Page 11 of Sasha's Wounded Wolf

“Fucking hell,” Hannibal muttered as he scooped the woman into his arms when she swayed on her feet.

“Put her on the couch,” Raina ordered as she stepped around her husband, smacking him on the chest as she did. “And behave. All of you.”

She smiled at me. “Sorry about my mate. He can be an asshole. I’m Raina James. It’s—”

Her words died off, eyes widening, pupils dilating as she noted something behind me. Someone.

“Oh, my God,” she cried as my son inched up behind me, wrapping his arms around my thigh and rubbing his face against my skin.

“Mama,” Raine whispered. “I scared.”

I crept back, nudging Raine with me.

“Wait!” Raina yelled as her mate wrapped around her from behind. “Don’t go. I need to…” She paused, a sob spilling from her.

“Raina?” Bastion asked, gaze going between me and his mate.

“It’s Rowan,” she whispered then shook her head at the looks she was given. “Rowan’s son. He looks just like my brother.”

“Sasha,” Nico murmured. “You wanted them to meet. He’s picking up on your fear. Calm down, sis. No one’s going to touch you or him. I swear to you.”

“You’re safe here,” Bastion promised, waving his hand. His men drew back behind him.

It wasn’t that I’d thought they were a threat, but when you lived in survival mode for as long as I had, it was a hard thing to shut off. Raine was all I had left of his father. I’d fight the entire James Pack to protect him, if needed.

“Please,” Raina begged as tears spilled down her cheeks.

I think that was what allowed me to gain control. I dropped to my knees, turned and wrapped my son in my arms.

“It’s okay, baby. Mama’s here. I’m right here.”

I scooped him up into my arms then turned to face the room again. Raine had his face buried in my neck, one arm wrapped around me while the other hand gripped my hair. I eased forward to stand beside Nico, and my brother put his arm around us both, leaning low to whisper to Raine. Raine turned his head to scan the room, taking in all the new faces with the curiosity of a toddler who’d only ever been around his mom and uncle. His grip on me tightened, but no fear showed on his face.

“Oh, God,” Raina said again, her hand rising to cover her mouth.

“Raina,” Bastion soothed, and my son perked up in my arms.

“Your name’s like mine,” Raine offered his aunt with a tentative smile.

“Yeah,” Raina managed to get out. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Raine,” he told her. “I’m almost three.”

Raina’s gaze flew to mine. “He didn’t know.”

It wasn’t a question, but I found myself shaking my head anyway. Raina gave another sob then moved away from her husband. Tears spilled down my cheeks, as well, and only fell faster when she ignored Nico and wrapped Raine and me in her arms.

“You’re home now,” she whispered. “Both of you.”

She finally glanced at Nico and moved her arm to include him in the hug. “All of you.”

Another sob filled the air, and I was mortified to realize it came from me. Then with my son in my arms, my brother and Rowan’s sister hugging me, I broke down and cried as I’d done when I first realized Rowan wasn’t coming back to me.

Chapter Five

~Sasha~

I took my time settling Raine back in bed. I made sure he had the scruffy gray wolf he called daddy wolf that he’d dropped on his way to me. He cuddled the stuffed animal while I brushed my fingers through the dark locks that lay over his forehead. He had his father’s thick waves instead of the straight length that fell down my back. The older he got, the more I saw Rowan in him. Someday, he’d be a man with that dark stubble my mate had favored. Mostly, because he’d known I loved it. Really, I’d simply loved him. Everything about him.

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