Page 31 of Framed and Forgotten
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K O E N
The first couple of daysat the reunion were brutal. It hurt to be away from Avril. Although our bond seemed to grow weaker with each passing minute, I could still feel her pain, and it shattered me. On my second night at Crystal Pond’s packhouse, I nearly dropped everything to go back to her - to continue fighting for the woman I had fought so hard to win. But then, Elias entered my room with a hot chocolate he’d prepared with his mom’s help to thank me for making it to this year’s family reunion.
As his eyes sparkled with nothing but genuine love and pure adoration, I couldn’t bring myself to disappoint him by running away and leaving him behind.
That night was a turning point for me. While Avril lingered in the back of my mind, a whisper I couldn’t ignore, I forced myself to do more than just be present, actively participating and stepping into my role as a father. Soon enough, it felt natural to devote my undivided attention to my little boy.
When Col threatened my focus, pacing and whining about missing our mate, I shut him off. That was when I started enjoying myself. Even though I had never really tried to mingle with my ex-wife’s family, they were still familiar faces. Anddespite everything that had changed in the last couple of years, they treated me with the utmost respect and admiration.
In fact, Nerine herself went above and beyond to emphasize how grateful she was for everything I’ve done for Elias. She ensured I felt comfortable at all times, not once invading my privacy or overstepping boundaries. Little by little, I was reshaping the image I had of her.
The more time I spent with her, the easier it was to see what a wonderful mother she was - a better person. She had grown significantly since our divorce. Conversations between us started to flow naturally, and more often than not, I felt she understood me better than Avril.
Being around regular wolf shifters of noble lineage again reminded me of my old life as an alpha - a life that had been ripped away from me. I hadn’t realized how badly I’d missed the peaceful evenings filled with casual conversation. Back then, I could make plans for the future without the looming fear of facing a massacre the next day. It was all so simple.
Sofull of hope.
More than once, I caught myself daydreaming. I never meant to, but my mind kept drifting to how different my future might have been if Nerine had told me about her pregnancy from the start. Would I have been happier if I’d made different choices? If Avril hadn’t stormed back into my life like a tornado? The questions lingered in my mind.
By the end of the week, when Nerine’s relatives said their goodbyes, preparing to return to their respective packs, I felt more hesitant than eager to go back to Azure Smoke. I knew Avril would be angry with me, and though deep down I understood she had every right to be, I was already exhausted by the drama. My time with my ex-wife’s family had been so peaceful that the thought of returning to the chaos of my other life left me feeling drained and unenthusiastic.
“Phew,” Nerine exclaimed, bringing me back to reality.
We were in Elias’s room, which was right next to his mother’s. It was late when the last of the visiting family members left, and our pup could barely keep his eyes open. Still, he insisted on staying up a little longer to spend more time with me, knowing it was my last night here. Convincing him to lie down was tough, but I did it by promising we’d play before I headed back to Azure Smoke tomorrow.
“I thought he’d never fall asleep.” Nerine sighed, her tone low, careful not to wake Elias. With a smile, she said playfully, “Apparently, Mommy’s bedtime stories aren’t as fun as Daddy’s.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle as I glanced at my son, fast asleep in his bed, before gazing back at his mother. “Well, seems you did a pretty good job,” I offered.
She smiled tenderly as she sat beside me on the small couch in the corner of the room. It struck me as strange - I’d thought we’d leave as soon as Elias drifted off, every second we stayed here a risk of waking him up. But I didn’t complain, eager to enjoy every last minute I had with him. For a moment, we just stayed there in silence, until she decided to break it.
“Are you really leaving tomorrow?” she asked, her voice trembling, reluctant.
I swallowed, my smile fading as I inevitably thought about all the problems I’d have to face when I left Crystal Pond. “Yeah,” I replied hesitantly.
She nodded, pausing for a moment before suggesting, “You could…stay a little longer.” She shrugged, and I gave her a confused look. Her eyes, wide and innocent, met mine. “Elias has never been happier,” she clarified. Then, her gaze dropped to the floor as she bit her bottom lip. Even in the dim light, I could see the faint flush spreading across her cheeks.
“I…” she breathed out the single vowel, her words stuck in her throat until she took a deep breath. I was startled when she placed her hand over mine and, with a soft exhale, finally concluded, “I have never been happier.”
When her gaze captured mine again, I felt...something. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it made my heart thud.
There was a shift in atmosphere. My breath caught, as if I’d suddenly forgotten how to breathe. All I could focus on was Nerine - the warmth of her touch, the softness of her skin, the desire in her eyes. They were impossibly inviting.
Subconsciously, I licked my lips as my gaze settled on hers. She had such plump, red lips. So beautiful, I wondered what they tasted like. Before I knew it, I was leaning in, mimicking her.
Then, came a desperate shout from inside my mind,“Don’t!”
It made me stop.
“What the hell are you doing, dumb human? We have a mate!”Col scolded me.“Avril is our mate!”he reminded me, even angrier.“She’s the one we love! Only her.”
Only her… the words echoed in my mind, bringing me back to my senses.
When Nerine noticed me, wide-eyed in shock and completely frozen, she turned her head abruptly.
“I…I…” she stuttered, though I could barely make sense of her words. “Sorry, I shouldn’t…I should go to my room.” In a rush, she stood up. “Goodnight.” Not sparing another glance at me, she disappeared.
