Chapter 3

He was wearing a black coat. His jaw brushed against my forehead and his arms were right there, solid and warm. The hard line of his chest was a wall of muscle under expensive fabric. Those cold eyes flicked down, then settled on my brow.

My whole body went rigid. He looked at me like he was peeling off a thin layer of skin with his eyes. His gaze slid lower, following my turn.

The second I realized what that line of sight was doing, my stomach dropped. He was looking in the direction Theo had gone.

Theo was already small for his age. He vanished easily in a crowd of other cubs.

Ethan's eyes lingered on another child — a little girl, with light lipgloss at her Pack crest's age, holding hands with a boy her size. Another parent was leaning down to her.

My heart slammed against my ribs but I forced calm onto my face.

"Mr. Blackwood."

Ethan straightened, his voice a low, expensive gravel. "Ashford. It's been a while. Didn't know you had a cub."

He wasn't asking. He was testing. I lifted my chin. His gaze didn't waver. Not quite mocking, not quite cold.

"Sorry — I told my father I'd pick her up, I should get moving."

Then he turned back toward the drop-off lane. From the entrance, a nanny came rushing out. She held a little girl's hand — a four-year-old with tiny barrettes in her hair. The little girl was waving excitedly at a boy about her size. Apparently she had her own clique already at the Academy.

She was holding that boy's hand. Another small hand on her left. She tipped her head back and whispered something. A laugh rose from her.

Then — The nanny gathered her up and led her into the Academy gates.

My brain stalled for a second. Some very strange thoughts were lining up in my head. Wait. A lot of them.

So — Ethan had a cub already? How did I not know this? A cold shade washed down my chest. How was it possible. Ethan — who swore he'd never bond, never sire pups — had a child. A little girl, in braids.

Theo loved the other cubs at the Pup Academy. He had eight little friends already. Good. No more relocation guilt. My cub came home chattering about his classmates. Especially one whose name started with "E."

I'd planned to stay far away from Ethan Blackwood. Four years without running into him. With the bad blood between us, it should have been easy.

But Caleb Sterling wouldn't drop it. He kept pushing me to come out. Earlier that week, some pack heirs had gone out for a night at the Crescent Club, and I'd pulled my old stunt — the one with the drug. I wasn't aiming at Ethan this time. I was aiming at someone else. The opportunity just didn't pan out. I ended up dosing myself by mistake.

"Warning received. Stay indoors next time."

Caleb said he'd rented a cabin out on the coast. He wanted me to come de-stress for a few days.

Now. Caleb texted me in a panic. The cabin booking he'd locked down had been out-priced by someone else last minute. That someone else was Ethan Blackwood. Ethan had taken the whole property. Only one suite was left in the same building — with a single bed. And an Omega female they'd been running with.

In a heartbeat. I got pushed in as the replacement guest, sharing a room. I couldn't believe it. I chewed Caleb out over the phone. I folded my clothes back into my bag.

I was just about to leave when the coastal road was blocked off by a slide. We couldn't make it through to the next town. And there was only one small guesthouse with any vacancy. The reception girl said the guesthouse was fully booked. Except a double-bed room. Thanks to the Omega, who got a private single.

Which meant I was sharing a double with — Without consulting me. Caleb shoved my bag at the reception, shoved me up the stairs. Hopeless. I gave up. I faced my fate. We crossed into the same room.

Hopeless. Caleb Sterling's ass is grass.

The hotel room was on the tight side. At least it was clean. Half the space each. Water on one side, well on the other. Ethan's expression was glacier-cold. I wasn't in the mood to make a scene either. I dropped my bag and went straight for the bathroom to clean up.

I came out with a towel around my neck, blow-drying my hair. My phone lit up with a video call.

Theo.

I couldn't find my earbuds anywhere in the bag. I turned the phone around so my back faced Ethan before picking up.

A crisp, loud, baby-soft voice burst through the speaker. "Daddy, Daddy, I'm the little bunny Theo."

I couldn't help smiling. I had no idea where he'd picked this up. Calling himself a bunny.

Then — I noticed Theo kept scratching at his neck. That small stretch of skin was turning red. My brows pulled together.

I asked, sharp with worry, "Sweetheart, what's wrong with your neck?"

Theo heard the edge in my voice. His little face scrunched up. His chubby hands waved everywhere. "I didn't eat bad things. Theo didn't eat bad things."

Right then. Mom's face appeared on the screen. "The Academy put red berries in the lunch soup today. Theo swallowed a couple of spoonfuls before anyone caught it and broke out in hives. The physician says it's not serious."

Theo was a hereditary allergic reaction pup. He wouldn't even touch the foods he was allergic to anymore. I let out a breath. I teased my little cub for a bit. I hung up and turned around.

Ethan was standing by the window, looking at me with something thoughtful in his expression.