Page 34 of Alpha Scorned

“Come here,” said Owen gruffly and pulled me into his lap, wiping my tears away with his thumbs. “There. Now listen to your son. He’s very clever.”

Wrapping my arms over Owen’s shoulders, I nodded. “Kay,” I whispered, imitating Devon's cute way of speaking. Owen’s tender smile did something to me that I couldn't explain. My heart was full yet aching at the same time. On impulse, I leaned up and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. His throat bobbed. At that moment we were closer than ever. I opened my mouth to confess about my wolf but Devon beat me to it.

“I clever!” Devon chirruped, happily pointing at his own chest. “And Zander says I brave and strong like O-wen.” He puffed out his chest and flung his arms around both of us, kissing our cheeks.

“Damn, this kid’s going to kill me with cuteness,” Owen murmured into the top of my head as Devon let go.

My smile was wide enough that my cheeks hurt, even though I was disappointed to have missed my chance to tell Owen about my wolf. “Yeah, I feel like that everyday. Even when he’s kicking up a fuss and being a pain.”

Owen’s grin was wide, his eyes sparkling. “I don’t believe he’s ever that bad.”

My eye roll said it all, and I slid off Owen’s lap, shuffling closer to Devon so that I could see the cover of the picture book he was staring at.

“Oh, he is. Aren’t you, sweetheart? You can be a little monster sometimes.”

Devon looked up, his eyes suddenly swimming with tears and his face screwed into a frown. “I not a monster, Momma, I a good boy. Aren’t I?” His bottom lip trembled as he looked from me to Owen.

Oh shit, what had I said? I quickly picked him up much as Owen had done with me and sat him in my lap. “Youarea good boy. You’re the best boy in the whole wide world and Momma loves you so, so much. I’m sorry if I said anything to upset you.”

“I no want to be a monster. Not like these.” He lifted the book to show me. My brows dipped and I took it from him. “I don’t remember this book, honey. Where did you get it from?”

“Shane give it me.”

“Shane gave it to you, love,” I corrected automatically.

“What is it?” asked Owen.

I swallowed hard and held it up. “The little vampire and other monstrous tales.”

“Can I have a look?” Owen asked Devon. Devon nodded and passed the book from me to Owen.

“Shane say I show it you if he no come back.”

My heart started to beat faster. “He told you that?”

Devon nodded. “I saw you coming,” he stated, tapping his head and looking at Owen.

Oh gods! My son could see the future? Or, at least, parts of it.

“He can,” Owen said, understanding where my thoughts had gone. “He ran back to the cave to stop me from killing the challengers. He knew Rawson and Stone would end me if I did. He brought me back from the blood lust of my wolf, and thank the Mother, they didn’t need to carry out those orders.” He held my stare. “He knew, Lina. He saved my life last night.” He kissed Devon’s head and hugged him close.

With love-filled eyes, I studied my son. The gravity of Owen’s admission hit me. I’d nearly lost my soulmate only hours ago. And my son had saved him, from himself, and the orders of his King.

Owen flicked through the pages of the book. Devon’s face twisted as Owen flicked onto a certain page. There was a dark stain on a piece of paper that had been left between the pages. Devon jabbed his finger on the creature illustrated on the page.

“This bad bad monster. I no like it. It hurts Shane.”

My gaze flew to Owen’s. His expression darkened, but he kept his voice gentle and calm. “How do you know it hurts Shane, little one?”

Devon crawled into Owen’s lap and curled against Owen’s solid chest. “I see them,” he whispered.

“Oh, Mother. Where? Where do you see them?” I blurted, panic gripping my chest as I peered around his room.

“No, Momma, I see them here.” He tapped his head.

I swallowed hard. “In your mind?”

He nodded, gripping Owen’s forearms so tightly his little fingers went white.

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