Filed to story: Claimed by My Ex’s Alpha Brother
She leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead.
When my mom turned, she jumped a little when she noticed Liam was still in the room with us.
“I was hoping I could speak with you, Ella,” he said.
My mother stepped to the side, blocking me from Liam’s view.
“She needs to rest,” my mom said firmly. “If Ella wants to, she will speak with you in the morning.”
I laid a hand on my mom’s arm.
“It’s okay. I want to talk to him,” I said.
She looked back at me.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Go get some sleep, Mom. I’m sure you’re exhausted. We can all visit Dad together in the morning.”
After a moment’s hesitation, my mom nodded.
“We’re staying in the room across the hall,” my mom told me. “Call out if you need anything.” She looked pointedly at Liam.
“Thank you, Mom,” I said, trying to convey through my expression that I appreciated her trying to protect me.
But Liam and I had to have this overdue conversation.
Once my mom left, Liam sat in the chair by my bedside.
We were silent for a couple of minutes. Even though Liam had been one of my best friends growing up, and he was the father of my child, we hadn’t seen each other for six years. And the last time I’d seen him was when he broke our bond.
I played with the white blanket covering me, trying to figure out what to say.
“Grayson,” Liam breathed out, making my head jerk up. “That’s what you and your mom said. Our son’s name is Grayson.”
“Yes,” I confirmed.
“He’s five?”
I cleared my throat and nodded.
Liam ran his hands through his hair.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant, Ella? All those letters I wrote to you…Did you not read any of them? I’ve been trying to get in contact with you ever since you left.”
My stomach burned with rage.
“Why didn’t I tell you? Hm, let’s think about it,” I said sarcastically and tapped my pointer finger against my chin in mock thought. “Maybe it was because before I could get the words ‘I’m pregnant’ out of my mouth, you rejected me as your Mate!”
Liam’s mouth dropped open.
“That’s what you were going to tell me the night of graduation?” he asked in astonishment.
“What did you think I was to tell you?” I snapped and rolled my eyes.
“I thought you were going to tell me you were sick. That’s where I thought you were all these years. Your father told me that you were severely ill and were being taken care of by a talented healer up north,” Liam explained.
“Oh. Yes, well, I guess I can see why you thought I was sick,” I admitted reluctantly and looked away from him. “It was my parents’ idea. They were scared I might be exiled if anyone were to discover Grayson was yours. And, honestly, they were probably right. My going away was the Best option to keep Grayson and me safe. And you, for that matter. I don’t think we could have found a solution to keep all of us from being exiled for breaking pack law, even if you gave me a chance to tell you about my pregnancy the night you rejected me.”
Liam’s face grew somber.
“You’re probably right about it being the safest option. But I am so incredibly sorry that you had to care for Grayson all by yourself,” Liam said. “I’m sure being a single mother and being away from your home was one of the hardest things you had to do. From now on, if it’s all right with you, I want to have a relationship with Grayson. I want to provide and care for him like a father should. Like any parent should.”
My first instinct was to tell him no. Liam rejected me. He shattered my heart and left me to glue the pieces back together on my own. I wasn’t going to allow him to do the same thing to our son.
But was it right to keep Grayson away from his father? Was that fair to do to my son? I went back and forth with myself until my head was pounding. Right now, I couldn’t make a concrete decision on this.
“We can talk about you meeting Grayson…later. With kids, you have to take these things slow. I don’t want him to be overwhelmed. Especially with everything else going on in his life,” I said.
“I understand. You know what’s best for him.”
We were quiet for a moment, and then Liam scrubbed a hand down his face.
“I’m a fool for rejecting you,” he said quietly.
Anger made my stomach churn.
Really? Is that all he has to say? This man broke our Mating bond and all he can say is that he’s a fool?
My anger turned into something even worse.
Pain.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?