Chapter 38 – part 2
“In good time, Father. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to get my son to bed,” Valen tells him before he reaches over and grabs my hand. Valen tugs me out of the door after him, and Kalen steps aside at Valen’s dismissal. I can feel his eyes on me as I walk with Valen to the elevator.
Instinctively, I step closer to Valen. I hate that I did, but his father terrified me more than Valen did. Valen glances down at me for the action but doesn’t say anything as he hits the elevator button. Valarian yawns, mumbling as he tries to get comfortable in his father’s arm. Valen tugs me against him and places his arm across my shoulders. For once, I don’t shove him away, preferring his closeness and the safety it offers instead of remaining awkwardly at his side under his father’s watchful gaze.
“Tatum!” Valen calls, and the monstrous man moves toward us. He stops beside me and looks at his Alpha, inclining his head slightly.
“You are now assigned to Everly and Valarian.”
Tatum nods and smiles down at me. “Of course, Alpha,” he answers, and I wonder what Valen meant when the elevators doors open, and Valen tugs me inside. Tatum also steps into the elevator with us, and I let out the breath I had been holding.
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Chapter 38 – part 2
“I am sorry about my father; he has …” he pauses.
“Has strong views about titles,” I offer, and Valen sighs.
“Yes, I will take care of it.”
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“No need,” I tell him while I reach for Valarian, but Valen pulls
away.
“I have him; he is fine. I won’t drop him, Everly,” Valen says, pressing his nose against Valarian’s hair and inhaling his
scent.
The drive back to the hotel is silent. I had climbed in the back with Valarian when we got to the car. Valen told me he would get Valarian a booster seat, and I said nothing. I had no idea how long until the novelty of having a child would wear off, so I didn’t bother to argue that he wouldn’t be taking our son anytime soon. Just as the car pulls up out the front, I unclip Valarian’s seatbelt while Valen parks the car. He gets out quickly before scooping a sleeping Valarian into his arms and tossing his jacket over him to shield him from the rain.
I lead Valen to the apartment I share with Zoe. Tatum follows us, looking around alert, which bothers me. He surely didn’t mean Tatum would be following us, did he? My employees would never get any work done if Tatum hovered around. The man was huge and looked like he belonged in a cave grinding bones to make his butter, not following a rogue girl and a child around.
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Chapter 38 – part 2
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“I can take him,” I tell Valen, who growls at me and pushes past; he sniffs the air before walking up the hallway, and I follow. Zoe is sitting up in her bed with a book placed in her lap. She was with me when we got the phone call about Valarian, so I knew she would have waited up, and I would have to fill her in.
“In the morning,” I tell her, and I close her door after she nods
to me.
Walking over to Valarian’s little room, I see Valen sitting beside him, tugging Valarian’s shoes off before he tucked the blankets around him. I watch, safely tucked out of view as he tends to Valarian. He then switches the small lamp off and goes to get up. I move away from the door when Valarian suddenly speaks up, making me pause.
“You aren’t leaving me, are you? I need you,” Valarian says, and Valen pauses too. “Mom needs you too; she won’t admit that, though, so don’t snitch on me for telling you.”
I hear Valen chuckle softly.
“I am leaving, but I will be back in the morning,” he promises.
“Do you pinky promise?” Valarian asks, and I can’t help but peek back into the room. Valen stares at his outstretched pinky before gripping it, giving it a shake, and Valarian laughs.
“No, like this,” Valarian says, looping his pinky through his
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“That means you can’t break it. Pinky promises are special,” Valarian tells him.
“Ok, I pinky promise I will be back in the morning to take you to school, now get some sleep,” Valen tells him, re–tucking the blanket around him. I walk back off to the living area and see Tatum waiting by the door patiently.
“7 AM, you said he gets up, right?” Valen asks as he walks up behind me. I nod as he stops beside me.
“You don’t have to do the school run, Valen.”
“Well, I do now. Apparently, I can’t break a pinky promise Everly, and I want to, I am not asking. He is my son too,” Valen says, and I press my lips in a line.
“It’s late. I will let you get to bed. I will be back tomorrow. Tatum will be outside if you need anything.”
“Wait, you aren’t expecting him to remain here?”
“Ah, yes. Either he stays, or I do Everly,” he says, his eyes sinking into mine.
“It’s the middle of the night. What could possibly happen? We are going to bed. I am capable of looking after my son.”
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Chapter 38 – part 2
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“Our son and you are so capable that our son escaped school and found me? That shows a lot about your parenting skills.”
“Don’t talk to me about parenting, Valen. Where were you the first five years of his life? I didn’t know he would go searching for you; he has never taken off before so, don’t you blame me
for that.”
“Either way, Tatum stays, or I do, so which is it? I won’t leave you both unprotected when forsaken are running around at the back of your hotel.”
I look over at Tatum. If I had to choose, it would definitely be the giant.
“Fine, but one night only, I won’t have him scaring my employees,” I say.
“Fine, have it your way. I will stay tomorrow night then,” Valen says before pecking my head and walking toward the door before he stops. He turns looking back at me.
“And you heard my father Everly, I can’t have you running around rogue, you have a week to get your head around letting me mark you, or I will do it by force if necessary, I won’t have my son remain a rogue,” he tells me before walking out and closing the door before I have the opportunity to protest.
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