The Child You Rejected
1219 Words
Eva’s POV
“Mama? Is he my daddy?”
Nathan’s words slipped out so casually, so naturally, like he had asked if it would rain. But to me, it felt as if the world had come to a standstill.
I was paralyzed.
Trent was paralyzed as well.
His entire face changed. His eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed like he was viewing Nathan for the first time.
I moved quickly.
“No, Nathan,” I said to him, stepping in between them. My voice was cool, slicing. “We do not address individuals like that, do you remember?”
Nathan scowled. “But he looks like me...”
“That’s all right,” I said gently but firmly, fluffing out his curls. “Go sit with Marge, okay?”
He obeyed, but first glancing another cold sneaky look in the direction of Trent. I trailed him around until I could hear Trent’s voice at my back.
“Eva.”
I didn’t budge.
“Eva, we need to talk. Now.”
I turned and responded to him slowly. “No, Alpha. We don’t.”
“You’re going to pretend like that child doesn’t look like me.”
His voice was hard and yconstricted.
“I’m going to play dumb like I don’t owe you a damn thing,” I said, and it was gone.
It didn’t take long.
I’d just sat down to work on getting Nathan into one of the guest bedrooms when Beta Henry knocked on my door.
“Alpha Trent would like to have a word with you,” he said with a sly grin, like he was sure I’d tell him no.
“I’ll pass.”
“He says it has to be about your son.”
My muscles tightened. My wolf, Athena, growled under her breath.
“Where?”
“Come on, the library. He said you would be more comfortable there.”
I laughed. “Comfortable? Adorable.”
Despite that, I followed him. Because no matter how much I loathed it, I had to be ahead of whatever game Trent was playing.
Trent stood by the window, arms folded, gazing out like some sulky prince.
The moment I entered, he turned to me.
“Close the door, Henry,” he instructed him.
Henry hesitated, glanced at me. I nodded once.
The door closed behind me.
I crossed my arms. “If this has something to do with what happened earlier...”
“He’s mine.”
I blinked.
He took a step towards me. “I know he’s mine, Eva. You can try lying to me all you want, but I see it. I feel it. Don’t insult my intelligence.”
“Humorous,” I said icily. “You didn’t have any of that perception five years ago when I told you that I was going to have a baby and you pushed me out onto the street like a trash.”
He winced.
Good.
“You turned me down then,” I continued. “You humiliated me in front of my dad. And now what? You look at my son for ten seconds and determine that you’re ready to take us?”
“I was lost then,” he snarled, grinding his teeth. “Sandra explained...”
“Don’t you so much as say her name in my presence,” I snarled.
He fell silent.
“I don’t care what you think you see or feel,” I stated. “Nathan is not yours. I’ve moved on. I’ve made a life, and I did it without you. That boy has a father. A real one.”
His brows furrowed. “Who?”
I smiled. “None of your business.”
His tone grew harsher. “I will find out.”
“Try,” I said. “But whatever you think you’re worth, you’re not. You gave up every right the moment you abandoned me.”
There was a knock on the door. Henry came in.
“Alpha, I apologize for interrupting you, but we just got word from the northern patrols,”
“What is it?” Trent asked without looking away from me.
“They’ve spotted rogue scouts. Close. And word is...they are after a woman and a child.”
My blood chilled.
Trent’s eyes flicked from Henry to me, reluctantly.
I stepped back. “Don’t. Don’t make this a justification.”
He turned to Henry. “Double guards to lock down the guest wing. Double border patrols.”
“Yes, Alpha.” Henry bowed and departed.
Trent stepped forward again. “Until I know who’s behind this, you’re not going anywhere. With Nathan.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. No one enters or leaves this country until I say it’s safe.”
“You can’t keep me prisoner here!” I demanded.
“I’m protecting my pack,” he replied quietly. “And that includes the child you entered with.”
“You don’t get to make the rules...”
“I do, Eva. I’m Alpha.”
I sprinted past him, throwing open the door. “Then behave like it. And stop acting like father to a child who doesn’t belong to you.”
The next morning, it was official.
No one got to leave.
Guards had been doubled. Border patrols tripled from what they normally were. The pack was buzzing with gossip.
Some thought that I posed a threat. Some thought that I was reincarnated Luna. The majority were just curious.
I wanted to just take my things and go. But I couldn’t. Not with Nathan. Not with loose feral wolves.
I tried to stay in my room, alone. But when Beta Henry appeared again, I knew I had no other choice but to deal with this.
Trent was on the front lawn once more, waiting for me. With his Beta and some enforcers by his side.
I walked straight up to him.
“Turn it around,” I urged. “I want to go out.”
“I can’t.”
“You can”, I thundered. “You just won’t.”
“Eva, somebody is trying to hurt you and your son...”
“He’s not your son!” I shouted.
There was silence.
I stepped forward, fists shaking. “You want to know the truth? Good. You are not his father. His name is Nathan Isak. He is the son of the Lycan King’s heir. Isak. We’ve been under his protection for six years.”
There were murmurs.
Trent seethed.
I could sense the fury brewing in his chest.
But before he could even open his mouth, one of the guards dashed into the courtyard.
“Alpha! You have to see this.”
“What is it now?” Trent growled.
The guard was out of breath. “A royal envoy… they have arrived. With the Lycan King’s seal.”
My stomach dropped.
I and Trent sprinted towards it.
At the border gates, a black car procession in mourning took over the dirt road.
Royal guards stood in ranks.
And at the centre of it all…
Isak.
Tall, authoritative, an
d calm.
He stood looking at me from the other side of the field.
I barely managed to breathe.
Trent stood next to me, his whole body shaking, not with fear… but with anger.
- Writer
