15
It had been a few weeks since we’d agreed to let Nicholas see Dean during his free time. We thought it would
be the right thing to do. Nicholas was happier, more energetic–almost like his old self again. He would come home
from their meetings, his eyes shining with excitement, talking about all the things they did together.
He was starting to grow so attached to him, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that one day, that bond would become unbreakable. Dean was his biological father, after all.
Nathan seemed to feel it too. Lately, he had been distant, retreating into himself, and I could see it in the way he looked at Nicholas. There was a sadness behind his eyes, a quiet doubt that had never been there before. I knew what it was. I could feel it. He was wondering if he was enough for Nicholas, if he could ever be the father the boy needed.
One evening, as Nicholas and Dean played outside, I found Nathan sitting alone, his gaze lost somewhere far away. I sat beside him, feeling the weight of the silence between us. He didn’t say anything at first, and neither did I, but the moment hung heavy in the air. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.
“You’re enough, Nathan,” I said softly, breaking the stillness.
He turned to me, his expression unreadable. “I’m not, Hannah,” he muttered, looking back out at Nicholas, still playing. “Whatever I do, he’ll find his real father eventually. He’ll always know Dean is the one who belongs with him.”
I felt a sharp pain in my chest, hearing the rawness in his voice. “You are enough. “You’ve been everything to him. You’ve been the one who’s taken care of him, the one who’s loved him. That makes you enough.”
Nathan’s eyes flickered with something–something that looked like pain, like regret, “It doesn’t matter what I do. No matter how hard I try, Nicholas is going to look for his real father. And when that happens, I’ll just be the guy who was there for a while. That’s all I’ll ever be.”
The words hit me hard, harder than I expected. My heart clenched, and I had to swallow back the wave of emotion that threatened to overwhelm me. He shouldn’t have to carry this burden, not when all he wanted was to protect us, to give us a life free of fear.
I reached over, my hand brushing his gently. “You don’t have to apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re the only father Nicholas has ever known, and that’s all that matters. No matter what happens with Dean… you’ll always be enough.”
He didn’t respond immediately, but his gaze softened, and I could feel the weight lifting off his shoulders, just a
little bit.
The next Sunday, Nathan decided it was time to visit his mother. It had been years since he’d seen her–since he’d cut ties with his family. They’d never understood him, and his father’s death had only made things worse. His
mother had always been closer to Dean, and I knew that Nathan had never felt like he belonged in their world.
Nicholas and I went with him I knew how hard it would be for him but I couldn’t let him go alone, not when he
9:39 AM
1 Kept the Alpha’s Secret Her
As Nathan went to talk to his mother, I wandered around the estate, feeling like I was suffocating with every step. I made my way to the terrace, hoping for some fresh air to clear my mind, and that’s when I saw Cecelia,
She was standing at the railing, looking down at the garden where Dean and Nicholas were playing. There was no warmth in her expression, just a cold indifference that sent a shiver down my spine. It reminded me of the letter she’d sent me all those months ago, the one threatening to destroy everything if I didn’t stay away from Dean and his world.
I walked over slowly, but she spoke before I could say anything. “I hope you’re happy,” she said flatly, “You’ve got what you wanted. Dean’s attached to your child.”
Her words stung, but I couldn’t let her see that. “I tried to leave,” I said quietly, my voice steady despite the rage bubbling inside me. “But Dean found us. He’s trying to get close to my child. I can’t stop that.”
I sat at a nearby table, the weight of her words settling over me like a dark cloud. I couldn’t escape it. I couldn’t escape her. I thought back to that birthday party, the one where she’d exposed my pregnancy to everyone, pushing Nathan away from her and closer to me. I had never forgiven her for that. For what she’d done.
“You made quite the help that night,” I said sarcastically, my eyes narrowing. “I almost died on that road, Cecelia. I almost lost everything because of your games.
She turned to me then, a sly smirk creeping onto her face. “I should’ve killed you and your child then. At least you’d be dead now, and Dean wouldn’t be obsessed with someone else’s kid. You must be dying with jealousy, watching him play with Nicholas.”
I clenched my fists, the anger rising again. “Don’t blame me for your inability to have children,” I spat. “Dean’s just trying to be an uncle to his brother’s kid,”
Cecelia’s smile widened, and she leaned in closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a dark secret. “I know who Nicholas‘ real father is. And I wonder what would happen if Dean knew the truth.”
The threat in her voice was enough to send a cold chill down my spine. I leaned forward, my voice low and dangerous. “Don’t even think about it,” I warned. “If you tell him, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
