Page 41 of The Alpha's Broken Oath

“You can be anything you want when you grow up, Ash.”

I would probably tell him that when he turns eighteen, he’s going to be an Alpha, but being a superhero and being an Alpha are close to the same thing.

“Mommy can I go and watch the TV now?” Adrian asks, and as much as I would like to keep him here and listen to him and his brother talk, I let him have his way.

“Sure, baby.” Five minutes later, I take the baked salmon from the oven, cautioning Ash not to step too close to the oven. Once I’m done, I chop down on the already-cooked French beans before offering Ash a piece.

“How does it taste? You like it, baby?”

Ash nods, “Mmhmm. It’s delicious, Mommy.”

I’m about to cut into the salmon when the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight. Adrian went to turn on the TV five minutes ago, and yet I can’t hear the TV or any sound coming from the living room.

Abandoning the salmon, my feet lead me out of the kitchen. That rut-tut-tut in my chest wrenches my lungs and threatens to take all my air away. When I reach the living room, the sight that greets me is enough to choke my throat and spike my adrenaline.

“Addie? Adrian!”

My little boy shakes on the floor, his skin pale, his eyes almost changing color, and I run to him, thinking because I’m his mother, I can somehow miraculously heal him.

I call his name.

No.

I scream his name.

I try to save my baby, but he doesn’t stop shaking.

My baby never stops shaking as his body turns cold in my arms.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

DEACON

I fucked up.

Simon had caught me up with the rumors from the company group texts of Winter and Kieran Vega going on a date, and I had lost it.

Indulging on whiskey while I was already running on fumes had been the worst idea of the night, but hitting that bastard hadn’t caused an ounce of regret in me.

Drunk or not, I would have still punched him with intent to do more than disfigure his face.

The rest of what happened that night has come up as a blur since I woke up this morning and found Winter already gone.

I remember how sexy she looked in that dress while she drove me home. I remember her being mad about me hitting her date.

Then I remember her scent hogging my entire house. It was all I could smell in my state of delirium.

I told her part of the reason why I rejected her, and judging by the fact that I woke up to an empty bed, I don’t think Winter believed me at all.

I don’t think she’ll ever believe me again, seeing as to how she didn’t come to work, and it’s all I’ve been thinking about.

Did I say something I shouldn’t have? Something I don’t remember?

I don’t remember seeing her cry so that at least gives me some sort of relief that I didn’t hurt her.

She is not in my damn office? Six hours later, and that mini-desk of hers is still unoccupied. I know she sent an email asking for a day off, but would it be delusional to say I’d hoped she’d show up to work today?

“Alpha Deacon? Are you still with us?” Simon asks nervously.

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