Page 37 of The Wolf's Bullied Mate
“You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to,” I smiled.
“But the other kids asked me if Oliver is my new dad,” Ray’s eyes brightened again. Was that hope I was seeing in his gaze? “Is he?”
I choked, then I cleared my throat. “That’s… something we should definitely discuss with Oliver.”
“Oliver is such a cool person. He is strong. He’s the beta of the pack. He’s important. Is it okay for someone like me to claim he’s my dad?” My son grew sad for a moment.
I wanted to scream. Where had a five-year-old learned such self-deprecation? Yet, deep down, I knew the source—hehad learned it from watching me interact with my parents. I hated myself for setting such a poor example.
“Listen, Ray,” I pointed a finger in the air. “There’s nothing you lack. If we agree with Oliver and he wants to be your dad, then he will be. Would you like him to be your dad?”
Ray’s eyes brightened again and he nodded with so much enthusiasm, the bangs of his hair bouncing up and down. “Yes, yes, I’d love that.”
My heart warmed, though, at the same time, it felt heavy. I hoped Oliver would agree to officially become Ray’s father. After all, he had been trying so hard to get to know my son better. He really cared for Ray. I could see it in his eyes.
I only hoped his kindness wasn’t just a ruse.
I so badly wanted to trust Oliver. My heart wasn’t ready though, not yet.
Even so, I said, “You should spend more time with Oliver so the two of you grow close.”
Ray nodded energetically.
Who was I to take away the father my child so desperately wanted?
Chapter 12 - Oliver
“How can I make her forgive me?” I paced Ryder’s office, staring fiercely at the ugly chandelier. “How do I even begin to apologize to her?”
“I always knew he was dramatic,” Caden whistled. “But I didn’t know he was this dramatic.”
“That’s Oliver for you,” Ryder nodded.
“It’s always the sweet and kind ones who end up being the craziest,” Caden smirked. “I didn’t know Oliver had such a dark past.”
I glared at him, but the look only made his smile wider.
I sighed. “You’re right. I’m going crazy over here. I made a mistake years ago—a terrible mistake, it seems, and now I have to suffer the consequences. Talk about the past biting me in the ass.”
“You didn’t know,” Ryder said. “You only wanted to tease Pauline.”
“My intentions may not have been bad, but I can’t change the bad things that happened because of me,” I sighed again.
“Exactly!” Caden exclaimed. “The past is the past. What really matters is the present and the future.”
“Not for Pauline,” sadness filled my heart. “She’s still living through the pain.” I turned around and paced the length of the room again. “I need to make it up to her.”
“First, you need to stop stomping on my rug,” Ryder glared at me. “Sit down.”
“I can’t,” I said. “I won’t be able to keep still.”
“Then don’t sit, but please—for the love of the Moon Goddess—stop moving.”
I stopped in the middle of the room, under the ugly chandelier.
Ryder sighed. “Better.” He folded his hands in front of himself. “Now, as for your problem—there’s nothing else to do but convince your wife that you genuinely didn’t intend to hurt her in the past and that—for the rest of your life—you will make amends to her.”
“The rest of your life?” Caden said. “Wow, that sounds like a long commitment.”
