Ruby POV
Lost in a daydream about Damian and his impending proposal, I stood in the hallway, oblivious to the world around me, until I felt a tap on my shoulder to snap me back to reality.
Startled, I turned around to see Sofia with a frown on her lips, and she held a large file that seemed heavy for her hands to carry.
“Hey Sofia, need help?” I questioned her, hoping to be of assistance to her just like she had been to me by having my back at the sick bay when Madam Nelly started acting crazy.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “No, thank you, but where has your head been all this time? In the clouds? I have been trying to get your attention for more than five minutes. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that Alex is in big trouble.”
“A-lex? Trouble? What happened?” I asked, my heart pounding with worry.
“It seems he hurt Alpha Damian’s precious daughter Anna. Poor little man has his plate full already and had to face the big bad alpha alone,” she explained, concern etched on her face.
Alex hurt Damian’s daughter.
I couldn’t believe my ears.
Out of all the children in the werewolf academy, my son had been unfortunate enough to be the victim. Why am I so unlucky?
I was so shocked that I sprinted across the hallway to the playing field, not waiting for her to finish her explanation. By the time I arrived, the playing field was deserted except for my son, sitting alone and playing with stones, tears streaming down his face. My heart sank as I rushed towards him, and when he saw me, he ran into my arms, hugging me tightly. I reciprocated the embrace, comforting him.
My sweet boy.
“Are you alright?” I inquired, and he nodded silently. Without a word, I cradled him in my arms for the first time in a long time, like a baby, saying nothing, and walked out of the academy.
I wouldn’t deny the fact that I was still in shock, unable to comprehend that my son had become entangled in such a situation. As we reached our house, the sight of the repaired door surprised me, but my mind remained focused on the impending conversation with Alex.
“Mum, it was a mistake, I swear,” he mumbled as I let him down to the floor and adjusted my rumpled dress.
“I know, honey, you aren’t a troublemaker seeking attention,” I replied, holding his chin lovingly. Despite his nervous explanation, I sensed his sincerity.
“Anna was all over me, saying I smell like an angel, and she insisted on seeing my eyes to be sure if I looked like her. I warned her to let me go and that I was no angel, but she refused and climbed on top of me, so we both ended up falling to the ground. She sustained a few bruises, mother, just like me. I swear, I tried to avoid trouble.” He explained nervously, biting his lips.
I sighed, brushing a strand of his hair away from his face. “Calm down, son. I’m proud of you for handling the situation well. I know it’s not your fault, and you are a good boy. It’s all over. Or did Damian hurt you?”
“Who is Damian, mother?” He fidgeted.
“I mean the scary alpha and the father to Anna. Did he hurt you?” I asked, worry etching my face. The thought of Damian hurting my son sent a wave of panic through me because I knew if he did, I would never forgive or accept being with him.
“No, mom, he didn’t hurt me. He came, shouted, and demanded to know who hurt Anna. The other kids pointed at me, and then… he… he… he.” Alex stammered at the end of his sentence, his eyes reflecting a mix of fear and uncertainty.
“He what?”
“You will be angry, mother.” He said it with hesitation, playing with his fingers. His reluctance sent another wave of panic through me.
“What did he do to you, Alex? Speak up!” I demanded, my voice rising.
“He forcefully removed my eye patch even after I begged him not to, mother,” Alex stammered, looking down. I felt a pang of shock coursing through me, my eyes widening in disbelief as I tried to process the situation.
My hands clenched into fists, a mix of anger and concern etched on my face at Damian for harassing my son despite his refusal, but seconds later, as I began to slowly process everything, my feelings became conflicted to that of shock as I felt a pang of it coursing through me.
My eyes widened in realisation, mirroring the disbelief that gripped my entire being. Suspicion knitted my brows as my gaze zeroed in on Alex’s face.
Damian saw Alex’s eyes. He saw his steel grey eyes.
Fuck.
Unintentionally, my hand brushed against a delicate flower vase nearby, causing it to topple and crash to the floor, the shattering sound echoing the turmoil within me.
I look at the broken piece on the floor as the weight of the unspoken truth settles heavily in my heart-a secret that threatened to be exposed in a moment of vulnerability. A crease etched between my brows betrayed the depth of my concern and realisation.
Damian wasn’t an idiot; that’s why he was an alpha of probably one of the strongest packs, and the fact that Alex was the exact replica of Liam added to my worry. It’s only a matter of time before he joins all the pieces together and knows he is Liam’s son.
Maybe I should just tell him the truth straight up. What’s the worst thing that can happen? Liam could find out-shit. But Damian and Liam aren’t friends, so I doubt if he will find out through Damian.
My mind raced as my head became messy, grappling with the consequences of Damian discovering what I had fiercely guarded-Alex’s steel grey eyes, a trait I had hoped to keep hidden from the world. How would he react to the fact that I had a son for a man he hates? No, I could never tell him.
Maybe I was only exaggerating; there’s no way he could assume Alex was Liam’s son just by looking into his eyes.
Yet puzzle pieces fell into alignment, and the gravity of Damian’s discovery pressed on my mind because a tiny part of me knew it was possible.
“I tried to stop him, mother, and I kept begging, but I couldn’t stop him. He was stronger than me.”
A frown creased my forehead as I processed this information, my maternal instincts to protect my son on high alert.
I could feel the weight of hidden truths hanging in the air, and I felt the internal conflict swirling within me. Damian is really smart, and he can figure things out easily. The fear of him discovering the secret about Alex is quite scary, or maybe I was wrong.
“And… did he say anything to you?”
“He was acting weird, and everyone else seemed strange too. He asked me where my father and mother were, and I told him they were both far away.” Alex’s voice wavered, and he avoided making eye contact, hinting at the unease he felt during the encounter.
The gravity of the situation hung in the air, and words replayed in my mind, making me aware that I needed to tread carefully, aware that Damian’s suspicions could unravel the carefully woven threads of secrecy around Alex’s identity.
A mixture of emotions swirled within me: concern for the situation at hand and a surge of pride in Alex’s quick thinking. Even though I have never told my son the real reason why I don’t like seeing his eyes and why he needs to cover them up, he was aware that I was doing all this to protect him.
Despite the chaos, I couldn’t help but feel a motherly pride in his ability to navigate the tricky conversation with Damian. My son was smart and would be a fine young man one day.
“Good son… I am so proud of you for handling the situation well,” I reassured him, gently patting his shoulder.
Taking a deep breath, I managed a small smile, reaching for a brush to clean up the broken pieces of the flower vase. As I swept away the fragments, my mind raced, contemplating the potential repercussions of Damian’s inquiry into Alex’s family.
Halfway through the sweep, I turned to see Alex still rooted on the spot with his head bent low. “Don’t worry, son, I will handle the situation; you don’t need to worry,” I tried to reassure.
I could sense the mix of guilt and fear in his eyes, and my heart softened. What did Damien do to make my son this way?
“No, mother, I haven’t told you everything yet.” Alex muttered, and my ears opened at his words.
“What’s the problem again?” I asked worriedly as I unconsciously gripped the sweeping brush tightly.
“He asked me to bring my parents to school tomorrow.”
“He… what’s now?” I stammered as the reality of the challenge ahead settled upon me. Damian was obviously suspicious. What do I do? If I appear before him as Alex’s nanny, it will increase his suspicion of me. Although I had no resemblance to Alex physically, Damian wasn’t stupid.
I couldn’t fault Alex for his honesty, and I knew he tried his best to keep things from escalating. I offered a comforting smile, acknowledging the complexity of the predicament.
“Yes, mother. I’m sorry… I should have lied that my parents were dead instead.” He muttered sadly.
“Oh no, sweetheart, you did the right thing. Your parents are not dead, so there’s no need for lies. We’ll find a way to overcome this situation together,” I reassured him, trying to soothe the worry etched on his face. The bond between us strengthened with each reassuring word.
I dropped the brush and moved to the tableside, grabbing a first-aid box and placing it on the bed.
“Come here, son. You are the bravest little man I know,” I said lovingly as I carefully attended to his bruises.
“Really?” A smile lit up on his face as he asked.
“Yes, Alex, and I am lucky to have you,” I mumbled.
“Does that mean you will come to see him, mother, or will you find someone else to act like my parents?”
I paused, meeting his eyes with a mixture of sadness and determination. “I don’t know yet, son, and I will find a way, my love. We’ll figure this out together.”
“Alright, but he said if they don’t come, I should be ready to give up my admission.” He hissed in pain just as I applied spirit to his brusies.
I knew the admission to the werewolf academy was a significant opportunity for Alex, and the possibility of forfeiting it loomed over us like a dark cloud. In that moment, my mind raced with the potential consequences of Damian’s demand. The delicate balance of secrets and their impact on our lives seemed more precarious than ever.
“Don’t worry, son, nothing will make you lose your admission, and I will make sure of that even if I have to do the impossible.”
My thoughts raced, knowing the encounter with Damian would add another layer of complexity to our lives, and the repercussions were uncertain. Yet, in that moment, my focus was on soothing my son’s physical and emotional wounds, a reminder that our family bond would endure whatever challenges came our way.
As I continued tending to Alex’s bruises, he hesitantly shared stories of how he was enjoying his classes in the academy and how his teachers were kind to him, which made me happy, and why I didn’t want to ruin the little happiness he managed to have by revealing him as my son.
The journey ahead might be fraught with uncertainties, but I was prepared to face them for the sake of my son’s future.