Leila POV:
What the hell do I do?
I stood there in the hallway, every nerve on edge as I waited for my baby—and for my doom. The cheerful chatter of the restaurant seed far away, muffled by the pounding of my heart in my ears. My hands trembled slightly, and I clenched them into fists to steady myself.
Why? Why did he have to co back into my life now, of all tis? Just when I’d found peace, a semblance of serenity in this quiet life I’d built for myself and Ash.
Half of felt... relief. A dangerous, treacherous relief that ward my chest and softened my resolve. Mate. Chase was here. Layla was practically purring, her happiness at his presence flooding through like a tidal wave.
But the other half of felt like the walls were closing in, and doom had co knocking on my door.
I had worked so hard to escape this—to escape him. And now, here he was, casually walking into my carefully rebuilt life as if the last three years hadn’t happened. As if he hadn’t spent all that ti searching for while I’d been doing everything in my power to stay hidden.
My wolf’s happiness clashed violently with my own panic, and it left feeling disoriented, torn between two halves of myself.
I leaned back against the wall, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. What was he even doing here? How had he found ? The witches’ wards they gave were supposed to keep safe, hidden from anyone who might co looking.
Layla’s voice in my mind was a whisper, smug yet soothing. Because he’s our mate. You can’t run from fate forever.
I gritted my teeth. Fate. Stupid, cruel fate.
The minutes dragged on, every second feeling like an eternity, until finally, I saw them coming back.
Ash was walking ahead, chatting animatedly and grinning ear to ear. His little hand still clung to Chase’s much larger one, and sothing about the sight made my heart clench. Chase looked... different. Softer, almost, as he listened to whatever story Ash was telling with rapt attention.
And then his eyes t mine.
That cocky smirk returned, but this ti, there was sothing else in his gaze—sothing warr, more intense. My breath hitched, and I felt like a deer caught in headlights.
What now, Leila? What the hell do I do now?
I was dood. Truly, utterly dood.
Standing there, staring at the vampire who I’d been running from for three years—and my son, who now seed to think Chase was the greatest thing since sliced bread—I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or just run away all over again.
"Thank you for accompanying my son," I said as firmly as I could, mustering what little control I had over the situation. "I think we should take our leave now." I motioned for Ash to co to , hoping my no-nonsense tone would do the trick.
But the little brat just grinned at , that cheeky smile that told he was up to no good.
"Uncle Chase here told he’d buy ice cream and teach how to roller skate as a present for my birthday. Isn’t he great?"
I blinked. My jaw might’ve even dropped. Uncle Chase? Just two minutes. I gave a vampire two minutes with my son, and now the kid was calling him "uncle" and singing his praises.
"Ashton, co to right now," I said, my voice sharper this ti. "And he isn’t your uncle."
Ash’s cheeks flushed red. He knew I only used his full na when I was really mad. But the little pup still had the audacity to duck behind Chase, whispering just loud enough for to hear, "Ooh boy, Mom’s mad."
Chase crouched slightly, smirking at Ash like they were sharing so grand conspiracy. "C’mon, Uncle Chase, be a man and defend . We’re both n... charm her a little," Ash whispered, thinking I wouldn’t hear him.
My eyebrow twitched.
"Ashton..." I started again, trying to keep my patience intact. "I won’t call you again."
Chase, who had been gazing at Ash with a soft, almost endearing look that I couldn’t quite decipher, turned his attention back to . His smug smile widened. "The kid is right, you know. It’s his birthday, and it’s the one day a child gets what he wants."
Ash nodded furiously, as if Chase had just imparted so profound life lesson.
I crossed my arms and glared at Chase. "I can’t believe you. I give you a few minutes with him, and you turn him against ?"
Chase had the decency to drop his smug expression. His face softened, and for the first ti, I saw sothing genuine in his eyes. "Leila," he said, his tone low and almost pleading. "I don’t want a repeat of what happened. I’m not ready to lose you for another three years. Just... calm down. Let fulfill the promise I made to the kid, and then we can talk. About us."
Those last two words made my heart stutter. My wolf whimpered softly in agreent. Mate.
Before I could even begin to form a reply, Ash peeked out from behind Chase, his wide, puppy-dog eyes tugging at every heartstring I had. "Please, Mummy? You don’t even know how to skate. Maybe he can teach you, too? And you did promise ice cream... only this ti, he’ll buy it, and you can use the money for sothing else for ."
I groaned internally. The little brat had wrapped around his finger, and he knew it.
Chase raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on his lips. "Looks like the kid’s got a point."
"Fine," I said through gritted teeth. "But just this once."
Ash cheered, and Chase’s smile turned victorious. My heart raced. I had a feeling this was only the beginning of my doom.
Chase POV:
I don’t know what prompted to leave the hotel where I was lounging. Restless and uneasy, I decided to step out, hoping that maybe a change of scenery would help settle the turmoil inside . I wandered until I ca across a small, charming restaurant. It had a cozy vibe, the kind that might’ve cald on any other day. But not today.
Today, I was too close to her—my beloved. I could feel it. The bond tugged at , pulling in a direction I couldn’t fully comprehend. My appetite was nonexistent; eating was rely an excuse to pass the ti, to think of my next move.
I sat at a table, ordered sothing I didn’t even bother to register, and glanced around the place. That’s when I saw her.
At first, it was just a glimpse—soone with dark hair, her build, her walk. She was holding the hand of a little boy. They were heading toward the bathrooms. My heart stuttered, and instinct took over.
It had to be her. It was her. I wasn’t a fool to dismiss the bond within that tugged harder in her direction. The bond flared to life, tugging at , urging to follow. I couldn’t scent her, likely because of the damn witches’ masking magic, but I wasn’t stupid enough to ignore what I felt. I just knew it was her.
Years of hunting rogues and enemies had honed my instincts. My instincts had kept alive for centuries, both as a vampire and as a hunter. They wouldn’t fail now. This wasn’t a coincidence; this was fate.
Excusing myself from my table, I rose and followed them, careful not to alarm her. I didn’t know what I’d say, but I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
When I caught up, I found her standing in the hallway, struggling with what seed like a dilemma. She was glancing between the doors to the ladies’ and n’s restrooms, clearly unsure where to take the little boy. The little boy beside her tugged at her hand impatiently, his small voice chattering about needing to go.
My eyes flicked to him. He was the little baby Lucy had been carrying the last ti I saw her. Only, he wasn’t a baby anymore. He was walking, talking—albeit in that slightly garbled way young kids do.
And then, sothing hit like a freight train.
The boy had her features—her dark hair, her skin tone, her lips, and her eyes. He was hers through and through. His resemblance to her was undeniable, but it wasn’t just that. The mont I saw him, a wave of emotion surged through , stronger than anything I’d ever felt.
It wasn’t just the natural protectiveness I felt toward my beloved. It was sothing deeper, sothing primal.
I had imprinted on him.
Imprinting—sothing that was common for regular vampires but unheard of for a royal like . Regular vampires imprinted on royals, their king or queen, as a sign of loyalty. It was a bond that forged devotion and allowed for an almost telepathic connection. But for a royal to imprint on soone else? Unthinkable.
Yet here I was, staring at a wolf pup, and the bond was already forged.
If Ash was ever in trouble, I would feel his pain as if it were my own. He could summon with nothing more than a thought, and I’d find him no matter where he was. Just as my father’s subjects could locate him in tis of need, I could now do the sa to Ash.
Whenever he needed , I would be compelled to co. I could find him anywhere, at any ti, so long as he summoned . The bond forged through this imprint was absolute.
A thousand emotions coursed through . Relief that the boy was hers and not anyone else’s. Awe at how much he resembled her. Determination to protect him at all costs. And a deep, profound sense of responsibility.
The realization left montarily stunned. But I knew better than to reveal this to Leila—not yet. She’d barely let near her, let alone her son. Telling her that I was now bound to her child would only make her think I was so kind of stalker, soone creeping around her child.
So, I hid it.
Masking my emotions with the practiced ease of a royal, I put on my best smug smile and stepped forward. "I can take him for you, mate," I said, letting my voice drip with a casual confidence I didn’t fully feel.
She turned to , and for the first ti in three years, our eyes t.
The shock in her face was evident. She didn’t think I’d find her. She didn’t think I’d still be looking. But she should’ve known better. Did she really think she could hide from forever?
"Chase," she said, her voice a mixture of surprise and panic.
Her reaction was exactly what I expected. She was already building walls, trying to protect herself and the little boy she loved so fiercely. But I wasn’t here to hurt her.
Before she could argue, the little boy—Ash—interrupted. "Mom, hurry up! I’m pressed! Let the handso man take to pee!"
I chuckled softly at his bluntness, and sothing in my chest tightened again. How had she managed to raise soone so... wonderful?
Leila’s eyes snapped to mine, narrowing with suspicion. "One hair of his head goes missing, or if I hear a squeak, and I’ll have your dead heart in my hands within minutes," she growled, her protective instincts in full force.
I couldn’t help but smile, knowing she ant every word. "Don’t worry, love," I said smoothly, "you already have it."
Ash tugged at my hand, urging to move. "C’mon, handso man! Let’s go do what n do."
That nickna—handso man—sent a wave of pride through .
As I walked him to the restroom, I glanced back at Leila. Her expression was a mixture of worry, anger, and sothing softer she tried desperately to hide.
I’d found her. And I wasn’t letting her go this ti.
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