I grab the handle and purposely pull the door open with force, losing my breath and every last ounce of patience I might have had when my eyes land on the omega outside.
Yvonne Lang.
The omega who deceived me.
“What do you want?” I grouch, not sparing her a second to diddle-daddle and waste my time.
She’s already wasted five years that I could have had with my son, and a few weeks more when she blasted a second chance into smithereens by choosing to lie to me about Gio’s paternity. Even looking at her now is unbearable, preposterous, my gut churning and forcing me to look away while waiting for her response.
“I’m here to apologize, Alpha Dawson. I know that what I did—”
Lifting a brow and scoffing, I interject, “Is this another one of your lies? What are you hoping to gain, huh?”
Yvonne lifts her eyes and stares at me, dumbfounded. I know my reaction to her is strange, indifferent, even cold. But I’d only been good to her all this time while she was deceiving me.
What does she expect from me?
“Dawson, I—”
“Save it!” I bellow, lifting a dismissive hand in front of her face so I don’t have to see it. I can’t bear the torture of those silver eyes that had lied to my face and told me that Gio was someone else’s son. “I don’t care to hear your apology. It means nothing to me. What you did is unforgivable, and now there’s only one thing you can do.”
“What—”
Before she can speak to ask her question, I take a purposeful step forward, crossing my arms over my chest. I’d spent the last couple of days mulling over what I needed to do next and how to go forward now that I know I’m a father.
Everything else can be pushed aside. I no longer care about the inextinguishable heat between Yvonne and me. It’ssince been defused when I learned of her deception, and there isn’t a flicker of awareness left to pass through me as I stand towering above her, glaring coldly into her eyes.
“You stripped me of five years of that boy’s life, and I want it back. That’s the only way to make up for what you did,” I grumble as a growl of my fury grows within my chest. “I want to spend as much time as possible with Gio—with my son,” I correct, growing angrier the longer I look at Yvonne. “You owe me that much.”
Yvonne gulps, her eyes softening and weakening with fear. “Are you—” she pauses to take a deep breath. “Are you gonna tell him?”
I scoff derisively, rolling my eyes as I unfold my arms and scowl at her. What does she take me for?
“I may not have been involved for the first five years of my son’s life, but that’s not on me. I am, however, not a simpleton who doesn’t know what it means to be a father,” I grate out venomously, noticing the way she flinches as if every word is a physical lashing. “If that’s your only concern, I’ll have you know that I will not spring this information on him or scare him in any way. He deserves better than that.”So do I,I add mentally, but don’t voice the pain of this thought.
As Yvonne nods slowly and hesitates as if she’s conflicted about whether to thank me or attempt to apologize again, I take a step back and shut the door in her face.
It’s only once the wooden rectangle separates us that I’m able to breathe, as if I’d been holding my breath. It was probably a subconscious thing, holding my breath so I wouldn’t smell her scent that might be disarming. I can’t let the primal desire for the omega blur my moral compass.
I have every reason to be unforgivingly angry with her. All I can focus on now is forging a relationship with my son, and burying my feelings for Yvonne is the only way I’ll stay sane enough to do what’s right by my little boy. As I drag my feet back to the couch, betrayal hangs like a dark cloud over my head, but I have to look to the future now.
***
If I thought I could make a quick leap into the future, I was wrong. The past always has a way of haunting a poor, desolate soul who’s been the victim of the biggest betrayal on earth.
The apparition responsible for the haunting is none other than Yvonne, who’s being dragged through the snow toward the blistering bonfire crackling behind the pack den.
I’d forgotten all about the monthly full moon prayer circle around the bonfire, and of course, it’s come just in time to remind me of how my son was conceived.
It was one of these bonfires that I’d skipped five years ago to look for Yvonne. I’d found her in the library, hiding from the rest of the pack with her head in a book. Who knew she’d be reading a book I enjoyed myself?
Who knew that a private dance would lead to the throes of passion?
I shake my head to get rid of those sinful thoughts, tearing my gaze from Yvonne as she’s led by Rissa out into the open. If I weren’t angry with her, I would have been glad that she has friends who care about her now, enough to drag her to the pack festivities dressed like she’s ready for a ball.
Who cares that she’s dressed in a silver frock that matches her eyes? Or that the dress whispers over her subtle curves and hangs low on her chest to make her appear enticing?
I certainly don’t, I think disdainfully as I sip on my drink, turning my attention back to Elias.
