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

live. Where are we

a dirt track that led deeper into the

ground, and I could hear Adrian’s confused whimpering from the back seat as branches

first hints of fear. “It’s scary. Can we go back to Mommy

sharp enough to make him flinch. “We have something important

that no one would find him quickly, but not so deep that

unbuckling my seatbelt. “Out you

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his eyes darting around the empty clearing. “You

you in the forest,” I lied smoothly, getting out of the car and opening his door. “Come on. He’s been waiting a very

time to meet you.”

seat. “I don’t see anyone. And Mommy said I should never go

alone.”

finally reaching its breaking point.

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

reaching automatically for mine.

thick

of decomposing leaves and something else-something wild and predatory that made my

uneasily in

Adrian asked, staring into the shadowy depths between the trees.

said, crouching down to his level and speaking in the

seek. He’s waiting

far enough that he wouldn’t be

my way back. When we reached a small cluster of fallen

pointing deeper into the forest where the shadows grew thickest.

those trees?”

fear warring on his small

him. “He’s there, waiting for you.

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

floor as I hurried

his voice growing

back! I can’t find him! AUNT VALERIE!”

time I reached my car, Adrian’s voice had faded to a distant cry echoing through the trees. I slammed the door

whatever final pleas he might have

main road, Elizabeth’s name flashing on the

me you have her locked up somewhere,” I said without preamble. “Because I just finished handling my end