Chapter 101
Enzo:
“How was your day, baby?” I heard Alaria asking Ashton as they sat in the kitchen.
He sat at the table, eating his pasta, while she was putting back the utensils inside their cupboards and drawers.
I watched as she stood on her toes to put a cup back in its place before I approached her, slowly taking it from her, causing her to jump for a moment. My chest brushed over her back, and I put my hand on her waist before clenching my fist as I removed my hand. She didn’t move, and I leaned in as she looked at me over her shoulder.
“You’re welcome,” I said, putting the glass back. I took a step back, allowing her the space that she needed to proceed with what she was doing, and Ashton looked at me with a smile on his face.
Alaria cleared her throat before turning to Ashton. “Did you tell me anything, baby?”
I could hear her hesitation in her tone for a moment, and I could tell that she was making sure not to look at me.
“I said that I painted on the canvas today. The teacher told me that it was a very good job, and I am going to bring it to the house when it dries.” He said, and both Alaria and I smiled.
“Can you draw something? Show us your skills?” I asked, and he nodded with a bright smile on his face.
“I will draw you, daddy!” He said, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. I sat beside him and put a hand on his head, ruffling his hair gently.
“Come, son, eat your pasta then you can go and start with your homework.” I said, and he nodded.
“Okay, daddy!” He said, and I looked at Alaria whose eyes showed gentleness that I knew I haven’t seen toward me in a very long time. It was a gaze that I
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knew never left her face, and one that I didn’t appreciate in the past.
She came toward me with a bowl, and I raised an eyebrow, watching as she gave me a fork.. “You can eat with your son. You had a long day and I am guessing that something inside your system won’t harm you, at least, until you went home to the pack.”
“Why don’t you two come with us? It is a lot safer now that things are settling?” I asked, looking at Ashton who was too focused on his food. “You can stay in your own villa if you want, I’ll have one arranged…”
“Enzo…”
“I had to try,” I said, stopping her as I took the fork from her. “The offer is always open if you’re ever willing to accept it.”
She smiled and nodded, thankful that I chose to dismiss the topic. The two of us were still going to have to talk about what was going to happen from here, and judging by Yaroslav knowing of his son’s intentions, I was hoping that things were going to be somewhat delayed. At least, he would know to keep an eye out for his sons who were aiming to kill him.
“Mama! I am done!” Ashton said, and Alaria laughed as she turned to face him. He got up from his chair and I watched as he took his spoon and plate, handing them to his mom. Alaria smiled and took them from her as she went to wash them. She turned to look at the maid, one who I brought from the pack two days ago, she would be helping Alaria with Ashton, at least, she would know that she could rest a bit, and she nodded at the woman.
“Good job, my boy!” She said, encouraging him. “Now go with Jasmine, she is going to help you freshen up. Then I want you to start with your homework, if there is anything that you need, just let me know and I’ll help you.”
“Okay, mama,” he said, and Alaria smiled. She leaned in and kissed his cheek before straightening as she watched the maid take her son.
“Why don’t you have her clean the kitchen?” I asked, and Alaria shrugged.
“Sometimes she does, others, I do. I can’t expect her to do everything, and sometimes, it is good for me to be the one to clean and fix things. At least, I
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know that I am doing something, and I know that I am staying beside Ashton while he is eating. The woman deserves a break too, you know.” She explained, and I nodded. “Do you want to drink something?”
“No, thank you.” I said, and she wiped the counter before washing the cloth and hanging it on the sink to dry. She turned to look at me and I watched as she sat in front of me. “Do you want to tell me what you’re thinking of?”
“I have a thousand things going on in my head, and I really can’t decide which one I am supposed to start with,” she said, and I chuckled.
“You can start by the very beginning. We can deal with the rest from there, and I think that you talking about one thing will drag the others to come.” I said, and she shook her head.
“You know, if anyone would have told me that I would be sitting at the same table, talking to you a year ago, I would have told them that they lost their minds.” She said, and I smiled.
“And how do you feel about it?” I asked. Alaria scoffed, and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“I don’t have any words to explain what I am feeling about it. You know, one moment the two of us are just friends talking, the other moment, we’re exes, and the next…” I stopped Alaria by connecting my lips with hers. She hesitated for a moment, and just when I was about to pull away, she kissed me back. I rested my forehead against hers for a moment, and to my surprise, she leaned in, pecking my lips in a gentle kiss that had me smiling.
“We’re this.” I said, completing her sentence. “Two puzzle pieces meant to fit, and somehow we are just trying to find the right angle.”
“You are married, Enzo.”
“I was married to you, but Katerina and I never needed a ‘marriage‘. She broke off the mating bond when she slept with another man, and considering that she was never marked, I doubt that it makes her mine.” I said, running my finger over her bottom lip. I went to lean in to kiss her again, but Alaria pulled away, making my heart drop as I looked away from her.
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Chapter 101
She didn’t say a word for a moment, but I could see the corner of her lip twitching up in a small smile. “How about you eat your pasta while I go and check on Ashton? I am guessing that he should be choosing his clothes right
now…”
