Page 34 of The Wolf Prince's Mate

“He is not your uncle, Noah, and you shouldn’t be running around the park and seeking out madmen.”

“Madmen?” I echoed her words, my initial resolution to be sensitive flying out the window, leaving a deep simmering anger in its wake.

“What else would you call a man who corners a child in a park and asks stupid questions about his paternity?”

“That would be a man who has a reason to question said paternity,” I shot back,and she went pale.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Mira

“That would be a man who has reason to question said paternity.”

The words hung heavy in the air between us, squeezing at my lungs and setting my heart at a murderous speed.

I always feared this day would come, and I prepared for it, but it didn’t feel like anything I anticipated. I had to act fast.

“Sweetheart, can you stand in front of me?” I beckoned Noah to the space between Griffin and me. His posture was a bit tense, and he wasn’t as thrilled as he was before. But he obeyed.

“I figured since you’re good at stalking, you should know what my husband looked like,” I said, pining Griffin with the hardest look I could muster. “Now, I want you to look at my son and memorize every shape and feature. See how he is the spitting image of Adrian and how he looks nothing like you. The goddess might’ve been cruel to give me a mate like you, but she wasn’t heartless enough to curse me with a piece of you in my womb. Next time I see you around my son, or you make any of these slanderous claims, I’ll be forced to procure a DNA test and take measures you cannot even begin to imagine.”

Although my words were articulate and my voice as cold as ice, I was a giant ball of nerves and fear on the inside. All it would take for this fake wall of confidence I have built around me to crumble would be a DNA test request from Griffin, but thankfully, he didn’t appear to be willing to take the risk.

Griffin looked like he had more to say, but I was done with the conversation and ready to flee the scene before something gave up Noah’s identity.

“If my husband were still here, I don’t think he’d take lightly to a man hanging around his son or questioning his wife about his son’s paternity. Please don’t let a situation like this repeat itself.”

I’ve never seen a man look as close to exploding as Griffin did. The vein in his forehead was throbbing, and his fingers were curled into fists at his sides. I knew my words had hit a nerve, and I was grateful we were surrounded by a sea of people.

Noah tugged at my dress, pulling my attention from Griffin’s all-consuming energy, and I picked up my boy and made a beeline for the exit.

“Goodbye, Uncle Griffin,” Noah called out as we exited the scene, the thudding in my chest increasing.

“He is not your uncle, Noah. I already told you this.”

“But he feels like you,” he whined, and I almost tripped.

“What did you say, baby?”

He shrugged, wriggling his fingers.

“He feels like you, Mommy, and he smells like you, too.”

I felt a chill spread through me, settling deep into my bones and almost blurring my vision.

He felt the bond. He was still a kid and was yet to connect to his wolf, so how could he feel it? Also, Griffin rejected me, our bond was broken. There was no way he could smell like me as Noah claimed.

Noah is of royal blood. He doesn’t need to change to feel the connection between him and his kin. Also, we didn’t accept our mate’s rejection.My wolf reasoned in a somber tone, and the chill that settled in my bones rose to the surface, leaving a map of goosebumps in their wake.

“Are you cold, Mommy?” Noah asked, and I swallowed the lump in my chest.

“No, baby. It’s just the weather.”

The past was slowly closing in on me, and I had nowhere to run. Please, goddess, I just need some time. I can’t return to that life. I can’t lose all I’ve built. Noah can’t grow in that palace.

I prayed silently as I quickened my steps to the car.

Once safely tucked in, I turned to Noah. “You should stay away from strangers even if they feel and smell like me. Don’t run off like that in public anymore, and don’t call random men uncle.” I chastised, adding an extra layer of authority to my voice.

---