Mates 31

Chapter 31

FREDA WHITLOCK

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…” I listened and sang along quietly as the children that were gathered around Francisco sang for him. When they finished the song, they started to cheer and clap.

“Make a wish,” Lyra said to Francisco cheerfully and he smiled and closed his eyes before blowing out the six candles that were standing on top of his cake.

“What did you wish for?” A girl around his new age asked him. and he shook his head. “It’s a secret,” he said with his gorgeous dimpled smile.

My heart melted in my chest. He was the most adorable

creature and I loved him. I loved him so much. I loved him with my whole being. My universe… My little universe. That’s what he

was.

“Are you going to keep looking devastated?” Lyra asked and I just realized that she was standing my side. I was suddenly overwhelmed with a rush of emotions.

“He’s growing up so fast, Lyra. What am I going to do when he grows to the point where he doesn’t want to talk to me anymore?” My voice shook at the last words and I knew I was about to cry.

“Oh no… Oh no, please don’t cry in front of him. Not on his

Chapter 31

birthday,” she whispered and grabbed me into a soft hug.

“I’m so scared,” I resisted the shake that attempted to move my shoulders and clenched my hands into fists.

“Oh you poor thing,” Lyra said, laughing at my expense. I pulled away from her and glared at her before bursting into a teary laugh.

“I hate you,” I said, wiping my eyes.

She smiled and took my hand. “You have absolutely nothing to worry about, Freeds. It’s absolutely normal for children to grow apart from their parents when they become teenagers. It’s the way you handle it that matters,” she told me and I nodded.

“I promise you,” she said, patting my shoulder and looking at something that had gripped her attention. “He will always love you.”

I smiled at those words and I started to feel fine. Why had I decided that it would be okay to sulk and cry at my son’s birthday celebration because I thought he was growing too fast?

I sighed and turned around.

“Freeds, we need another pitcher. We’ve almost run out of punch, help me get another,” I heard Lyra call from the small table where the drinks had been set up.

“Roger that,” I said, smiling at a little girl as I walked past her and hurried into the house and into the kitchen.

I was shocked to find someone standing in the kitchen and staring out of the window that gave a clear view of the

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backyard. It was not just anyone.

It was Kaiden.

“Oh goddess,” I exclaimed, taking a deep breath. “What are you doing here?” I asked. “You’re not supposed to be here,” I sighed and looked behind me to make sure that no one was coming in. I did not want anyone to see him here and get the wrong idea.

I was also wary of the fact that Safiya could be here. It was going to cause a big problem because she would be mad that I had not invited her for the mini party. I had only asked over the kids in his class and his teacher had been here to monitor them in case of any danger.

“He’s my son,” Kaiden said the words so matter if factly that my heart dropped to the base of my stomach. He had not looked at me. His eyes were still outside, in the direction where Cisco was sloppily feeding my father cake.

“What?” I gasped the word and that was how I knew I had messed up.

“He is my son,” Kaiden replied and turned to look at me with eyes that were filled with the list fury I had ever seen in them.

I nearly stumbled backwards. His Alpha aura shot out of him in shockwaves and I was taking the brunt of every single one. I was a Luna wolf by birth and by right, but I was still intimidated by him and his Alpha aura.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, forcing the words through the tightness in my throat.

“Don’t you dare lie to me,” he growled and I held my breath,

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looking away from him. The only good option was to leave the kitchen, because as much as I wanted to get him out of here, I could not make him. Not right now gen he was so angry.

I bit my lip and decided to leave.

Right when I turned around, he grabbed my wrist and held it in a firm grip. It was not painful, just firm.

My breath caught in my throat and I looked around with panic. I hated that he was touching me, and n hated even more that he was doing it in such a way that anyone could walk in and see us.

“Let go of me,” I tried to force my hand out of his grip but it became tight. I gasped, hoping that he would not tighten it further and it would start to hurt.

“Please let go,” I pleaded, looking out of the window again hoping that Lyra would realize I was taking too long and then come and save me from this s**t.

“Is that how much you hate me?” He asked in a quiet voice and I went still. I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off.

“You kept him away from me for six years?” His voice was broken and I did not know what to say.

Actually, I did. I just did not want to break him any further. I hated him hug I was not cruel.

“You deprived him if knowing his father all these years,” he said through gritted teeth and I stiffened.

Now I was filled with annoyance. “I was trying to protect him,” I said fiercely.

“From a father’s love?!” He asked like I had said the most ridiculous s**t.

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“From you!” I snapped and he blinked before my hand fell out of

his grip.

Oh goddess…