Mates 48

Chapter 48

KAIDEN STIRLING

Freda hurt herself and let out a loud yell. I rushed towards her. My heart constricted in pain at the sight of blood oozing from her fingers. It felt as thought I was the one injured.

I reached forward to hold her hand but she flinched from my touch. I tugged her hands towards mine as she gave me a hard glare which I gladly returned.

“Stay still”, I scolded. “It’s your stubbornness that led to all this” I chided softly. “You should have let me help you out” I added, staring into her eyes.

“I don’t need your help”, she stated as she glared at me but allowed me to take her hands in mine. I held her hand relinquishing the feeling of her hand in mine.

She must have experienced the same feeling because she shifted uncomfortably and withdrew her gaze from me.

I examined her hand as I felt for her pain then I used my wolf abilities to heal her. Closing her wounds completely. She gasped as a surprised look took over her face.

She obviously hadn’t expected that I would heal her and that was where she was wrong. I was willing to do so many things for her. She just didn’t realize it.

She kept on looking at me in silence. The silence lingered on till I could no longer bear it. “What’s wrong?” I questioned curiously

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at her weird reaction.

“Nothing” she lied as she avoided my gaze. I knew something was wrong but I couldn’t place a finger on it. Our relationship. was strained, part of which was my fault.

My wolf screamed at me to take her in a comforting hug. I shook my head, things don’t work that way. If I still knew Freda well, she would probably slap me hard for hugging her without consent. I smiled at the thought.

I couldn’t act rashly, any wrong move I made would strain our relationship further and I wanted to get on Freda’s good side.

Our hands were still joined together and I rubbed my palm in. hers. Her hand wasn’t as soft as I remembered it now. She had developed little callouses on her hand and my heart twisted in pain at the rough life she must have lived away from the pack all alone.

Tension hung heavy in the air between us as neither of us

spoke. She must have realized her hands were still intertwined in mine because she removed it quickly as she glared at me awkwardly.

I I chuckled at her antics, ‘Oh Freda!’, she was going to be the death of me. I crossed my shoulders and leaned against the vehicle. “You have to tell me what’s wrong, if you want me to help you”. I added with a wink.

She recoiled in disgust at my behaviour as her eyes widened and it only amused me further. I knew I was being overbearing, but right now, I’d take anything to get into Freda’s space.

Before she could retort back, a small figure came down from

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the car and came to stand in front of me with expectant eyes. It was Francisco and for a minute I was stunned.

“Hi”, he said shyly. “My mum was trying to get me to school when our car broke down. She was trying to fix it when you arrived”. And I couldn’t help but smile at his adorableness as he explained the whole situation calmly.

Pride swelled in me as I listened to him speak. I quickly

comported myself. “Hey kiddo, how are you doing?”, I asked as I crunched down to his height. “I’m good” he answered bashfully. And my smile widened.

This boy was smart just like his father which was me obviously. I couldn’t help but ruffle his hair a little as he gave a small pout. And I could see myself in him. I was immediately struck with nostalgia.

I looked up as I expected Freda to object to me talking to Francisco but she said nothing and just stared as our son kept talking to me about various things.

Her reaction encouraged me a little as I drew Francisco into my solid arms just wanting the feel of my son I had missed for six years. Francisco hugged me back with the same intensity.

The little boy probably couldn’t understand the reason why he felt so connected to me. But he was going to find out soon, that I would make sure of.

I released him and stared into his bright eyes. “So you’re saying you were on your way to school?”

“Yes” he nodded affirmatively.

“So would you like me to take you to school today?” I asked hopefully. He was silent for a minute but as he opened his

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mouth to speak, Freda interrupted.

“There’s no need” she said as she drew Francisco away from me towards herself.

We can take care of ourselves, she added as she glared at me scornfully. I let out a frustrated sigh.

This woman! Couldn’t she see I was trying to form a bond with my son?

Was she always going to be a barrier between me and my son I had no access to for six years? The boy clearly liked me, if it were the other way around I might have backed up.

So why was she denying her son the love of a father he clearly deserved and craved for? Fine, I had hurt her feelings but wasn’t she taking things too far.

Just as we were glaring daggers at each other, with Freda silently hating me for trying to force my way into their lives and me frustrated with her Stubbornness, Francisco decided to speak

“Mommy” he spoke in his cute voice that had me wanting to drag him away from Freda. He glanced up at her with big doe

eyes.

Sure, love, you

“Can I say something?” he asked hopefully. didn’t even need to ask”, she replied, drawing her gaze from me.

“Since our car broke down, why can’t we ride in Harper’s daddy’s car?” He suggested stunning both me and Freda.