Page 65 of Alpha's Unclaimed Mate

His forehead creases with a deep frown and hurt flickers in his eyes as he stares at me.

“Have it your way.”

I’m about to close the door behind me when he speaks again, his voice strained. “I know you have no reason to listen to me, but…Leon misses you. He asks for you every day, Seren. He doesn’t understand why you’re not there.”

The pin that’s been poking at my chest since I left Leon at Blackwood digs deeper as I hear those words. My biggest regret is that this man is his father. Any normal human baby, I could’ve handled on my own.

“Neither do I. I need you back. Titan and I both do. Just try for him…just once. Come with me to Blackwood and see how it is.”

I laugh, but it’s a hollow sound. “Does your mate, your luna, know you’re asking this of me? Or is this?—”

“Vanessa died in an attack almost a year ago.”

Suddenly, everything clicks into place, and a smile tugs at my lips. “I’m sorry for your loss, Theron. I’m sure losing a mate must’ve been heartbreaking.”

He growls, his canines flashing dangerously. “You’re my mate, not Vanessa. I never gave a shit about her. Sure, I’m grateful for everything she did for the pack, but that’s the most I ever felt for her. Seren, you’re the only woman I’ve ever loved.”

Titan tries to get me to stop talking, but I push him back.

“I refuse to be Vanessa’s replacement. Now that you’ve lost one wife, you want another? Tomorrow, when I’m gone, you’ll get a third. So let’s just skip the part where I have to be with you again. You can feel free to act like I’m already dead.”

His howl of anguish pierces the silent night, followed by a growl of defiance. “I will never let that happen.”

He takes a step forward, his posture rigid and threatening, and I swiftly shut the door behind me, mercifully leaving him outside.

Instead of going to bed, I collapse onto the couch. I stare at the ceiling before letting out a loud groan and closing my eyes.

Why is he back now, when things are finally starting to settle?

I can still sense Theron outside the building, but I eventually drift off to sleep without remembering to text Ethan.

The next morning, as I’m racing out of the building, I find Theron waiting right where I left him. I say curtly, “I didn’t expect to see you here. I’m not sure what time I’ll return, so don’t wait up.”

I spend my day getting through all my important in-office tasks before having a quick meeting with William to ask if I can work remotely for a week.

By the time I get back home, it’s late, but as I step inside the main doors, my heart drops. Theron is still here.

Has he even eaten? And what exactly is he trying to prove?

The entire night, I’m unable to sleep. My son is alone in the ghastly estate where I felt so alone my entire life. Who is even watching over him? Ella isn’t there anymore. Even Vanessa would’ve looked out for him. But this man has just left my son alone?

The first thing next morning, I step outside and offer him a cup of coffee and a puff pastry. “Eat this and leave. At least be a better father than you were a mate.”

His response is a plea filled with hope. “Leon’s been waiting for you all this time. Won’t you at least come spend some time with him?”

I shake my head. “I’ve already made plans to visit him. But you need to remember that I’m coming back for Leon, just for a week, and that this doesn’t change anything between us.”

CHAPTER 24

THERON

Every inch of my body feels alive. I feel like I can breathe better. There’s a hope that maybe things will be okay.

“More coffee for you, miss?” the stewardess politely asks Seren.

The woman turns to me with the pot after refilling Seren’s cup, but I wave her away, smiling. I don’t think I need a bigger pick-me-up for life. Seren sitting next to me on my private jet as we make our way back home is enough.

A strong, sudden jolt in the aircraft breaks my thoughts. Seren’s coffee cup flips over, the liquid spilling all over her table. Thankfully Seren’s unharmed. I grab a box of tissues and mop up her table before the hot liquid can drip on her.

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