Marked by Fate

4

Emma gasps. “How could you do that to your own child, Matt?”

Matt’s voice is sharp, controlled, but it cuts like a blade. “You let him off with murder, Emma. He needs to train, or he’ll die. And when that happens, it’ll be on you—for letting him skip what he needed most. So either make him go… or stay the f**k out of my way when I have no choice but to use my aura to force him. Because I will do what it takes to keep him alive.”

His eyes blaze now, barely holding back years of pent-up frustration. “Not all of us get to half-ass our duties like you do. Some of us actually have responsibilities we can’t walk away from.”

I freeze. My eyes widen as I glance toward Fiona, who looks just as stunned. Matt never snaps like this—especially not here, in the kitchen, in front of staff.

Emma stares, stunned. But her expression quickly curdles into outrage as she whips around to glare at him. “Why are you so horrible?” she shouts, standing up, her chair screeching across the floor. She turns toward me. “Do you see what I deal with? He’s horrible!”

She faces him again, but Matt’s expression is stone. Unreadable. Except… something’s burning behind his eyes. She must’ve done something. Something serious. Because Matt doesn’t break like this over nothing.

“Oh, I’m horrible?” he scoffs, rising to his feet. His voice is loud now—furious, raw. “Let’s talk about you. You and that skank you insist on keeping around. I felt it when you f****d him—I felt it, Emma! I dropped the baby when it happened. Do you even remember that? Your son. The one you actually gave birth to. The one who needs you.”

The kitchen falls silent—so heavy, you could choke on it.

Drake stands up without a word, scooping Baylee into his arms and carrying her outside. Hopefully, she can call on Aspen to distract her—because no kid needs to hear this.

But even I know this conversation… needs to happen.

I hold my breath, still watching Emma. Disgust coils in my stomach. Fiona’s hand finds Matt’s, squeezing it tight, then she leans into him, pulling him into a comforting side hug.

“How could you do that?” I whisper, the question laced with disappointment.

Fiona’s voice is sharper. “Seriously, Emma?”

Emma grits her teeth. “Of course you’re taking his side.”

I scoff, shaking my head slowly. “You cheated, Emma. What side do you expect us to take? Get out of my sight before I declare you rogue.”

Her face twists in fury, but she doesn’t speak. She storms off, slamming the door behind her. Fiona holds Matt tighter.

“You always have us,” she murmurs. “You know that, right?”

“Yeah, bro,” I add, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “We love you. Don’t ever forget that.”

“We support you, one hundred and ten percent,” Drake says as he walks back in. “We always will.”

Matt finally sinks into a chair, gripping my hand a little tighter before dropping his head. Fiona and I exchange a quiet look, chewing our lips.

“Why don’t you boys take the night?” I suggest. “Have some drinks, blow off some steam. Just… forget about everything for a while.”

Fiona brightens, smiling at the idea. “Yes! We’ll stay in with the kids. Watch a movie. You guys need a break.”

Matt lets out a tired breath. “That sounds… okay, I suppose. You up for it, Ben?”

Ben grins. “Of course. Let’s do it.”

As the boys start discussing plans, I glance toward the field where Baylee is feeding her wolves.

Drake drops a box of raw meat into the center of the group. The wolves pounce, but Baylee growls, releasing her aura—heavy, commanding. They freeze in place immediately.

She walks forward calmly, grabs a few cold cuts from the top of the box, and eats them slowly. Then she picks out a lamb leg and tosses it to Aspen. She waits until he takes the first bite before dropping her aura.

Only then do the rest of the wolves leap in, growling and scrapping over what remains.

Baylee walks back inside, wiping her hands on a towel as she joins us again. Fiona watches her, fascinated.

“I don’t get it,” Fiona asks. “Why the drama? Why not just feed them like normal animals?”

Baylee shrugs. “I’m Alpha. I eat first. Aspen’s Beta—he eats second. The rest eat after. It’s about showing dominance. If I control the food, they’ll follow me in everything else I do.”

“So basically,” Drake adds, “you’re telling them you’re the boss.”

“Exactly.” Baylee smiles faintly. “They’re not dogs. They’re feral wolves—strong, wild. And they need to stay that way.”

Evelyn drops a plate of food in front of Baylee, and the girl settles into her seat as the rest of the kids slowly gather around, chatting and laughing like any normal evening.

Eventually, we all get back to our tasks. I finish questioning the last of the men who need answers. By the time I’m done, I’m bone-tired but excited to finally lay down with Fiona and the kids and enjoy some peace.

Drake and the boys settle into the dining hall with drinks. He’d insisted they stay in instead of going out—and honestly, that might’ve been the smarter choice. At least we know they’re safe and close by.

The babies fall asleep. The kids head to bed. Fiona, Caden, and Ryan pick a movie while I settle into the couch, stretching out with my legs draped across Fiona’s lap.

For the first time all day, I feel like I can breathe.