Chapter 21
Aubrey
The following day at work, a persistent unease lingers from the previous day, weighing heavy on my shoulders as I dive into the familiar routine of cleaning tables and taking orders in the quaint, bustling café. My attempts to push aside the lingering anxiety falter when I lay eyes on Max sitting in a booth – my heart leaps into my throat. “Max?” I blurt out, taken aback, frantically scanning for his nanny or guards. “Does your father know you’re here?” Just as I ask the question, and before he can answer, the King rushes into the café, looking panicked.
The King’s tall, muscular frame exudes authority and power as he moves swiftly through the crowded café, his eyes scanning the room with a sense of urgency. Max shrinks down in his seat to try to hide from the man and I want to join him. The murmur of conversations simmers down and all heads turn towards him.
“Max!” he calls out, panic in his voice. His face is contorted with worry and his eyes are scanning the room frantically. The King’s dark hair is slightly disheveled, as if he’s been running his hands through it in worry. His piercing gaze sweeps across the room, eyes narrowing in on me when he spots me. The entire café falls silent, all eyes on the King. I swallow thickly.
Max gazes at me with wide eyes, fully aware that he has been discovered. A nervous squeak escapes him, drawing his father’s focus before he swiftly slides off the table and attempts to hide behind me, using me as a shield. The King
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makes a beeline towards us, but I step forward, blocking his path. He comes to an abrupt stop in front of us.
“He’s just a boy, my King,” I gently remind him, sensing his tumultuous aura swirling around us, fearful that he might lose control in dealing with his son. He pauses to consider my words, and in that moment, I feel his aura shift suddenly as if a veil had been lifted. Like he just realized he was using it.
“You’re right,” he acknowledges softly. “I was merely concerned for him. Thank you for watching over him.”
“He’s a sweet kid. I’m just glad he came here and wasn’t sitting in the park alone again,” I tell him.
In the midst of the tense situation, I can’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness towards Max. His innocent eyes filled with fear, and the way he clings to me like a lifeline, it’s clear that he’s just a vulnerable boy who’s screaming for attention, to be noticed by his father. Well he has his father’s attention now but I doubt this is what he was expecting. As the King’s gaze lingers on us, I can’t help but wonder how he’s going to handle his son, would he punish him?
******
~King Soren~
I’m in a Zoom meeting with Alpha Rhett and Alpha Gideon from Clary City, discussing a potential alliance between the two alphas who’ve been at war for years when Damian, one of my most trusted guards and half brother, enters my office. “Please excuse me, Alpha Rhett and Alpha Gideon. My brother needs my attention.”
Damian stands at attention, his expression serious as he waits
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for me to acknowledge him. I motion for him to enter my office and he enters, closing the door behind him.
I mute the call and turn to Damian, my eyebrows raised in question. “What is it?” My brother glances out the window before turning back to me.
“Your son has run off again, Your Highness,” Damian reports, his expression grim. “The nanny left him for a moment to fetch his lunch, and when she returned, he was gone.”
Panic surges through me, and I end the meeting abruptly, unmuting the call. “I’m sorry, gentlemen, but I need to go.”
As I rush out of the office, guilt gnaws at me. I’ve been working too much, leaving Max to the care of his nanny. I should have been there for him.
Damian follows closely behind me as we make our way through the palace. My mind races with worry as we search for Max. The last time he ran off, he ended up in the park alone and scared. I can’t imagine what could happen this
time.
“Where could he be?” I mutter to myself, my heart pounding in my chest when I recall how Max couldn’t stop talking about Brielle, the girl from the café when I put him to bed last night, Damian asked around about her apparently she is staying with her grandmother, it’s also how I found out she works at the cafe. A thought crosses my mind and I jog to my car and climb in, the driver already in the driver seat.
“Head to town,” I tell him. I instruct my driver to take me to the café.
When we pull up, I waste no time rushing inside. My heart
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leaps with relief when I spot Max and Brielle, but my aura erupts with tension, betraying my anxiety. Before I can reach Max, Brielle steps in my path.
“He’s just a boy, my King,” she says, her voice soft but firm.
Her words momentarily take me aback, and it dawns on me that my aura must have made her think I was angry with Max. I study her, noticing the rainbow hue of her hair and the – delicate curve of her face. She’s breathtakingly beautiful, and I find myself unexpectedly impressed by her courage to stand up to me, especially for the sake of my son.
I compose myself, reigning in my aura and offering her a small, grateful smile.
“You’re right,” I concede, my voice gentle. “I was just worried about him. Thank you for watching over him.”
Brielle relaxes a little, her eyes flicking toward Max before returning to meet mine.
“He’s a sweet kid. I’m just glad he came here and wasn’t sitting in the park alone again,” she tells me and I turn my attention to my son hiding behind her. He peeks his head out from behind her and I motion with one finger for him to come to
- me.
Max runs towards me and I scoop him up in my arms, relief flooding through me.
“Max, what were you thinking? Running off like that,” I scold gently, holding him close as I inhale his scent and let out a breath of relief.
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” Max murmurs against my shoulder. “I just
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wanted to see Brielle.”
