Chapter 82
sapphir
After draming Chadir up and treating his scrapes, Luckezi hum mato bed. His soli snores were a southing sound after the chaos of earlier, but I cookin’t shake the Inistration fooding in my chest Who did those kid think they were? And where was Aragon while all this was happening? I stood at the door for a moment, witching Charlie sleep, before finally stepping out and quietly closing the door behind me. Inceded to find Aragon Semurune lod to answer forshe kind of envirnament my son seis being thrown inte
And hell, I thought all kuls were friendly so what do you mean you were playing and pushed him down? Something was amiss here and I was going to get to the bottom of it.
Tint, Tahecked his office, expecting to final him buried in papercor typing away at his computer. The room was empty. cologne lingered in the air,
there was no sign of him.
The faint smell of t
Next win to the kitchen hoping maybe he had retreated there for a late night snack Deal wasn’t there either, which was unusual since she practically lived in the kitchen.
Sighing, Heaned against the counter, pressing my palms against the cool surface. My shoulders sagged, and for the first time all day, I allowed myself. to feel the full weight of my exhaustion.
Chaven’t rested since I got her brease my body won’t let me and also because Charlie was being clingy. Anytime he is hurt, he clings to me like a – baby koala. I had to want for him to stop crying before 1 muzled him to my chest for a quick nap. Anytime I tried to pin ham down, he kept erging til
Foooarps erbord behind me, but I didn’t bother looking up. I figured it was Larah or perhaps someone passing through on their way to another
TOKSI.
A sharp scoff cut through the quart, startling me. My head shot up, and standing a few feet away was a woman I had never seen before. Her face was Twisted in a speer, her eyes filled with such disdain than I wondered if Elad accidentally offended her somehow.
In this pack! The possibilities were endless.
“Who are you!” Tasked, frowning.
She hussed, of all things, like an irritated snake. “You’ve got some nerve,” she said.
1blinked caught off guard. “Excause ime!”
She jabbed a finger in my direction, her eyes narrowing further. “Are you the reason our Lank is being shunned?
For a second. I thought 1 had heard her correctly. My brows furrowed as I straightened up “What? had no idea this park even had a LunaTM
Her lauch was humorless, and her lip curled “Don’t play dumb, Iran see right through you.”
A wave of cold recognition washed over me. This felt eerily similar to the noseme I had dealt with years ago with Millicent and her little clique. I clenched my jaw, fighting to keep my composure.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said flatly.
Her eyes raked over me like I was some disgusting insect. 50h, I know exactly what you are. I can smell an opportunist from a mile away. You think you and your bastard son pan come back here and disrupt the peace in this pack! You’re sikely mistaken.”
Her words hit like a slap, but I doda finch Instead, I took a deliberate step toward her, my glage sharp enough to rui.
“You can say whatever you want about me,” I said. “I don’t care what a dumb stranger thinks of me. But the moment you speak about my son again, we’re going to have a problem”
She didn’t back down stepping closer until we were nearly nose–to–nose. “Oli, really? And what are you going to do? Show me just how unhinged you are? Go ahead, prove me right.”
I stared at her, unmoving “Repeat what you said about my son, I dare you. Call lis a name agaju and see what happens, 1 will put you down faster
hum yaniran spell your fucking name,”
was more than ready to teach her a lesson on respect, I could take whatever insults she throws at me but my son is where I draw the line.
Her bravado faltered, just slightly, as she glanced around the empty kitchen. Realizing there was no one there to intervene on her behall she took a
“Crazy bitch” ale muntered a er her breath, though loud enough for me to bear
Tymirked coldly, folding my arms across my chrit. “Better a crazy bitch than a cowan!”
Her eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked her fear with a glare. Without another word, she turned and stormed out of the clien, her heels
As soon as she was gone. I exhaled a shaky bread, my hands trembling. I wasn’t proud of losing my temper, but fd be damned if I let any
entyone talk
Leaning spannt the counter again, I tried to steady my nerves. Where the hell was Aragon! And who was tha Luna she mentioned?
Before Ermüd dwell on it funber, the sound of approaching footsteps made me straighten up. This time, it was Leah, her expression a mixture of
Chapter 82
..\ppened?” she asked, eyeing me carefully.
“Nothing.” I said, shaking my head, “Just someone testing my patience.”
She raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. “Did you find Aragon?”
“No. He’s not in his office or here.”
Leah frowned, crossing her arms. “He’s probably out dealing with pack business. You know how he gets.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Yeah, well, I need to talk to him. I can’t keep walking like I am on eggshells. I just got threatened right this second for something I don’t know about Charlie deserves more than this chaos.”
She nodded, her expression softening. “You’re right. But don’t let them get to you. Whoever it was, they’re not worth your energy
I nodded, though her words did little to ease the frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
Leal patted my shoulder before heading to the stove to make tea. I stayed rooted in place, staring at the doorway where the stranger had disappeared.
If this was the kind of hostility I had to face while I was here, then I’d fight back. Not for me, but for Charlie. I refused to let him grow up in an environment that tried to tear him down.
If it comes down to it, I will pick my bags and leave
