Chapter 13

Darren

I told her not to take Lucas out.

I told her, and she fucking did it anyway.

My knuckles were white around the steering wheel as I sped to the hospital. I should have been in Los Angeles right now, tending to business matters. Doing my job. And my son should have been safely asleep at home.

But instead, Aria had defied me—the Alpha—and had endangered my son in the process.

And now he was in a hospital bed.

Finally, the familiar lights of the werewolf hospital came into view. The parking lot was fairly empty this time of night, and I threw the car into park in a spot near the door before climbing out and storming inside.

Aria was lucky that our hospital was so close when the accident had happened. It wasn’t as if she could take Lucas to a normal hospital, where his true identity would be questioned by confused human veterinarians.

This hospital, owned by Lunar Labs, was one of the few places in the area where werewolves—regardless of pack—could go for treatment. The doctors here, led by my good friend Edward, were the best of the best. They could tend to werewolves in any condition, regardless of whether they were in their wolf form or human form.

Of course, we also accepted regular vet visits. Canine health was Lunar Labs’ whole deal, after all. While our secondary purpose was really to use what we learned from research on canines to benefit werewolves, our main goal was to genuinely help animals.

Edward was waiting for me in the lobby as I entered. He must have noticed the irate expression on my face, because his very first words were, “He’s alright. Stable.”

“Where is she?” I looked around furiously, half expecting the unreliable human to have run for the hills by now. As she should, too; I had half a mind to bite her head off when I saw her.

“She’s with him. Come.” Edward pushed away from the desk he was leaning against and led me through the back doors.

“I told her not to take him out,” I growled as Edward led me through the clean white hallways. “With those recent attacks going on, I didn’t want to take the risk. And she did it anyway, the irresponsible little—”

Edward glanced at me. “She was very distraught, you know. And blames herself profusely.”

My eyes darkened. “Good. She should be.”

My old friend sighed and shook his head. He stopped, turning to me in the hallway. I could smell my son just up ahead, combined with her scent. The very smell made my blood boil.

“Alpha.” Edward placed his hand on my shoulder, a gesture that I knew all too well. Dammit; he always had a way of calming everyone with just that small touch.

Once I had thought it was some kind of special power of his, but I had soon learned that in his line of work, he had seen enough death and suffering to develop an unparalleled empathy.

“I just wish she listened to me,” I snarled.

Edward’s fingers tightened around my shoulder. “I know. She should have. But don’t blame her too much.”

“How could I not—”

“Please, Darren,” Edward said softly. “She really cares for him—as if he’s her own pup. Don’t hold this mistake against her. Thanks to her, he made it here in time.”

I frowned and looked away, considering. Edward continued, “She carried him out of the woods with her own strength, you know. She came here covered in blood and didn’t even seem to notice.”

My eyebrows shot up at that. Lucas was still a pup, but he was a huge dog—around a hundred and fifty pounds despite only being five years old. For a human woman, especially one as slender as Aria, carrying him was quite a feat.

“Come, Darren. See for yourself.” Edward released his grip on my shoulder and led me into the room.

I almost let out a howl at the sight of my son, hooked up to those machines as he lay unconscious in the hospital bed. It was a father’s worst nightmare, even though I knew he would be okay.

But I restrained myself when I saw her.

“She hasn’t moved all day,” Edward whispered as I slowly stepped into the room.

Aria was sleeping beside Lucas, her head resting on his hospital bed. She was indeed covered in crusty brown blood, hair tangled, mascara streaked down her face from tears. And her fingers were wrapped around one of his paws as if…

As if afraid to let him go.

I looked away, clenching my jaw.

Dammit. I should have been angry with her, but I couldn’t. Not when she looked like that. Not when she looked so broken.

Edward, noticing my hesitation, merely patted me on the back and left. I stood there for a long time, my mind warring with my heart. Finally, I felt myself soften.

With a sigh, I shrugged off my jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

…

Aria

I woke to a throbbing headache from crying.

And something warm and smelling sweetly of familiar cologne draped over my shoulders.

As I yawned and slowly sat up, the jacket slipped to the floor. It took me a moment, but then I realized that it was Darren’s jacket. I leapt to my feet and picked it up, whirling, and there he was: the CEO himself, eyes dark, raven hair loose around his shoulders as he leaned against the wall.

“Darren! I—I’m so—” I began to stammer, but he cut me off with a raise of his hand.

“I’ve decided I’m not mad at you.”

My eyes widened. “You’re… You’re not?” I whispered. I glanced over at the brown husky, who was still resting in bed. “But… But I…”

Darren sighed and pushed away from the wall. He picked up a small bag before striding over to me and placing it in my hands. Peering inside, I saw a change of clothes—a warm sweater, a pair of leggings and clean socks.

“I hope everything is your size,” he said. “I ran out to a nearby Walmart and picked some stuff up since… You know.” He gestured to my current clothes. I looked down and realized that I was covered in blood and dirt. I’d been in such a state earlier that I hadn’t even noticed.

“Oh… Thank you,” I managed, although it still felt a bit strange. He should have been furious with me—all of this was entirely my fault, after all. “Why…”

“I know you didn’t mean any harm. But if you’re planning on going out in the future, at least tell me?”

I swallowed hard and stared down at my feet. “I will. I’m so sorry.”

“Get dressed,” Darren said simply, nodding toward the adjoined bathroom. “I’ll go get you some food.”

The very mention of sustenance made my stomach growl. I hadn’t eaten since that morning, so I quickly made my way to the bathroom and peeled off my ruined clothes. I decided to just toss them in the trash, especially seeing as how my sweater sleeve had been torn from elbow to wrist, and pulled on the clothes he had bought for me.

The size was just right after all.

After combing my fingers through my hair and splashing some water on my face, I emerged a few minutes later, feeling refreshed. Darren had already gone to get something to eat, leaving me alone with Lucas.

But I wasn’t alone. Not really.

“Mommy!”

The sound of the little boy’s voice sent me stumbling back into a nearby cart with a crash, sending medical supplies scattering across the floor.

“Who—Who are—” I stammered at the little boy that was sitting up in bed. He had chestnut hair and freckles and…

Mismatched eyes.

“It’s me! Lucas!”