Eve’s POV

The drums boomed low but they never stopped. Every beat from it thugged hard at something I thought I had buried long ago

Danny clung onto my hands,his tiny fingers sticky from the bun he had been bribed with earlier. His doe eyes darted from me to the crowd of wolves standing around the area in black.

It was the first time he had to be around so many people at a time. I wonder if he felt the pack’s energy and at that?…all at once

“You’re okay baby,” I rubbed his head slowly. “Just hold mummy’s hands okay.”

“I want to go home mummy, I don’t like this place.” He whispered, his eyes already turning wet. “There’s so many people and they keep staring.”

I exhaled. He wasn’t wrong though, every eye in this place followed us around

I could tell they were thinking

How exactly does the prodigal don return with a strange woman and a little boy no one recognized

Nah…too dramatic

I rolled my eyes mentally

It’s been five years y’all…c’mon how much change did your cruelty really deal me that y'all suddenly do not recognize me

“Or perhaps it was the long black dress decorated with black crystal stones…okay, I would stare too if I were them” I chuckled to myself

“Just a little longer baby.” I said softly. “A little longer and we’ll leave, okay.”

Malik walked towards us, sticking with us like we were not strangers who only barged into each other’s lives a few days ago. He kept his hands tucked into the pockets of his dark coat, I noticed how easy it was for him to adapt to wherever and whatever situation he found himself. Whenever a wolf nodded at him, he acknowledged them like he never left

God! I envied that

Honestly? I felt like a totally stranger in my own home

“Eve?” he whispered, leaning closer. “ You’re good? If it's too much, just let me know and we’ll leave immediately.”

“Nah, it's totally fine.” I forced a small smile. “We can manage.”

He gave me a small nod, rubbing Danny’s shoulder before turning to face the event.

Wolves gave way, silence wrapping around the once noisy courtyard as the drums came to a halt

I recognized the presence immediately

It was the same aura that never had to speak

Alpha Dorian Boss

”Mommy.” Danny whined, I hadn't realized how hard I clutched his little hands in that moment as I stared at him, suppressing bitter memories

Well…he was taller than I remembered, I could tell from his jaw and stiffness of his shoulders that the weight of leadership had begun to tell on him.

Dressed in all black, his gaze burned with the fire of leadership

As his gaze flickered across the courtyard, my heart thudded

“Eve” he muttered, his face angled as his cold eyes stopped on me

My name left his lips like he was unsure or just shocked…he sent me the invite, what was the shock about anyway?

Danny tugged at my clothes, all smiles

“Mummy, another friend?” He looked up at me. “Who’s he?”

Someone we shouldn't be seeing in the first place

I didn't try to find an answer, I just swallowed the lump forming in my throat. My hands went to my chest subconsciously rubbing on it slowly to reduce the pain in it

“Hello brother.” Malik stepped forward,

Brother?!…how? This was worse than bad

“You brought her here?” ignoring pleasantries as his eyes darted from me to Malik

“Actually, she came on her own.” Malik replied. “something wrong, brother?”

Dorian’s shoulders shook furiously as he laughed.

Danny shrank beside me in fear. “She’s not supposed to be here. She forfeited her right to be here when she…”

He shut his eyes, his hands curling into fists

“You know what?…why are you here, Eve.”

Was insanity another wolf trait I didn't know about? Because exactly why was this man acting like he didn't make me come here, like I just packed my stuff in a box for a show of self-inflicted embarrassment?

I straightened my shoulders, rubbing my teeth with my tongue

“I came to pay my last respect, Alpha.”

“ Oh you liar.” he scoffed. “You didn't come here to lay no respect, you came here for me…for me Eve!”

Oh such audacity

My lips parted but no words came out,

“Don't talk to her like that, Dorian.” Malik stepped even closer to Dorian

Dorian gaze immediately snapped to him

“Now you don't disappear for years without reason and then walk in here dishing out orders to me especially not in front of my pack”

Malik chuckled. “Well look at that.” he stared at him, sternly. “I just did.”

The wolves shifted uneasily, whispering whatever conspiracy theories their little mind could make up

The tension between the two men was enough to make a whole pot of hot choco

“Mama, let's leave now.” Danny tugged on my clothes from behind me. “ I don't like him, he's like the bad man.”

I lowered myself to his level, cupping his chin in my hands. “ It's okay baby. He won't hurt you. Hold on a little okay?”

“Who is the kid?”. Dorian’s voice dropped to a growl. His eyes steadying on me like he was going to kill me

Nah…this man had to be the biggest joker I had ever come across

“I'm not sure it's your business, brother.” Malik stepped in again

“The hell it is!” Dorian roared. “She can't just disappear and walk back in with whatever she finds herself back there. I have a pack to protect! Now who are you kid?!"

Danny glitched clutching my dress even tighter

“Don’you dare! Not with my son.” I snapped, summoning all the courage I could find earning amplified whispers from the wolves

Dorian’s face hardened. His gaze shifted between me and then Malik. “We need to talk…alone!” he blurted

“We have absolutely nothing to talk to you about… Alpha.” I spat