“He’s my son…” Kai gasped, the paper slipping out of his hands. He looked at Karen, his eyes full of shock.
“I told you ” Karen replied. She looked down at the boy in her arms and her eyes softened. “He’s yours”
Kai walked up to her, his eyes on the child. “Put your hands down,” He commanded
The boy obeyed, wide eyes staring into his.
Those eyes…. there were exactly his eyes. Kai felt silly. How could he have not recognized him since?! Kai glanced at Karen, but her eyes were on her son… their son….
Kai turned and bolted out of the room. He felt choked up with emotion, not trusting himself in that moment.
He had a son
He had a son with Karen. The very same woman he was losing his mind over.
Kai felt like he was dreaming. He had to be dreaming. For four years, four years he’d had a child.
“Kai! Wait up!”
Nicolas ran up to his side, trying to keep up with his strides. “What’s wrong?” Nicolas asked, peering into his face.
“What’s wrong?” Kai paused and whipped to face him. “Nick I have a son! That’s what’s wrong!”
Nicolas frowned. “Aren’t you happy?”
Happy.
Kai was happy alright! He was. And at the same time he was scared. At the same time he was angry.
Kai walked into his suite and collapsed on his couch, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.
“It’s not that I’m not happy,” He said in a quiet tone. “I’m happy. But at the same time I can’t believe she hid it from me and lied….”
Nicolas joined him on the couch. “I can understand why she did it, if you’d permit me to talk.”
“Go on.”
“She was scared.” Nicolas said. “Remember she was your slave up until now. And even now, she doesn’t want to lose her son. Think about it. It’s just been the two of them for a while now.”
“He’s my son, Nick. You know what that means. Now I’ll have to start training him to be the next alpha and….”
Kai paused, the realization hitting him like a ton of bricks.
Karen had begged him to not take her son away. Had she seen his all ahead of time? Had she known?
Kai glanced at Nicolas and shook his head. “Damn devil advocate”
“I don’t think you need to worry, Kai. Everything will figure itself out.”
Kai wondered how this would figure itself out.
He couldn’t deny the spark of anticipation inside him. And the dread that settled. Asher had threatened to kill his son.
Kai felt rage spark inside him. “Asher is going to pay for this.” He growled, his eyes flashing red.
Not only did he almost kill Karen along with his unborn child four years ago because of Asher and Verena, now he had almost lost his son again to Asher.
“Congratulations though.” Nicolas said and patted his shoulder. “You have a beautiful family now.”
Family.
Kai wanted that. And now it had come to him so effortlessly. His smile started to falter when he remembered he hadn’t marked Karen yet.
He sighed. “I need some instructions on fatherhood. A book or something.”
Nicolas threw his head back and laughed. “Yes, you definitely do. How about you start with not transferring your aggression to your mate? Maybe talk to her?”
Kai rolled his eyes. “That seems to have worked well for you.”
Nicolas smiled, the smile of a man in love. “We try.”
“I heard she woke up today. How did that happen?”
“I don’t know. Karen was with her and she….”
“Karen was with her?”
“Yes.” Nicolas frowned. “Is anything wrong?”
“That must have been why she passed out.” Kai said to himself.
“You think she… healed Verena?”
Kai shrugged. “I think so. What did the healer say?”
“She’ll be fine. It’s a miracle she said. She should wake up anytime soon.”
Kai nodded. Everyday he was getting to see different sides of Karen .
“That’s good news.” Kai said, lost in his thoughts. He wondered how he was going to face Karen now. How he was going to face his son.
Dammit. Saying his son sounded weird to him.
***
“Mommy why was that big man so angry?”
Karen sighed and faced David. He hasn’t stopped pelting her with questions ever since Kai walked out.
“I did something wrong to him.” Karen tried to explain. “And now he’s very angry.”
“Oh,” David said, his eyes sad. “I wanted to know his name.”
Karen didn’t know what to do next. She had revealed that David was Kai’s son.
Now what?
For sure Kai would want to raise the boy like an alpha, the son of two alphas that he was. That would mean she would see him less, Kai would take control of everything.
Karen didn’t want that to happen. Plus now that he knew she had lied to him the whole time.
Karen wished the ground to open up and swallow her.
“Mommy?”
Karen blinked. “I’m sorry baby. I was lost in my thoughts for a while.”
“There’s someone at the door.”
A knock sounded on the door. “Karen are you in there?” She heard Kai’s voice.
“No!” She said but then realized how it sounded. “Come in.”
The door opened and Kai walked in. He looked calmer, his eyes instantly falling on David.
“Is anything the problem?” Karen asked, taking a protective stance in front of David.
“I want to see my son.” He said, looking up at her. “Our son, rather.”
Karen flashed him a wary look and stepped to the side. “David, this is Kai. Your father.”
David jumped to his feet. “I knew it! I knew that was why!” He ran over to Kai, hugging his leg tightly “I could hear your voice everyday.”
Kai looked at Karen, confusion on his face. She glared at him. “Well?” She snapped.
Kai picked the boy up and looked at him. There was no denying it. This was indeed his child. The boy looked at him with a wide smile, his eyes shining with awe.
“Can I call you daddy now?”
Kai felt his heart melt. He didn’t know how long he had craved to hear that statement “yes,” He said, his voice cracking. He smiled, his eyes misting up. “You can me daddy. I’m your daddy.”
David smiled, his eyes lighting up. “Hello daddy,”
Kai hugged the boy, holding him as if he feared he would disappear if he let up. The boy hugged him back,
“It’s nice to meet you daddy. ” He whispered
That was the last straw for Kai. Four long years of pain. Four long years of trying so hard to be strong for himself, for his pack. Four years of longing for his family, praying and hoping that somehow, Karen had survived and his baby was safe.
Those emotions he’d bottled up shattered, his body trembled and he felt tears prick his eyes. He glanced at Karen. She was wiping her tears, her eyes met his and she gave him a small smile. She walked up to him and joined the embrace.
Kai felt complete.
“I’m so sorry,” He whispered. “For not being there…. please forgive me…”
“Kai,” Karen said. “I forgave you a long time ago.”
“Me too!” David chriped and raised his head up from Kai’s shoulder to stare at him. “Now I can’t wait to show you to the kids at school!”
Kai laughed. “That’s a perfect idea.”
“You’ve wanted that for a long time now haven’t you?” Karen asked, patting his golden hair with love in her eyes.
“Of course! And my daddy is bigger than all of their daddies! Oh and mommy, he can meet Kyle!”
Kyle was the wild wolf he had tamed and made his pet.
Kai turned to Karen. “Who is Kyle? A friend?”
Karen shook her head. “Our son tamed a wild wolf.”
His eyes widened comically “a wild….. I haven’t even been able to do that!”
Karen nodded. “I know right? ”
“It’s not that hard ” David said. “You just talk to them. And that’s all.”
Kai felt more than blessed.
His heir. His very own heir.
“Makes sense he’s so powerful already.” Kia said as he gazed at Karen. “Both his parents are alpha’s. And you are just something else entirely….”
Karen slapped his arm. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“I mean it as one.”
“Mommy and daddy are flirting.” David said
“We’re not!” Kai and Karen echoed together. They glanced at each other and burst out laughing. David joined in their laughter.
Kai felt truly complete.
“I’ll arrange to have you moved into the suite.” Kai said to Karen. “Soon we’ll be back to the human world, and then….”
Karen placed a finger on his lips. “Kai, breathe.”
“I… I just can’t believe it. I… I’m a father now.”
Karen cupped his face, her eyes gently. “And you will make a wonderful father. I believe in you. Now, take a deep breath and calm down.”
“I believe in you too daddy.” David said.
Kai inhaled and exhaled softly. “I’m calm now. Very calm.”
“That’s better.” Karen said. “Is anyone hungry.”
“I’m starving! Mommy can we have pizza for dinner?!”
“No ” Karen snapped.
Kai laughed. “You let him eat that junk?”
Karen rolled her eyes. “We all can’t survive on oats and chia seeds can we?” She headed to the door and he followed, still carrying David. He enjoyed the Light tone of her voice, just a few minute ago they were at each other throats.
“You could try if you want. And I do not survive on oats and chia seeds.”
“What’s chia seeds?” David asked.
“It’s a type of seed that people like your daddy eat.”
“Daddy is that how you got so big?”
They walked out of the room and into the hallway, heading to the private dining room. “Yes, and if you want to get big, you’ll eat your chia seeds too.”
“Don’t tell him that!” Karen giggled.
“My alpha,” A servant appeared beside them and went on his knees. “Miss Verena is awake. And she has requested to see Miss Karen.”
“Verena wants to see me?”
“Who’s Verena?”