Page 67 of Alpha's Unclaimed Mate

The sight of her protecting him had me howling. My mate cared about someone else more than me. As my palms start getting cold again, Titan’s whispers echo in my mind, urging me to be honest and show true remorse.“Show her you’ve changed,” he advises me. “You’ve got to earn her forgiveness.”

It’s another ten minutes before the pilot announces we’re past the turbulence and will be landing in half an hour. As we near our final descent, I sense Seren’s distress growing.

Out of nowhere, she asks, “Does he hate me for leaving him?”

So this is what’s been on her mind?

I offer her a soft smile, wanting to ease her worry. “He asks about you every single day. There’s not been a night where he hasn’t woken up crying, reaching out for you. He doesn’t hate you, Seren. He loves you. He’s just waiting for you.”

She looks as if she can’t believe me, so I offer her a little more detail.

“He easily gets angry, afraid, or completely detached. The doctor says it’s a function of his separation anxiety—a coping mechanism. But right now he’s really excited about the blueberry patch we planted together for you.”

I try telling her multiple times that he won’t reject her, but I can tell she’s not convinced.

As we drive over to Luke and Pema’s, Seren wrings her hands several times, staring out the window. Lana had textedme that they were all there for a barbecue, and right now the kids are watching a movie together.

When we arrive outside Luke’s home, Seren’s eyes are already misted with tears. She hesitates to leave the car, and slowly her body starts shaking. I understand her guilt. It’s something that lived in me these last few years.

“Should I bring him over so you guys can meet here?” I ask softly.

She nods, her voice trembling. “Yeah, okay. I’ll wait here.”

I find Leon asleep beside Luke’s twins. I try to be gentle as I scoop him up, but the little devil awakens and starts howling, waking the other two as well.

I offer a quick apology to Pema as I walk out the door. Seren is standing beside the car, her eyes fixed on us.

Leon immediately stops wailing, his eyes widening as he takes in the sight of his mother after a year apart. “Mama?” he asks softly.

Seren chokes back a sob. “Yes, my little love. Have you forgotten me already?”

As she leans in to say hello to him, Leon doesn’t kick or fight, but he turns his face away from her. His face flushes red, his hair falling over his face to hide his tears.

Seren reaches for him, but he resists, trying to pull away. She wraps her arms around him, murmuring “I’m sorry” over and over as she holds him close.

He eventually gives in and clings to her tightly. Seren continues to whisper sweet apologies and kisses his face repeatedly, her own tears mingling with his. Leon eventually falls asleep in her arms, exhausted and comforted.

As we drive up to the imposing Blackwood Estate, Seren’s face shows a flicker of unease. “Does Leon have any half-siblings?” she asks cautiously.

I chuckle, surprised by her question. “Unless you’ve got another secret kid stashed away somewhere, not yet.”

She narrows her eyes at me and gives me a disgusted look.

Still nestled in Seren’s arms, Leon wakes up and rubs her cheek, nuzzling his face in her neck as if making sure she’s real.

“What happened to your clothes, my little lion?” she asks him softly.

He nuzzles deeper into her neck. “They hurt.”

Seren pulls him close and blows a loud raspberry on his cheek. Leon giggles. She does it again and the giggles turn into laughs. As they share their moment, Leon suddenly reaches out to touch my cheek with a smile before turning back to Seren.

My insides light up. It’s the first time he’s ever reached out to me without wanting anything. I know he realizes I’m what brought his mama back.

I pull both Seren and Leon into a gentle hug, feeling a glimmer of hope as Seren doesn’t pull away.

That’s a good first step,I think, letting a small smile touch my lips as I savor this fragile moment of connection.

CHAPTER 25

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