The Swan Who Flew After a Wolf (11 page)

like earlier in the day, Anson recognized Daniel. He released a sigh of

irritation as a feeling of déjà vu gripped him. “It looks like our alone

time might be cut short,” he told Reed as he released his mate from

their embrace.

Reed’s shoulders slumped. “I suppose I should be happy we even

had some alone time,” he replied.

Anson pecked Reed’s forehead. “Maybe it’s nothing important,

but if it is, we’ll just continue this tonight. You can get some sleep so

that you’ll be ready.”

That drew a laugh out of Reed, and Anson chuckled with his mate

as he went to the bathroom and quickly cleaned up. There was

nothing he’d have liked more than to stay here all day, but Daniel

wouldn’t bother Anson and Reed if something wasn’t actually wrong.

Reed must have realized that, too, as he decided to follow Anson

into the bathroom and quickly washed up as well. They’d just

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returned to the room and had managed to pull on their pants when

Daniel knocked at the door. “Sonny? Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Coming,” Sonny shouted back.

He opened the door and let the squirrel-shifter in. “Hey, Daniel.

What’s up?”

Daniel released a heavy sigh. “We have a small problem.”

Instantly, Anson grew concerned. “Is it Soren? Has Tyrell been

found?”

The squirrel-shifter shook his head. Now that Anson thought

about it, Daniel didn’t look particularly worried for his mate. “So

what is it then?” Anson prodded.

“We have some visitors. A woman and her son.”

“Well, that’s nice,” Reed offered, obviously as confused at him.

“But I still don’t get how that has anything to do with Anson. Oh,

does he have to come greet them since Soren isn’t here?”

“Actually, your presence is specifically needed, but not for that

reason,” Daniel said. “The woman’s name is Aria Marrow. She’s

claiming that her son, Paris, is fathered by you, Sonny.”

The world seemed to collapse over Anson. Out of all the possible

things that could come back to bite him in the ass, he’d never

expected this particular one to haunt his present.

Two decades or so ago, after Liam had left him, Anson had gone

through a period of self-pity. His moment of weakness hadn’t lasted

long, but it had manifested in a couple of nights spent in random bars

with random women or men. Anson truly hadn’t been very picky.

Aria Marrow was one of those hookups. Of course, at the time, Anson

hadn’t known she would become the mate of an Alpha. He’d seen her

throughout the years at formal meetings, but they’d pretty much

ignored each other, so Anson had thought the entire affair dead and

buried. Apparently, he’d been wrong.

“But she has a mate,” he protested. “How can I…God, this is all

wrong.”

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Reed’s pain and disbelief hit him like a sledgehammer. “How

could you, Sonny? I trusted you. I loved you.”

Anson turned toward his lover and was shocked to see the swan

fighting tears. He realized his erratic thoughts weren’t making any

sense for his mate and opened his mind, allowing Reed to see the

truth.
“Baby, it was a long time ago,”
he sent to his mate.
“Aria’s son

is probably around your age by now. I swear to you, you’re the only

one I want.”

Reed’s eyes widened as the swan at last understood.
“Oh. Oh.”

He shook his head, as if trying to physically dispel the bad thoughts.

“I’m so sorry. God, how do we always run into that famous past of

yours? I guess I really have to get used to the thought that you had a

life before me.”

“I didn’t, not really.”
Until finding Reed, Anson had just existed.

Even with Liam, he’d only thought he’d had a bond. But Reed had

mended that. If only they could get one moment of peace without

having all sorts of people demanding their attention.

With a sigh, Anson focused on Daniel again. “Is she even sure the

boy is my son? Why didn’t she ever say anything?”

“According to her, she was afraid of Alpha Marrow.” Daniel

looked genuinely upset. “I scheduled DNA tests. I’m sorry about this,

Sonny. You and Reed deserve a break, and somehow, you two always

draw the short straw.”

“It’s all right,” Anson replied, even if it really wasn’t. He was

pissed, not only because this sudden event was causing Reed pain, but

also due to the fact that, if Aria was telling the truth, she’d kept Anson

away from his son for twenty years.

“We should go meet them,” Reed suggested, surprising Anson.

Daniel nodded. “I had Mel arrange rooms for them. Get dressed,

and when you’re ready, come down. And, Sonny…Remember, Soren

and I are behind you, no matter what decision you have to make.”

Anson felt a little warm inside at Daniel’s words. “Thanks. I

appreciate that.”

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The squirrel-shifter said good-bye with a little wave and let

himself out. Reed closed the door behind Daniel and leaned against it,

as if in an attempt to block the exit. “Do you know I always hoped

you and I would have a family one day?” Reed’s smile was a little

sad. “I mean, I can’t give you children, but I thought that we could

adopt.”

“I was thinking about that, too,” Anson replied, amazed at how

their minds seemed to work in perfect synch.

“Guess that’s not going to happen now, huh?” Reed sighed

deeply.

“Why not, baby?” Anson walked to his mate, wrapped his arms

around Reed’s waist, and pulled him close. “Hey. This doesn’t change

anything between us, okay? I’m gonna take responsibility for my kid,

of course, and I’m gonna want to know him, but I want you to know

him, too. And one day, when we’re ready, we can adopt, too. I admit,

it’s going to be a little strange, but I have faith that we can pull it off.”

Reed looked up at him. “Do you really think so?”

“I know so,” Anson replied. “I admit I’m not really sure how I’ll

deal with Aria, and things might be awkward, at least for a while. For

the moment, let’s just go see them. We’ll worry about the rest when it

happens.”

The beautiful swan smiled again, but this time, it looked much

more genuine. “All right, then. Help me pick something to dress. I

want to make a good impression on your son.”

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Reed fidgeted with the buttons of his cuffs, nervous and at the

same time annoyed with his own nervousness. He wanted this to work

out because it was what Anson needed, as well.

Anson held his hand until they reached the door to the garden.

Daniel had decided that, for the purpose of this meeting, a more

comfortable, relaxed environment was needed. Reed tended to believe

that, no matter where they were, this whole thing was still a recipe for

disaster.

“It’s okay, baby,”
Anson said through their bond.
“They’ll love

you. Well, to be honest, I don’t really know about Aria, but my son

will love you. After all, I do, so very much.”

That logic was, to a certain extent, flawed, but Reed couldn’t find

it in his heart to question it. In a sense, it encouraged him, so he was

happy to accept it. He managed to calm down a little, which was a

good thing, because he was out of time. Anson pushed open the door,

and the two of them stepped outside.

Reed swept his eyes over the familiar garden. Together with

Daniel, Melanie, and Jace, there were two other people, strangers to

him, a man and a woman. The woman’s eyes held a degree of

hostility that didn’t bode well for this meeting, so Reed looked at the

young man. In the end, it was this mysterious son of Anson’s who

mattered.

It took one instant, in which Reed’s gaze met that of the youth, for

his selfish hopes that this would all be a lie to be dashed. No doubt

about it, the young man was Anson’s child. Reed had no idea how he

knew. He just did, and he felt conflicting emotions course through

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him. One part of him was furious, both that Anson had been denied

knowing his kid, and that the duo had come out now of all times, just

when Reed had finally taken Anson as a mate. The other was happy

for Anson, knowing how much the werewolf wanted a son. And yet

another side felt sad because no matter what Anson said, this would

be something forever beyond Reed’s abilities. This woman, the one

glaring daggers at him, had given Anson what Reed could not.

Reed had never truly felt jealous over some of his male friends

who could give birth. True, it had seemed to him like they had the

best of both worlds, but at the same time, Reed had grown up as an

adoptive child, and he knew that family didn’t always have to be

blood. He was young now, and not entirely ready for fatherhood, but

he’d told himself that he would discuss potential adoption in the

future. But now…Whether Anson accepted it or not, this did change

everything.

He shook off the thought, not wanting to spoil the moment. He

had to focus on the positive. At least the young man didn’t look as

hostile as his mother, so perhaps Reed could befriend him. This didn’t

have to be something bad. They could still be a family.

With that thought in mind, Reed pasted a smile on his face and

approached the duo with his mate. He allowed Anson to make the

introductions. “Hi,” the werewolf told his son. “I’m Anson Wright,

and this is my mate, Reed Denning-Holden.”

“Hello,” the young man replied with a shy smile. “I’m Paris, and

this is my mother, Aria.”

As if taking a cue, the female werewolf interrupted the exchange.

“Denning-Holden?” she repeated, looking straight at Reed. “Isn’t

your name Wright?”

“We haven’t officially registered our mating yet.” Reed focused

on taming the nascent anger brewing inside him. “It’s been a very

busy couple of weeks.”

“I’m sure.” Aria smirked and made a grab for Anson’s arm, but

Reed pulled Anson away from her just in time. They probably looked

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strangely as if they were playing tug of war, but Reed couldn’t care

less. He wasn’t letting her get her grubby paws all over his mate.

Much to his surprise, he heard Paris talking to his mother. “Mom,

please don’t ruin this,” Paris said, sounding pained and angry.

“Just…Give me a moment, okay?”

Aria didn’t reply. She just huffed, glowering at Reed. Reed glared

back, letting her know that he’d received the challenge and would not

budge one inch. Still, perhaps in deference to her son’s wishes, Aria

yielded. She gestured him forward and took a couple of steps back,

sitting down next to Daniel. Reed couldn’t imagine what mischief she

might be up to, but he decided he was probably better off not

knowing.

Paris drew his attention, and Reed could no longer focus on Aria.

“I’m sorry about that,” Paris said. “She can be pushy sometimes.”

“It’s okay,” Reed replied. “I guess we are in a strange situation, so

things like that are bound to happen.”

Paris scratched his head, releasing an awkward little laugh.

“About that…When Mr. Wade said my father was mated, I didn’t

expect well…you.”

“It’s a very long story,” Anson replied. “Come on. We’ve got a lot

of catching up to do.”

* * * *

A few days later

“This is good.” Paris gulped up another piece of pancake,

moaning in obvious delight. “This is really good.” After he

swallowed, he extended his now-empty plate. “More please?”

Anson chuckled and placed another stack of pancakes there. “The

master is served,” he said with exaggerated formality.

Reed laughed as he watched father and son interact. In the past

couple of days, he’d gotten to know Paris a little better, and he liked

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what he saw. The young werewolf was quiet and polite, but had the

same quiet power Anson possessed. He might never be an Alpha, but

he was stronger than most people gave him credit for.

DNA testing had confirmed that Paris was, indeed, Anson’s child.

The young man didn’t talk much about his previous years, and Reed

understood that some things in Paris’s past must be painful. But he

and Anson had discussed it and had decided to approach Elder Wade