Claire's POV
I back up. This was a mistake. I can’t handle this.
Ivan intercepts him smoothly. "Alpha Gideon. We have business to discuss."
Gideon’s eyes pull away from me to the Alpha in front of him. “Prince Ivan, I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
Their voices drift away as I take advantage of the distraction and slip away into the garden beside the pack house. I just need to breathe for a moment. That’s all. Just breathe.
The moment the cold air hits my skin, I suck in a shaking breath. My lungs feel tight, like I’ve been holding them hostage for six years. My heart won’t stop pounding.
I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t have come. But—
Then I hear a boy’s laughter. My senses snap into focus.
A small body barrels into me.
I stumble back and instinctively catch him, my hands graspi
