Page 37 of The Alpha's Forbidden Heir

"I had responsibilities," I explain carefully.

He stares at me for a long moment, his small hands gripping the edge of the bed. Then, slowly, he nods. "Okay."

Aria exhales softly, her shoulders relaxing slightly.

"Are you gonna stay now?"

"Of course," I say, my tone leaving no room for doubt. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for good."

His lips twitch, almost forming a smile.

"I'll make up for lost time," I add. "I'll do whatever it takes."

Elias's gaze softens slightly.

"Tell you what," I say, crouching down to his level. "What's the one thing you've been wanting lately? Anything at all."

His eyes light up for the first time since the conversation started. "Anything?"

"Anything," I promise.

He pauses, thinking hard. "There's this new drone that can do flips and tricks and even has a camera on it!"

I smile. "Consider it done."

"Really?" His excitement returns full force, his smile stretching ear to ear.

"Really," I say. "You'll have it by the end of the week."

Elias practically launches himself off the bed, wrapping his arms around me in a sudden hug. "Thanks, Dad!"

The word Dad hits me harder than I expect, a warmth spreading through my chest. I hug him back tightly, my wolf practically purring with satisfaction.

"Anything for you, kid," I say softly.

Aria clears her throat behind us, her arms crossed but her expression softer than before. "It's late," she says. "Elias, you should get some sleep."

"Aww, but I'm not tired!" he whines.

"You will be once your head hits that pillow," she replies firmly.

Elias pouts but climbs into bed, pulling the blankets up to his chin. "Goodnight, Mom. Goodnight, Dad."

"Goodnight, Elias."

As soon as the door to Elias's room clicks shut, I turn to Aria, and the tension between us snaps like a taut wire.

"You want to explain why the hell you kept him from me?" I demand, my voice low but seething.

Her eyes narrow, arms crossing defensively. "You weren't exactly Father of the Year material, Bane. You rejected me, remember? I wasn't about to hand over my son to someone who hated my family enough to walk away from me."

"I didn't know!" I step closer, my chest heaving with the effort to keep my voice down. "You think I wouldn't have come back if I'd known? You think I'd let my son grow up without a father?"

Her laugh is sharp, cutting. "Oh, please. You were so wrapped up in your hatred for my father, for everything connected to me, you wouldn't have cared."

I clench my fists, my wolf clawing at the edges of my control. "Don't act like you did this for me, Aria. You kept him hidden because it was easier for you. You didn't even give me a choice!"

Her eyes flash, fury dancing in the depths. "And what would you have done, Bane? Dragged me back to your pack? Kept me as some prisoner while you played the part of the angry, bitter Alpha?"

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