Chapter 67
Aragon
I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the tension, but it clung to me. This wasn’t like the time I’d taken on the mantle of Alpha, standing before the pack, feeling the weight of hundreds of lives on my shoulders. No, this was different. Today, I was standing in front of my son, my son. The word was still unfamiliar to me, one I was trying to come to terms with, and even though I’d faced down men twice my size, nothing had ever unnerved me
like this
I spent the whole ride here swearing my balls off because I was worried about what my son would think about me. If our first meeting was anything to worry about then he doesn’t like me. I am not sure what his mother told lum about what happened in the past but that day he looked at me like I was some monster who wanted to hurt his mother.
Granted I had hurt her so many times than I could count, and I deserved whatever names she had called me in front of him but all I wanted to show them was that I wasn’t the same guy I was before. So many things had changed for me and now, I was only interested in knowing my family
A family I had no idea I had till I followed Leah, I think maybe she left it our for me to see but either way, I was happy I did. Seeing Sapphire brought back that part of me that I thought was lost. Seeing that she gave birth to a child and raised him for years without any help, not only that but she grew her company from scratch.
I knew she wouldn’t admit that she got away with Denita’s help but I suspected that old crow had everything to do with it. That was something we would have to discuss later.
I spotted him where he was still playing with Daisy. She was Leah’s little girl, and she seemed to keep Charlie entertained, which, honestly, made me even more nervous. Seeing him interact with her, hearing his laughter, it was all so normal, so innocent. And I knew, in some strange way, I was about to break that. No matter what I did, meeting me, his father, who’d never been there would change things for him.
I forced my feet to move. „closing the distance between uit, and tried to sound casual. “Hi, guys. Can I play with you for a second?”
Charlie looked up, his gaze lingering on me for only a moment before he glanced back at Daisy, I couldn’t quite read the expression in his eyes, but whatever he was feeling, it was gone in an instant. He whispered something to Daisy, and they both dissolved into giggles. A part of me wanted to smile, but another pan was painfully aware of how they hadn’t acknowledged me and pretty sure they just mocked me with child’s talk
“What’s so funny?” I asked, a bit awkwardly, hoping they’d share in the joke.
They ignored me, and the feeling of being on the outside looking in only deepened. I let out a sinall sigh, realizing this wasn’t going to be easy.
1 crouched down to their level, trying to keep my voice gentle. “Daisy, would you mind going to join the others in the kitchen? I’d like to talk to Charlie alone.”
She gave me a look that could’ve wilted flowers, a full–on stink eye that left no question about where her loyalty lay. But she obediently stood up and gave Charlie a quick, reassuring smile before trotting off toward the house. Kids these days, huh?
Charlie shifted uncomfortably, still not meeting my gaze, his little fingers playing with the grass. I didn’t know where to start, and it felt like every word I might say would only make things worse. But I had to try. I owed him that.
“Charlie.” I began, my voice thick. “L… Im sorry.”
He didn: look up. He just kept fiddling with the grass, almost like I wasn’t there, I swallowed, pushing through the awkwardness.
“I know you probably hate me for not being there,” I continued, watching him carefully… I didn’t know about you. And even if I had, I’m not sure I would’ve been ready. I was so immature back then, so much that well, I hurt your mother, and she did what she thought was best. She kept you away from me, maybe because she knew I would have done more harm than good.”
I paused, feeling the weight of my words hang heavy in the silence. He didn’t move, didn’t react, But for some reason, I kept going. Maybe I thought he needed to hear thus, or maybe I just needed to say it.
“I missed all these years.” I said quietly, struggling to keep my voice steady. “And I’m sorry for that. But I hope Thope you can understand, in some way, that it might have been better this way. Better for you. I want to get to know you and I promise, whatever you have heard about me, it
He still said nothing, kept his gaze on the ground as if I were invisible. A part of me wanted to give up, walk away, and save him the trouble. But I’d come thus far, and Ed done everything I could think of to make this right
So, slowly, I got up, brushing the din from my jeans, and resigned myself to head back inside. Maybe he would warm up to me during dinner.
Then just as I turned. I heard has umall voice.
Tfroze, turning back around, my heart doing a strange flip as I looked down at him. He’d finally looked up, his eyes meeting mine, and there was a mamure of curiosity and something I couldn’t que place.
ke you.” He seemed to search for the right words, frowning slightly. “Do you really mean it?”
În took me a second to realize what he was asking, but when I dad, I nodded. “Yeah, Churlic. I mean it
He spunted at me, as if testing the truth in my words “Why’d you hurt my mom!”
That quration hat harder than any punch Ed ever taken, but I forced myself to answer honestly. “Because I was young, and I didn’t know how to handle things the way I should hurr. 1– I made mistakes, Charlie And your mon deserved better than that I know that now.”
He bit has lip, his gare dropping again as
seemed to think it over. Finally, he looked up and gave me a tiny nod, almost as if he were giving me
Chapter 67
some form of silent approval. It wasn’t much, but it felt like a lifeline.
“So you’re here now,” he murmured. “Does that mean you’re going to stay?”
–
I crouched back down, keeping my gaze level with his. “If you’ll let me, I’d like to be around. I want to get to know you, Charlie. Really know you”
There was a long silence, and I could tell he was mulling it over, that cautious hope in his eyes mixed with the natural wariness he had every right to feel
“Are you still going to hurt my mom?” he asked, his voice so quiet it nearly broke me
“No,” I said firmly, shaking my head. “Td never want to hurt her again. Or you.”
He looked away again as if that answer was a lot to take in Then he glanced back at me, his expression thoughtful. “Mom says people can change, but she doesn’t she doesn’t really believe it. She gets sad sometimes.
feel that way. has every reason to feel
1 felt a sharp pang in my chest, a reminder of all the ways I’d failed. But I nodded, acknowledging his words “She has ever But I’m here to prove to both of you that Thave changed.”
He considered that, his small face full of emotions he couldn’t put into words, Then, after a long pause, he gave me the smallest of smiles, like he was willing to give me a chance, even if just barely.
“I guess he started hesitantly, “I guess you can stay for dinner.”
It was an invitation I knew better that to question, so I simply nodded, holding back the rush of emotions that were dangerously close to spilling over. “Thanks, Charlie. I’d like that.”
Just then, Daisy came running back out, her face lighting up when she saw us sitting together. “Are you done talking now?” she asked, clearly impatient to have her friend back. It was funny bow children clicked once they met each other for the first time.
Charlie looked at her and nodded, and then turned back to me, as if silently letting me know I’d been accepted, at least for now. I couldn’t help the smde that crept up.
“Alright, go play,” I said, watching as he and Daisy sprinted olt, their bughter echoing.
I won her son over. All that is left is to get her back and make
I walked away, eager to share the news with Sapphire, who would be delighted to know I won ber our family whole.
