Page 45 of The Alpha's Forbidden Heir

The drive is quiet, save for Elias humming a tune in the backseat. When we finally pull off the road and into a small clearing near the lake, Aria's curiosity seems to grow.

"This is it?" she asks as I park the car.

I glance at her briefly, a small smile tugging at my lips. "You'll see."

The sun glints off the lake's surface, casting rippling patterns across the water. Elias laughs as he splashes around near the shallow end, completely unaware of how much joy his laughter brings to me.

"Careful, Elias!" Aria calls from the shoreline, her voice tinged with both caution and amusement. She stands with her armscrossed, her expression soft despite the distance she always tries to put between us.

"I'm fine, Mom!" Elias shouts back, kicking at the water with exaggerated gusto.

I can't help but grin. "You're supposed to be practicing your swimming, not trying to drown the lake."

"I'm making waves like a wolf!" he says, puffing out his chest.

"Wolves don't swim like that," I reply, wading closer to him. "You're just scaring the fish."

Elias giggles, splashing me for good measure, and I pretend to growl, lunging toward him. He shrieks with laughter and darts away, only to stop and look back.

"Dad?" he says, tilting his head.

"Yeah?"

"Do wolves like the water?"

I crouch down to his level, the water cool against my skin. "Some do. It depends on the wolf. I used to love swimming when I was your age."

"Did Grandpa teach you?"

The question catches me off guard, but I keep my expression neutral. "No, not really. I figured it out myself."

Aria, still standing on the shore, gives me a look that says she is listening closely. Her lips press into a thin line, but she says nothing.

"Can you teach me more wolf stuff later?" Elias asks, his eyes wide and hopeful.

"Of course," I say, ruffling his wet hair. "But for now, let's see if you can float without sinking like a rock."

Elias groans dramatically but follows my instructions, and soon, his laughter fills the air again.

Aria finally walks over, sitting on the edge of the dock. "He's really taken to this whole wolf thing, hasn't he?"

"Kids are curious," I say, glancing at her. "And he's smart. He'll figure it out quickly."

She nods, her gaze fixed on Elias as he splashes around. "I just… I want him to have a normal childhood. Not one where he's constantly worrying about wolves and packs and… other things."

Her voice wavers slightly, and I can tell she is thinking about the life she's left behind, the chaos she's tried to shield him from.

"I get it," I say quietly. "But this is his reality now. He's part of the pack, whether he understands it yet or not. And I'll make sure he's ready for whatever comes his way."

Aria turns to me, her expression conflicted. "You say that like it's all on you."

"It is," I say simply. "I'm his father. It's my job to protect him—and you."

She scoffs. "I don't need protecting, Bane."

"Maybe not," I say, meeting her gaze. "But that doesn't mean I won't do it anyway."

For a moment, the air between us feels heavier. Aria looks away first, her cheeks slightly flushed.

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