"All right. He wasn't a stranger," I admitted, choosing a different lie. "Just someone Mommy knows from work. It doesn't matter."
"But..." Kai's little brow furrowed as he studied me seriously. "He looked like me."
My heart plummeted.
"In what way?" I couldn't stop myself from asking, afraid of some connection between Alpha father and son that I didn't know about.
"His eyes!" Kai pointed to his own. "His eyes were like mine! Both silver!"
He swung his legs excitedly.
"Mommy, is he a werewolf too? My teacher said silver-eyed werewolves are super rare!"
Not the answer I'd feared, but the effect wasn't much different.
"They are pretty rare," I managed, my throat tight as I frantically tried to think of how to change the subject.
"Then he must be really amazing!" Kai's eyes lit up. "Mommy, can I be friends with him? I've never met anyone else with eyes like mine!"
"No!" The word came out too sharp, harsher than I'd ever spoken to him. Kai flinched.
"Why not?" he asked in a small voice, his mouth trembling like he was about to cry.
He's just curious, Layla. You're the one losing control.
I took a deep breath, forcing down my fear and anxiety, and softened my tone.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. Mommy didn't mean to snap."
"But that person is leaving Victoria very soon," I said gently. "You won't be able to be friends."
"Oh." Kai's head drooped in disappointment. "Okay."
"Don't be sad." I gathered him into a hug and kissed his forehead. "When you're all better, Mommy will take you to the zoo. How does that sound?"
"Really?" His eyes brightened immediately.
"Really."
"Can we see the big tigers?"
"Yes."
"And can I get cotton candy?"
"Anything you want." I looked at him like he was the most precioustreasure in the world, pouring all my tenderness and love into my gaze.
"Whatever you want, baby."
Mommy can give you everything.
After coaxing Kai back to sleep, I stepped out into the hallway and leaned against the wall.
Too much had happened tonight. So much that it felt like I'd been thrown back into the nightmare of seven years ago. Fate had seemed to let me go, to give me a chance at peace. I'd finally built a stable life. And in a single day, it had all come crashing down.
Layla, are you going to run again?
Exhaustion washed over me. Alone at last, I could drop the mask and allow myself a moment of weakness. I slid down the wall and sat on the floor, arms wrapped around my knees.
