Chapter 16
Apr 17, 2025
“Where are we going, Mommy?” Danny asked, his small voice breaking the silence as he sat cross-legged on the bed, watching Felicia hurriedly pack their bags. His wide, curious eyes followed her every move as she folded clothes and tucked them into a worn leather suitcase.
Felicia paused, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. She turned to him, forcing a gentle smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “We’re going somewhere safe for a while,” she said softly, her voice steady but betraying a hint of sadness.
Danny tilted his head, his brow furrowed in confusion. “With Uncle Orion?” he asked hopefully.
Felicia shook her head, kneeling in front of him and placing a hand on his small shoulder. “No, sweetheart. Uncle Orion has to stay here to protect the pack.”
“I want to protect the pack too,” Danny said proudly, puffing out his chest like he’d seen the warriors do. His innocent determination tugged at Felicia’s heart.
She smiled and cupped his cheek, her touch gentle. “When you’re big and strong like Uncle Orion, you’ll have your chance. But for now, you need to stay safe with Mommy, okay?”
Danny nodded reluctantly, though the disappointment was clear in his eyes. Across the room, Max sat on the floor, playing with a small wooden wolf figure. He glanced up at her, tilting his head as he spoke. “Are we going to Daddy’s pack?”
Felicia froze mid-motion, her hands gripping the edge of the suitcase. Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. Her boys had never asked about Damien so directly before. She straightened slowly, her voice tight as she answered. “No, not Daddy’s pack,” she said, turning her back to them under the guise of folding another shirt.
Danny looked at her curiously, his head tilted. “Mommy, who is Daddy?” he asked suddenly.
Felicia’s chest tightened as her heart raced. She gripped the fabric in her hands, steadying herself before turning around. She met her son’s gaze, her own soft and patient. “We’ll talk about that someday,” she said gently, brushing a hand through Danny’s messy hair. “But right now, we need to get ready. Why don’t you and Max take a bath?”
“But I want to know—” Danny started, but Felicia cut him off with a warm but firm tone.
“Bath time, Danny,” she said with a small smile. “I’ll tell you stories later, okay?”
Danny’s lips pursed in a pout, but he slid off the bed and grabbed Max’s hand. “Come on, Max. Mommy always makes us take a bath when she doesn’t want to answer questions,” he muttered under his breath.
Felicia bit back a laugh, her chest aching at the truth of his words. She watched the two of them scamper off to the bathroom, her hands gripping the edge of the suitcase tightly once they were out of sight. She drew in a shaky breath, her mind racing. She didn’t want to keep avoiding their questions forever, but now wasn’t the time.
By the time the boys finished their bath and were in their pajamas, Felicia had finished packing. She zipped the suitcase closed just as a knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” she called, her heart tightening when Orion stepped inside. His expression was grim, his strong jaw clenched as he closed the door behind him.
Felicia immediately knew something was wrong. “What happened?” she asked, her voice hushed but urgent.
Orion crossed his arms, his sharp eyes scanning the room to make sure the boys were distracted before speaking. “A messenger arrived a little while ago,” he said in a low tone. “Damien kicked Danielle out of his pack. Turns out, the boy wasn’t his.”
Felicia’s stomach dropped, her breath catching in her throat. She blinked, her mind reeling. “What?” she whispered, unable to hide the shock in her voice. “He kicked her out?”
Orion nodded, his expression hard. “Dragged her out in front of everyone, apparently. Word is, she lied about the boy being his all these years.”
Felicia pressed a hand to her chest, struggling to process the information. For years, Danielle had been the wedge that kept Damien away from her—the woman he’d chosen instead of her, the one who had broken her spirit. And now, to find out it had all been a lie…
“Mommy, what’s wrong?” Max asked, tugging on her hand. His wide eyes searched her face, concern etched into his small features.
Felicia knelt in front of him, forcing a smile. “Nothing, baby,” she said softly. “Mommy’s just… tired.”
