Arya’s POV
I jerked up awake. What is it with me and dreams lately? I had no idea what they meant. Each one was getting weirder than the last one. I sat up and ran a hand over my hair. Why did I have to choose between Chase and Jake? Chase is cruel and mean and cocky. He is the kind of man I didn’t want in my life, but he made me anxious. Giddy. And I think I like it.
As for Jake…. He… I don’t think I’m ready to let go. He hurt me but I still have something for him. I turned around. Chamberlain was sleeping soundly. A slow smile began to spread on my lips. My son was the only beautiful thing in my life at the moment. Though life has been hard on us I haven’t for one day regretted having him in my life. He is the reason I haven’t fully considered suicide.
Chamberlin had a right to know his father but I doubt, that is the only reason Chase tracked me down to the human world and asked him to be his date at the full moon ceremony. To make matters worse, he marked me. And I found out he was my mate.
Why did he choose me? An Omega to be his mate? I wasn’t beautiful or curvy. We haven’t even had sex so what could be the issue? I recalled the words from my mother. She still didn’t tell me why Chase wanted me but I itched to know why.
Taking in a deep breath, I stood up from the bed and dragged myself to the bathroom. Everything about Chase would be pursued after I celebrate my son’s birthday.
I haven’t seen Chase around Lately. Wasn’t he the one begging to be introduced to his son but then he is nowhere to be found? This shows that he is going to be a deadbeat already.
The moment I walked out of the bathroom, I saw Chamberlin awake. He sat up rubbing his eyes. As soon as he saw me, his face lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Morning mummy”
“Morning sweetheart” I smiled. “Did you sleep well?”
He nodded, smiling.
“Alright, come on, you have to take a shower or else we will be late?”
“Is it for my birthday picnic?” he grinned.
“Yes”
“Yeah” he jumped on the bed and I laughed. He always loved the idea of having a picnic with just me, a day before he celebrated his birthday. Chamberlin said it made him feel important. Because we celebrate alone before we call any other person. He jumped down from the bed and ran into the bathroom, grabbing his toothbrush, and squirting toothpaste, he began to brush.
“Brush it good okay?”
“Yes mum,” he said with a mouth full of toothpaste. Then he suddenly turned to me.
“What Cham?”
“Can Aunty Kelsi come to?”
I raised an eyebrow and my son looked away. “I thought you wanted the picnic for just us family” he spat the toothpaste out and slowly turned to me.
“Well… Aunty Kelsi is family too” he said looking at the floor”
“How is she family? She’s not my sister but my friend Cham”
Chamberlin stared up at me and smiled. “Mum you told me that anyone who takes care of us is family, Aunt Kelsi takes care of me too, why can’t she be family?”
My heart broke at his words. My son was a sweetheart. His level of emotional intelligence beats me.
I rubbed my hand on his hair. “Okay baby, she can come too but that would be tomorrow”
“Okay… but why not today?”
I smiled. “Your aunt Kelsi is in time out”
“Time out?” his eyes widened. “Did she do something wrong like cussing?”
I chuckled. “Yes darling, even worse than that”
Chamberlin slowly nodded. He didn’t look convinced but he continued brushing his teeth.
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The moment we got downstairs with the baskets of fruits and snacks, we were met with a lot of stares from people. Just the maids and guards. They looked at us like we were wearing the back of our clothes. I looked down at I and Chamberlin, we were not dressed in outlandish clothes or any sort of attire.
Chamberlin wrapped his hands around mine tightly and I felt pity for the little boy. I held his hand and together we began to leave the palace but a mean-looking guard stood in front of us. Chamberlin immediately hid behind me.
“You can’t leave the palace, Miss Arya,” he said.
“Why?” I demanded
“It’s orders from the Alpha,” he said.
“What? How dare he!” I said with gritted teeth. I thought he said I was here on my own will and now he has said I can’t even leave the Palace. I decided to slug it out with the guard.
“I demand to leave this instant” I yelled at the guard but he didn’t seem moved.” you can’t keep me here!|
“I-”
“Let her go!” a deep voice said. I turned around to find Angus. The guard bowed and immediately left the way. That was fast.
As soon as we were out Angus apologized for the delay.
“It’s okay, I understand” and I immediately left with my son. I wasn’t going to listen to him talk. He was in the same group as Chase. Manipulative as hell.
We got to the park and I laid the mat, kept the basket, and sat. I looked up to see Chamberlin still standing.
“Come on honey why don’t you sit?”
He looked at me, his eyes glazy and he sniffed. “Mum, can we leave here and go back home?”
I was moved to tears “Home? Honey, I thought you liked it here”
He shook his head. “No. I no longer. Did that guard do that because I don’t have a dad?”
Don’t cry! Don’t cry! Don’t cry!
My eyes watered and I looked up to the heavens. It was hard not to cry.