Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Finn’s Mother
Estelle’s POV
“Stay here?” I questioned, my voice sharper than intended. “In the pack house? With you?”
“Yes. It makes sense. I’m here most nights anyway, and you prefer our house near the pack borders.”
I didn’t want to correct him. I didn’t prefer staying there. I only did because he always claid to need peace and quiet while working, sothing that was impossible with Finn’s constant temper tantrums.
I rarely stayed overnight at the pack house because I had to stay back to take care of Finn. Asher usually ca ho to our small house only once or twice a week, claiming pack duties kept him busy.
Now I understood what those duties really were.
“Surely there have been other candidates for the position of the pack Beta,” I said carefully. “More qualified wolves—”
“I want Hazel to stay!” Finn’s voice cut through my words like a knife.
The little boy glared at
with undisguised hatred. The sa hatred I’d never understood.
“Finn, please—” Asher started.
“No! Estelle doesn’t want her here because she’s jealous! But I want my—” He caught himself, his small fists clenching. “I want Hazel to stay with !”
“Sweetheart, calm down,” Hazel soothed, but her eyes held a triumphant gleam.
“She’s trying to make Hazel leave!” Finn’s voice rose to a shriek. “I hate her! I hate her so much!”
Tears stread down his face as he reached for his plate of spaghetti.
“Finn, no—” Asher lunged forward.
But he was too late.
The plate of food ca flying straight toward .
The plate crashed into my face with a wet splat. Cold spaghetti sauce splattered across my cheeks and dripped down my neck. Noodles clung to my hair and stained my white blouse bright red.
The dining room fell silent.
“Finn!” Asher’s voice bood through the room. “What have you done?”
The little boy’s face crumpled. His defiant expression lted into terror as he stared at his father’s furious face.
Finn, knowing that he was in trouble, scrambled backward from his chair.
“You do not throw food at soone like that!” Asher’s voice shook with anger.
Finn bolted from the dining room, his cries echoing down the hallway.
Asher started after him, but Hazel’s hand shot out to grab his arm.
“Let
handle this,” she said softly. Her green eyes t his with understanding. “He’s just upset. I know how to calm him down.”
She turned to look at . Her expression was a perfect blend of concern and triumph. The smirk tugging at her lips was barely hidden behind her fake sympathy.
“I’ll take care of him,” she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “Don’t worry about anything.”
Then she was gone, following the sound of Finn’s sobs.
Asher rushed to my side imdiately. “Oh god, Estelle. I’m so sorry. Here, let
help you.”
He reached for the napkins on the table, but I stepped back instinctively.
“Don’t,” I said quickly. “You’ll get your clothes dirty.”
Confusion flickered across his face. “I don’t care about my clothes. You’re covered in—”
“It’s fine.” I grabbed the napkins myself and started wiping sauce from my cheeks. “I can handle it.”
But Asher ignored . He gently took the napkins from my hands and began cleaning the sauce from my hair.
“It’s my duty as your mate to help you,” he said softly. “A little bit of bolognaise won’t kill .”
His fingers worked carefully through the strands, picking out pieces of pasta. I fought the urge to pull away from his touch.
“I should have done more,” he continued, his voice heavy with guilt. “Finn is just a child, but I’ve put all the parenting responsibilities on your shoulders. That wasn’t fair to you.”
A bitter laugh escaped my throat. “Maybe his biological mother would have done a better job.”
Asher’s hands stilled in my hair. His entire body went rigid.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.” I stepped away from him, forcing a neutral expression. “I was just thinking about Finn’s birth mother.”
“Finn’s mother is dead, Estelle.” His voice was carefully controlled. “You are his mother now.”
“Oh?”
“Of course, honey.” His hands cupped my face gently. “You are his mother, and you’re an incredible mom at that. Don’t ever doubt yourself.”
He picked the last strand of spaghetti from my hair with deliberate care. Every touch made my skin crawl, but I forced myself to remain still.
“I need a shower,” I said, pulling away from him.
“Of course. Take your ti.”
When I erged from the bathroom twenty minutes later, steam still clinging to my skin, I found Asher sitting on the edge of our bed.
He looked up the mont I entered the room, his eyes bright with anticipation.
“Feeling better?” he asked, patting the space beside him. “Co sit. We need to discuss Hazel’s arrangent.”
I remained standing by the bathroom door, my robe wrapped tightly around .
“There’s nothing to discuss,” I said flatly. “You’ve already decided.”
“I want you to be comfortable with this,” he pressed. “I know it’s unusual, having another wolf stay in the pack house, but it’s temporary. Just until I find a suitable permanent Beta.”
“You can do whatever you want, Asher.” I moved to my dresser and pulled out clean clothes. “You’re going to be the Alpha soon anyway.”
His face lit up like I’d given him the greatest gift.
“Really? You an that?” He jumped up from the bed, reaching for . “Estelle, thank you for understanding. I know this isn’t easy—”
I sidestepped his embrace smoothly. “It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not fine.” His face fell slightly. “You’re upset. I can tell. Let
make it up to you.”
I began dressing, keeping my back to him. “There’s nothing to make up.”
“I’ve been looking at so properties,” he said eagerly. “There’s a beautiful house in neutral territory. Perfect for a vacation ho. Sowhere we can go to get away from pack politics.”
That caught my attention. I turned to face him.
“A vacation ho?”
“Exactly. Just for us. What do you think?”
“In that case, I want it under my na.”
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