Page 95 of Alpha's Impostor Bride

I blink as another idea strikes me. If I bring Vivian’s head to Leanna, won’t that prove to her that I—

The light in one of the rooms of the house turns on. Instantly alert, I fix my eyes on it.

A small figure moves toward the window, which is then slid open. I watch my son climb through and sit on the ledge before jumping down. He looks around before shifting into a wolf and heading toward the park. When he doesn’t notice me, I realize he hasn’t caught my scent. He’s still young. And living in the human world, he probably doesn’t get to spend much time in his animal form to hone his instincts.

I watch in amusement as the little wolf cub streaks across the street. He has clearly done this before. I have a feeling my mate doesn’t know about his little late-night adventures. I’ve seen the defiance in the boy’s eyes. He’s going to be a handful in the future if he’s not difficult enough already. He has nearly made it to the edge of the woods when I pounce, grab him by the scruff, and give him a rough shake. “I don’t think so, Finn.”

He lets out a howl of fright before looking at me. I see the recognition in his eyes. It is instantly followed by dismay.

“Shift back,” I order.

He just goes limp, refusing to obey. I give him another rough shake, and he whimpers.

“Shift back, or I will give you a walloping that you will never forget.”

His ears twitch at the threat, and reluctantly, he shifts back into his human form in a shimmer of light. Staring at me now is an angry, sulking boy. I readjust my grip so that I’m holding him by the back of his shirt. “And where were you off to?”

His lips move, and I see him try to come up with an explanation quickly. “Nowhere. I just wanted to—I had to pee.”

“In the woods?” I ask in disbelief, not buying his tall tale.

He shrugs.

“And does your mother know you’re out here to relieve yourself?” I demand. From the guilty look in his eyes, my suspicions are confirmed. “How often do you go out like this?”

His scowls at me. “None of your beeswax!”

I stare at him. “What do bees have to do with this? I asked you a question.”

He gives me a frustrated look. “Are you stupid?”

Now, that, I understand.

I give him a light smack on the back of his head, and he lets out a howl, clutching the spot. “You can’t hit me!”

“That wasn’t hitting, boy,” I say darkly. “That was a warning tap. Does the human world not teach young ones to respect their parents?”

“I respect my mom!” Finn grumbles, instantly offended. I realize I’ve made a slip of the tongue, and for a moment, I’m relieved he doesn’t catch it. However, for a seven-year-old, my son is quite perceptive. He blinks. “Wait. Were you talking about yourself?”

I drop him on his behind.

“Ow!” he hisses from the ground. “Why’d you do that?”

“Go inside,” I order.

He doesn’t budge. “Who are you?”

I stare at him, not knowing what to say. I don’t think Leanna is ready to reveal my identity to him. And my gut instinct says not to piss her off any more than she already is. I’ve never been afraid of a female before, but this tiny slip of a woman has more power over me than she realizes. I don’t want to risk upsetting her.

I’m not worried about when my son discovers who I am. Eventually, he will have to be told. But seeing how suspicious my mate is of me at the moment, I don’t want her thinking I deliberately told Finn that I’m his father. Given her current suspicious mindset, she may assume I’m trying to strong-arm her into something.

I don’t think I’ve ever given anything as much thought as I’m giving this situation.

“Go inside, boy.”

But my son is stubborn, and he digs in his heels. “My name is Finn. And not till you tell me who you are. Why are you watching our house? You made my mom cry, you know. I don’t like you.”

My jaw tenses. “Your mother is going to be pissed off if she finds out you were sneaking out of the house. Should I go tell her?”

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