Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

Chapter 31

Valerie’s POV 1

The drive toward the territorial borders felt endless, made worse by the constant chatter coming from the back seat. Adrian had been

asking questions nonstop for the past hour, his little voice bright with excitement and hope that made my teeth clench with irritation.

“Are we almost there? When will I see my daddy? What does he look like? Does he know about me?”

Each innocent question was like fingernails on a chalkboard. I glanced in the rearview mirror at the child strapped into Gabriel’s old car

seat-a pathetic piece of safety equipment that had seen better days, much like everything else in my miserable life. Adrian’s dark curls

were messed from leaning against the window.

“Soon,” I said tersely, not bothering to hide my annoyance anymore. “We’ll be there soon, and then you can ask him all the questions you

want.”

Adrian bounced excitedly in his seat, pressing his small hands against the window as we passed increasingly sparse neighborhoods. “Will

he like me? Mommy says I’m a good boy. I can tie my shoes now, and I know all my

letters!”

“I’m sure he’ll be… thrilled,” I muttered, pressing harder on the accelerator. The sooner I finished this unpleasant task.

The residential areas gradually gave way to industrial zones, then to empty lots and finally to the wild forestland that marked the outer

boundaries of our territory. This was as far as I could go without crossing into rogue territory-dangerous, lawless land where pack

protection didn’t extend and anything could happen to an unwary traveler.

Perfect for my purposes.

I’d heard the reports over the past few months about increased rogue activity in this area. Lone wolves and outcasts who’d been

banished from their packs, desperate and dangerous, with nothing left to lose. They wouldn’t hesitate to attack anything they perceived

as weak or vulnerable.

Like a four-year-old child who hadn’t even had his first shift yet.

noticed the changing landscape outside his window. “This

live. Where

off the main road onto a dirt track

whimpering from the back seat as

trembling with the first hints of fear. “It’s scary.

make him flinch. “We

quickly, but not so deep that I’d get lost trying to find my way back out. I put the car in park and turned to face the child

briskly, unbuckling my

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31 Chapter 31

where’s my daddy?” Adrian asked, his eyes darting around the empty clearing. “You said he

for you in the forest,” I lied smoothly, getting out of the

time to meet you.”

edge of his car seat. “I don’t see anyone. And Mommy said I

alone.”

reaching its breaking

his caution.

reaching automatically for mine.

to the edge of the forest, where the trees grew thick enough to block out most of the late

the earthy scent of decomposing leaves and something

uneasily in my

shadowy depths

worry,” I said, crouching down to his level and speaking in the same sweet tone

and seek. He’s waiting for you to

steps into the forest, far enough that he wouldn’t be

my way back. When we reached a small

the forest where the shadows grew thickest. “I think I see him! Do you see that

those trees?”

squinted into the darkness, hope and fear warring on his small face. “I…

insisted, already backing away from him.

toward me, panic flickering in those distinctive blue eyes. “Don’t leave me! I want to

was already moving, my high heels clicking against the forest floor as I hurried

calling out-first to me, then to his imaginary father, his voice growing smaller and more frightened with each

I can’t find him! AUNT

I reached my car, Adrian’s voice had faded to a distant cry echoing through

final

as I reached the main road, Elizabeth’s name flashing on the display. I answered immediately, eager for good

I said without preamble. “Because I just finished handling my end of the bargain,