Dawson lets out a heaving sigh before his hand appears in front of my face, fingers spread out and palm facing me as if I’m meant to read it.
“Instead of reading your fantasies, why not live them, Yvie?” he offers, prompting me to frown at the question and lift my eyes to his. “You could do anything you want out there.”
“Anything?” I murmur thoughtfully, my mind drifting to the heinous desire of feeling his lips on mine. Surely that’s not what he meant.
Dawson nods, a smile curling his lips. “Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy danced, didn’t they?”
My frown deepens with curiosity. “You’ve readPride and Prejudice?”
Dawson chuckles in response as he turns to me and nods with his hand. “Of course I did. Now, will you dance with me?”
I pause as I stare at the hand he offers out, wondering how on earth I’d become so lucky as to find friendship with an alpha whose behavior belies his tough outer shell. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over these past few months, it’s that I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. That’s why I feel obliged to slip my hand into his before he leads me to my feet, pulling me close and effortlessly guiding me into position for what is bound to be an awkward dance. He remains calm while my nerves become erratic, the closeness letting my mind race with sinful thoughts as I’m engulfed in the heady, masculine scent he exudes.
I’d lost myself then in a trance of the promise sparkling in his eyes, my mind empty when the dance, which wasn’t as awkward as I expected it to be, led to his lips finding mine with more promise. I’d believed those unspoken words as he undressed me, and instead of joining the masses for the bonfire, we’d experienced our own sparks flying when he made sweet love to me against the bookshelves containing my favorite reads.
Present
A lump forms in my throat, growing stronger and more constricting of my airways, the faster I run through the woods toward the Sunrise village. I’d buried those memories far away, but Dawson’s sudden appearance as my savior this evening has opened up a can of worms.
That fateful night is etched into my soul, wounded by his abrupt rejection the day after that bonfire that we never attended. I thought I’d resort to my old ways of being a recluse in the Snehvolk Pack’s library, the only place I could go to escape my pain, and where Dawson Black wouldn’t come to find me again. Why would he, when he’d rejected me as his mate and shattered my heart into a million tiny fragments of what it once was?
I’d spent at least a week after that fateful night as a shell of my already socially awkward self, turning so far inwards that I had no choice but tofeelit. My intuition had become so heightened after Dawson rejected me, and I was crushed because I’d mistaken our connection for the fated mate bond.
That’s when I felt the growth inside my belly—felt that I had conceived Dawson’s child on that fateful night. Faced with his horrifying rejection of me, I had no choice but to escape and leave Girdwood for good.
That’s why I’m here now, having to wrestle against leering male wolves to put a roof over our heads. Why is it that Dawson is now the reason why I’m rushing to get my child and flee once again?
As I shift into human form just outside the small building that houses the village’s school-aged kids during the day, I know I have to leave before the pack finds out about what happened to Sam and his friend. I take a deep breath for composure, furtivelytucking my hair behind my ears and wiping the sweat from my brow before entering the childcare center.
I’m late, but it’s not by choice. At least I made it to pick my son up. Lord knows what would have happened at the river if it weren’t for Dawson’s interference and timely heroic act. Only a flicker of relief is evident as I step inside and knock on the door. Even though he saved me, allowing me to come back to retrieve my son, he’s made it impossible for me to stick around in Sunrise.
Soon, the other pack members will find out about Sam and Darius's deaths, and I'll be subjected to the punishment that may come.
I have to save myself and my son, just as I did many years ago before I gave birth to him. There’s no time to be shocked or dazed about Dawson's sudden appearance.
He can't know that I had his child. It's the reason I fled Girdwood in the first place, not wanting my child to be subjected to the harsh rejection I'd faced amongst the Snehvolk Pack. Or the rejection of his father.
“Mama!” Radiant silver eyes light up the moment I open the door. He scampers toward me with flailing arms, rushing into my open arms with relief that I'd finally come.
“Gio…” I breathe, reflecting his relief as I nuzzle my face into the top of his head, burying my senses for a brief moment as I gather my thoughts while my son reinforces my determination to keep us both protected.
The deep intuition I discovered when I conceived Gio is what sets my pulse alight now. Though I can't explain it, I'd been able to have visions of sorts that warn me about dangers to come. I know we're not safe in Sunrise anymore; I canfeelit.
That's why I don't waste too much time chatting with Gio's caretaker, Melissa. Though she's been kind enough to watch him during the day when I work at the pack hall cooking, she's hardly an ally. Like the others, she sees me as the lowest-ranking omega in this pack—a single mother who deserves the harsh conditions I'm subjected to.
Once we're out of the childcare center, I set Gio on his feet, press a kiss to the top of his head, and grab his tiny hand to lead him back to our cabin on the outskirts of the village. My frantic pulse races as we hurry through the night, but of course, my curious five-year-old doesn’t overlook anything.
“Mama!” he squeals, tugging my arm and forcing me to stop just outside the cabin.
I glance all around us with a fearful gulp, just to make sure we're not being followed. But when I look down at my son, a wave of regret washes over me, forcing me to my knees in front of him as I cradle his round, pouty face.
“Oh, baby!” I cry remorsefully, pulling Gio into a soothing embrace. “I'm so sorry….”
Gio sniffs as he hugs his tiny arms around my neck. “What's wrong, Mama?”
I take a deep breath to calm my nerves, remembering that my little boy is more than just observant—he has the unique ability to pick up on my emotions. I can't hide anything from him, and while I've done my best to steer clear of fear and nervousness to ensure those feelings don't flow into him, it's hard to feel calm right now.
The life I'd built for the two of us is in tatters now, destroyed by Dawson killing the betas to protect me. I would have faced any challenge, as I have for the past five years since I sought refuge in the Moonshine Pack, and Sam and Darius'sattack wasn't out of the ordinary for me. I would have dealt with it, accepted my fate, and moved on.
