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.

as he noticed the changing landscape outside his window. “This

live. Where

there,” I said, pulling off the main road onto a dirt track that led deeper into the forest. The car

I could hear Adrian’s confused whimpering

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

yet,” I said, my voice sharp enough to make him flinch.

in a small clearing surrounded by thick forest on all sides. Perfect. Remote enough that no one would find him quickly, but not so deep that I’d get lost trying to

briskly, unbuckling my seatbelt. “Out

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his eyes darting around the empty clearing. “You

the forest,” I lied smoothly, getting out of the car and opening his door. “Come on. He’s

time to meet you.”

his car seat. “I don’t see

alone.”

I said, my patience finally reaching its breaking point.

his caution. He unbuckled himself and climbed out of the car,

reaching automatically for mine.

forest, where the trees grew thick

carrying the earthy scent of decomposing leaves and something else-something wild

uneasily in

in there?” Adrian asked, staring into the shadowy depths between the trees. “It

to his level and speaking in the same sweet tone I’d used at the school. “Your daddy loves

and seek. He’s waiting for

that he wouldn’t be visible from the

reached a small

said, pointing deeper into the forest where the shadows grew thickest. “I think I see him! Do you

those trees?”

hope and fear warring on his small face. “I… I

him. “He’s there,

those distinctive blue eyes. “Don’t leave me! I want to go with

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

to me, then to his imaginary father, his voice growing

I can’t find him! AUNT

Adrian’s voice had faded to a

the sound drowning out whatever final

main road, Elizabeth’s name flashing

without preamble. “Because I just