wouldn't last.

Because the King had returned... and his enemies were coming.

**THE END OF CHAPTER 13**

**TO BE CONTINUED...**