A Broken Contract (Alpha's Secret Regret) novel Chapter 17

Nick POV

My eyes would not leave the back of Richard's head. In another situation, he would've known I was watching him. His senses would've picked it up if they weren't clouded from touching Sara.I kept smoothing the child's back to calm my own rising temper. Different thoughts play in my mind as my gamma sped off from the little street. I imagine relieving him of those fingers with my claws. Without them, he would never think to touch her ever again, would he?

I take a deep breath to cool the rage inside me. These types of thoughts have no place in my head.

The child moved to free himself from my arms, and it occurred to me that I was holding him too tight. When I released him, he turned around to look back at the house he was leaving behind. Sebastian was still running towards our direction. Wait, is he chasing the car? I scoffed.

“We wait for gyanpa,” the child said in a soft voice.

“He’ll meet us soon," I replied gently.

“And mommy?”

I nodded. “Her, too.”

He seemed unconvinced. The fear and anxiety were all gone now. On instinct, this child knew he was my blood, I had no doubt.

“Where are we going?” he asked.

“You’ll see when we get there,” I replied.

There would be many more questions about why he was snatched away from the home he knew. I could feel his trepidation and confusion for his mother, and I have no idea what to say to ease them. How do I explain all this to him?

Worst of all, it was hard to focus. My gaze was back to my gamma on the wheel. I wonder how the child will take it if I slammed the male's face against that windshield.

The image of him tucking Sara's strands away flashed before me again. How's that part of the job? I needed to have a word or ten with him.

“What do you think?”

My voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He raised a brow on the rearview mirror as his eyes found mine.

“Talking to me, alpha?”

“Yes, Richard. I’m talking to you. What do you think?” I said again.

“About… what?” he asked hesitantly.

“All of this,” I replied, stealing a quick glance at the pup beside me. It felt uncomfortable to blurt out that I'm his father, so I chose my words carefully as I elaborated the question.

“About Sara and I, and all of... this.”

“I don’t understand the question, alpha,” he replied.

“You had a crush on her at some point, remember?” I said. “My dad would kill me if I dishonor his name like that.' Remember these words?"

He didn't reply. I could sense his rising anxiety.

"Maybe this one will jug your memory. 'I’d rather let off steam with a human girl than an omega.' You said those very words when Jake asked why you wouldn't shoot your shot, remember?" I asked.

The scent of his discomfort filled the car, making me mildly nauseous.

"It was a long time ago, alpha," he replied.

I recalled the day my beta asked him that question. He wanted to check if he was pretending not to know about Sara and I. We'd learned that the only reason our friend didn't make his move on Sara was the same reason I'd kept me and her a secret.

“So you don't feel something for her anymore?”

I tried to keep the edge out of my voice. It was hard, especially when I remembered how devastated he was when she disappeared.