"Really? Are you my mommy?" Arian's eyes went wide as he asked me excitedly.
"I'm not..." I wanted to deny it. But looking at his flushed, excited face and his eyes bright with hope, I couldn't get the words out.
I didn't want to hurt this child again. I couldn't bear to disappoint him. So I could only close my eyes and nod heavily.
Arian burst into tears and hugged me. "Why didn't you tell me before? Did I do something wrong?"
My eyes grew wet too. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I just..."
"Just because I made some mistakes." Elias suddenly finished my sentence for me. He stepped closer until I could see my reflection filling his eyes. "But I'm willing to do anything to make it up to both of you. So, Serenity—" He extended his hand toward me. "Will you come home with me?"
Home?When had the Vernal pack ever been my home? That place had always rejected me, made me unwelcome.
And Elias. Shouldn't he want me gone? So why was he trying to bring back a traitor like me? Was it because I had given birth to Arian, an heir who mattered to him?
I didn't know.
I didn't care.
All I wanted was my distance.
"My home isn't in Vernal." I shook my head and stepped back with Arian. Elias was about to say something when a commotion broke out beyond the perimeter.
"Serenity! Are you in there? Let me go! What are you trying to do to Serenity?"
I turned and saw Frank. He must have come to walk me home since it was getting dark. But now he was blocked outside by the warriors, fighting desperately to break through. He was no match for them. I looked at Elias. "Let him through."
Elias frowned, his tone somewhat sour. "Who is he?"
I didn't answer. I raised my voice. "I said, let him in!"
Elias's expression darkened, but he still waved at the warriors. They parted to let Frank through. He stumbled in and immediately rushed to stand between Elias and me.
"Are you okay, Serenity?" he asked. I shook my head.
Then he turned to Elias angrily. "Who are you people? Why are you surrounding an innocent woman and child?"
"I should be asking you that," Elias said coldly. "This is between Serenity and me. What gives you the right to interfere?"
Frank puffed out his chest, glaring right back without backing down. "Of course I have the right! Because I—Frank Golden—am Serenity's fiancé!"
CHAPTER 16
SERENITY KELLER
"Fiancé?"
Elias's voice was laced with barely contained fury, radiating an overwhelming sense of dread. He looked at me for confirmation.
"Yes, he's telling the truth!" I answered with my chin held high.
I had intended to deny it at first. But on second thought, admitting it would show him I had already built a new life. I had no intention of returning to the werewolf world or having anything more to do with him.
I clenched my teeth and deliberately took Frank's arm.
"You see? I don't love you anymore. From now on, nothing you do concerns me!"
The moment the words left my mouth, I realized it wasn't as hard as I had imagined. Instead, I felt a strange sense of relief, as if things were finally settling into place.
