Ryder’s Perspective
It took that man a full 15 minutes to exit the shower. Ryder began to question whether his Beta harboured an interest in the woman, given his evasiveness regarding her. He had spent the night observing her, which displeased Ryder, while Aiden prowled within his thoughts, glaring at the man. His Beta would have certainly observed that his Alpha’s wolf was prominently fixated on him every 15 to 20 seconds as they observed the man donning fresh attire.
“What?”His Beta had rebuked him as he finally donned a shirt.
“Disclose the information, or Aiden will extract it from you.” What is occurring, Luca?”
“It is intricate, Ryder,” he sighed. “The boy.” He declined with a shake of his head. “It is undoubtedly a wolf; it has already acquired its wolf.”
“What?” What is the boy’s age?Ryder was utterly astonished by this revelation.
“I am uncertain; I estimate it to be around 7, possibly 7.2.” His Beta was gazing directly at him.
“A wolf at seven?”It was highly atypical to encounter a wolf of such youth. He considered himself an early shifter.
Luca nodded, stating, “I believe the wolf’s name is Rowan.” Initially, I presumed they were discussing a friend of the boys; however, this morning, when the two went for a run, the boy’s eyes—his wolf-like eyes—were white, resembling his mother’s wolf. He smiled slightly, remarking that when she outpaced him, he appeared irritated and sulked away, displeased by her superior speed.
“As anticipated, he is merely small.” What does the boy resemble?“Curiosity was stimulating his intellect.”
His mother possesses the same light brown hair, likely with natural highlights, and he also shares her fair complexion. However, his eyes are not brown like hers.
Ryder inhaled deeply and posed the question he wished to avoid: “What about the boys’ father?” Is there a male figure in the image?”
“I observed no man, only her and the boy.” I checked the license plates of her vehicle. The registration is under Brianna Dieng, indicating a clear separation between professional and personal life, I presume.
“Is she currently at work?”He enquired, feeling somewhat relieved that no man was involved, and subsequently calmed down a bit. Aiden remained unsettled.
“Indeed, the boy is attending a birthday celebration, as I have gathered.” Luca exhaled deeply. “Ryder, what is Aiden’s current condition?””
“What is the reason?” Somewhat irritated and exceedingly exasperated, primarily with you. Inquisitive regarding the boy. What is the reason for your inquiry?”
Luca retrieved his phone, examined it, then flipped it over and slid it across the table towards Ryder, stating, “That’s the boy.” Ryder picked up the phone and scrutinised the image of the boy. The image depicted him smiling as he descended the stairs at the rear of a house, with his wolf prominently visible, appearing quite content, and the wolf’s white eyes were distinctly evident in the photograph. Aiden advanced to observe the boy directly, intrigued by him as well.
Luca exhaled once more, stating, “There is additional information.” He extended his hand, shifted the screen to the left, and displayed the subsequent photograph, prompting Ryder to spring to his feet. As he gazed at the boy, it resembled observing his own reflection in a mirror; he would recognise those eyes anywhere.
His gaze shifted to Luca an instant later. Aiden’s heart raced within his chest, and he suddenly felt discontent.
“He belongs to you, I would wager.” Luca exhaled. “As I mentioned, Ryder, the situation has become intricate.” Ryder redirected his gaze to the boy in the photograph, scrutinising it for an extended period, his mind racing, while Aiden roamed restlessly within his thoughts. They failed to perceive the boy. Most Alphas could perceive their own progeny once they attained their wolves.
Aiden failed to perceive him. Even now, Ryder perceived that his wolf was attempting to gauge his son at this very moment. He was receiving nothing, which was exasperating his wolf.
Brianna’s response to him last week may have been influenced by the fact that she bore him a son without informing him, suggesting she might not be his Mate after all. He exhaled audibly, and Aiden growled in response to that notion. He disliked it entirely; his wolf was now even more convinced due to the presence of a child.
The timeline was consistent, her departure leaving a child in their midst, the anguish he had experienced. It was inevitable; she was destined to be his Mate, and he was aware of it.
Remained there, genuinely unsure of the appropriate course of action at this moment and the subsequent direction to take. Clearly, he could not abandon her here, especially since she was his child. A male Alpha child, a rogue, suddenly realised that she had also gone rogue, implying that his own son would have been born a rogue as well.
The boy would be at risk. The boy was the heir to his pack and was probably unaware of his significance to it. Probably remained unaware of his biological father’s identity. Ryder questioned whether Brianna would have disclosed any information regarding his biological family. He probably had never even observed the interior of a pack. May not have encountered another wolf at all.
Exclaimed vocally, “We must proceed to retrieve them.”
“I believe additional reconnaissance is necessary.” We possess no knowledge of her life beyond work; therefore, Ryder, we should observe for the time being. Consider adopting an alternative approach. You cannot simply intrude into her residence and assert ownership over the boy and remove him.
“Indeed, I certainly can,” Ryder rectified his Beta. He is my offspring. “Indeed, I can,” he asserted, for he was an Alpha, and she had departed, taking their child with her. Although he comprehended, there was no conceivable way she could have been aware of the pup for weeks; nonetheless, she could have returned and informed him. Ought to have but did not.
