Chapter 375
Three hundred and seventy seven
Isabella POV
The room seemed to shrink around me, and the sight of Desmond standing there brought back everything I had spent years trying to bury. The fear wasn’t only for myself anymore. Maverick was in my arms, and I could feel the way his body had gone stiff against mine.
Desmond noticed and chuckled, a sound that carried the satisfaction of a man who enjoyed being feared. He lifted his hands as though trying to soothe a frightened animal.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me. It’s still me, Isabella.” His gaze traveled over me, turning my stomach.
厘 “You’ve put on some flesh.” A smile touched his mouth. “I remember how thin you were when you left. I liked you that way, but I think I like you even more now p>
I looked away.
“I always knew you’d grow into a beautiful woman. You gave me quite a chase, though. All those years of hiding, making me search for you.” He laughed again, pleased with himself. “And now look at us. You came back to me with my son p>
His attention shifted to Maverick.
“My little man p>
Maverick buried his face against my neck. Desmond’s smile faltered, then returned.
“Come here. Let your father see you p>
Maverick’s arms tightened around me.
“Little man. An Alpha’s son shouldn’t hide behind his mother. You’ll need more courage than that if you’re going to carry my name p>
“Please,” I whispered. “Don’t frighten him p>
Desmond looked at me as though I’d said something amusing.
“I’ll teach him. He’ll learn p>
“Please leave us alone. You don’t have any right to us p>
His eyebrows lifted.
“He isn’t your son,” I continued, my voice trembling despite my effort to keep it steady.
Desmond let out a deep laugh.
“He’s practically a copy of me.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and tapped the screen before turning it toward me. “I have pictures of myself at his age. The resemblance is striking. My other sons look so much like me, you’d think I made copies p>
“Please, Alpha. Since you already have children, you don’t need us p>
His smile faded.
“Need p>
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He moved closer, and I stepped back until my shoulders met the wall.
didn’t spend all those years looking for you because I needed another child. I wanted what belonged to me. I heard you tried to give my son to Cameron’s cursed bloodline p>
His voice stayed calm, but the anger beneath it made every word heavier.
“You ran away because you were young and stupid. I could forgive that little stunt.” His mouth curved into another smile. “But you dared place my son in that family’s hands p>
“I didn’t p>
“If I were in a different mood, you’d have paid for that insult. But I’m feeling generous.” His expression softened into something that frightened me more than his anger. “I don’t want to punish you. I want us to put this behind us p>
He spread his arms, as though presenting a future that should have appealed to me.
“You, me, and our son. A family p>
I shook my head.
Raw hate settled in his eyes as he glared at me. He stepped aside and gestured toward the door.
“Fine. If you don’t want to come with me, go back to Cameron and his family. Go back to your safe little life p>
His gaze dropped to Maverick.
“My son leaves with me. Say your last goodbye, or you’ll regret ever being born p>
My heart stopped.
“For being a stubborn fool, you will never see him again p>
He snatched Maverick from my arms. I screamed and lunged after him, but he shoved me away so hard that I lost my balance. My mouth struck the floor, and pain shot through my jaw. Blood filled my mouth before I could catch myself.
“Maverick p>
My son cried out as Desmond carried him away.
“Mommy p>
I pushed myself up, ignoring the blood running from my lip. “Please! Give him back. He’s just a child p>
Desmond glanced over his shoulder.
“You’ve got some nerve. Just because Cameron’s bastard has been sleeping with you doesn’t mean you get to decide who keeps the boy p>
I wiped the blood from my mouth, my hand moving toward the knife in my jacket. I didn’t have much faith in it, not against someone as strong as Desmond, but dying was better than letting him take Maverick.
The rogue with the dyed hair hurried toward us from the direction of the vans.
“Alpha, we need to leave p>
“Why?” Desmond snapped.
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For one desperate moment, I thought Alpha Cameron had come.
e relief barely formed before fear swallowed it. Desmond had already shown me what he was capable of, and if Cameron came here and challenged him, Maverick could end up caught between them.
The dyed-haired man looked toward the road.
“Please. Take the boy and get in the van p>
“Let the proud fool come. You think I’ll hide from Cameron p>
The dyed-haired man cursed and pointed toward the road.
“That’s not Cameron. That’s my Lord p>
Headlights appeared between the trees, followed by the sound of engines. Motorcycles emerged from the darkness, one after another, until five or six riders had entered the compound.
The man leading them brought his bike to a stop and removed his helmet.
There was something about the way he carried himself that made his rough appearance seem deliberate.
His dark hair was cut close to his head, tattoos covering one arm from shoulder to wrist while the other remained bare. His face was striking. Even with the hard lines of his features and the tattoos, there was something undeniably handsome about him.
But it was his presence that caught me.
I had felt it around Alphas before.
Cameron, Wesley, and Charlie had it. Even Desmond carried that same weight.
His deep voice cut through the noise.
“What is all this commotion? What are you doing in my territory, Desmond p>
Desmond laughed.
“Little boy, you don’t have a territory. You’re a rogue, and you’re forgetting your place p>
The rogue ignored him, his gaze shifting toward Maverick.
“Whose child is that p>
“My son,” Desmond said.
The stranger looked at the dyed-haired man.
“You know the rules, fool p>
“My Lord, it’s just a job p>
“We don’t take children from their mothers p>
Desmond scoffed.
“You heard him. It’s a paid job. You’re all criminals, so cut the purity act p>
The stranger kept his gaze on the dyed-haired man but answered Desmond.
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“That doesn’t mean you get to break my rules. You drag your strays onto my territory. If you have a problem with he-mother of your child, solve it with her p>
Desmond’s face darkened,
The rogue seemed to hold the authority here.
The dyed-haired man rubbed the back of his neck.
“Alpha Desmond, please. Just take the boy and go p>
Desmond turned on him.
“Now you’re afraid? I don’t care about your bloody rules. Do you see me shaking because this little twat is threatening me p>
About six riders dismounted at once. They moved around Desmond, spreading out until he was surrounded.
My breath caught.
Desmond looked from one man to another, then laughed, though the sound lacked the confidence it had carried earlier.
“You’d better think carefully before you draw that line p>
The rogue flexed his fingers. Several rings caught the light.
His gaze moved toward Maverick.
“Put the child down p>
Desmond bellowed.
“Make me p>
The rogue landed a punch on Desmond’s face, and I heard bone crack. Desmond hit the ground with Maverick still in his arms, and I rushed forward to grab my son before he burst into tears,
“It’s okay,” I whispered, pressing my lips to his hair. “Mommy has you p>
The rogue turned toward the dyed-haired man.
“Get them out of my territory p>
“Move p>
I held Maverick against me and half-walked, half-ran away from Desmond, who had recovered and was landing unsuccessful punches at the rogue.
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Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.