Chapter 9: The Price of Protection – 1
Thea’s POV
I helped Leo pack his clothes into the small suitcase, trying not to think about how empty the house would feel without him. Two days ago, when I had to tell him about leaving with his grandparents, he’d thrown the biggest tantrum I’d seen in months. My side still burned from the rogue attack, but that pain was nothing compared to watching my son’s face crumple at the news.
“Mommy, can I bring Mr. Snuggles?” Leo’s small voice came from the doorway. He clutched his favorite dinosaur plushie, his eyes wide with uncertainty.
I managed a smile, though my heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice. “Of course, sweetheart. Mr. Snuggles needs a vacation too.” I tucked the stuffed animal carefully into the suitcase, pretending this was just another holiday, not what it really was: sending my son away to protect him from the mess my life had become.
“I still don’t understand why I have to go,” Leo’s lower lip trembled. “Why can’t I just stay here with you?”
I knelt beside him, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through my side. “Baby, we talked about this. It’s a special trip—just you and your grandparents.”
“But why can’t you come?” His green eyes filled with tears.
After speaking with Sebastian, I knew they were being sent somewhere safe and tropical. “You’re going to the beach,” I said with forced cheerfulness. “Haven’t you been begging us to take you to see the ocean?”
His whole face lit up at the word ‘beach.’ My sweet boy had been obsessed with the ocean ever since our first beach vacation last year. He’d cried for days after we left, begging us to move there permanently.
“You’re not lying to me, are you?” he asked, suddenly suspicious.
“Would I ever lie to you?”
“No.” His frown melted into a brilliant smile. “I guess it’s okay then. I’m not mad at you anymore.”
“Why were you mad at me?”
“Because you wouldn’t come with me. But it’s okay now—you can always join us later!”
I swallowed hard, unable to tell him I wouldn’t be joining them at all. Let him hold onto that hope for now.
“Come on, we’ll be late.” I reached for his suitcase with my good arm, but the doorbell rang before I could grab it.
I rushed to intercept Leo, who had an unfortunate habit of flinging open doors without checking who was on the other side. No matter how many times I warned him about stranger danger, he never listened.
The moment I opened the door, Sebastian’s towering figure cast a shadow across my doorway. My heart gave an imperceptible twist—just when I was trying to move on, he seemed to appear around every corner.
“Dad!” Leo darted past me and launched himself at his father.
“Hey, buddy.” Sebastian caught him easily, burying his nose in Leo’s hair and inhaling deeply. It was a wolf thing—he’d once told me that our son’s scent helped calm his beast. Not that I would know, being wolfless and all.
“I told you not to come,” I said flatly as Leo bounced back inside.
His expression was as cold as ever when he looked at me. “I’m here to take you to the airport.” He gestured to my injured arm.
“There’s no need. I’ve already called an Uber.” A lie, but anything was better than being trapped in a car with him.
“Cancel it.” His Alpha voice rippled through the air, making my skin prickle.
“Not gonna happen, asshole.” I kept my voice low, mindful of Leo in the room. “Now leave. I’ll meet you at the airport.”
He stepped into my space, all Alpha dominance and barely contained aggression. “I’m not leaving. Cancel the fucking order and get your ass in my car.”
Seven years ago, I would have backed down immediately. But I was done being the meek little wolfless wife who lived for his approval.
“You arrogant son of a bitch,” I hissed. “Who the hell do you think you are? I’m not some fucking puppy you can command anymore.”
Chapter 9: The Price of Protection – 2
“Thea…” His voice held a warning, but I was past caring.
“Are you fighting?” Leo’s small voice cut through our tension like a knife.
I turned to find him watching us with those sad eyes I hated seeing. “No, baby. We just can’t agree on something.” I shot Sebastian a pointed look. “Right?”
The anger melted from his face instantly—if there was one thing we still shared, it was our devotion to Leo.
“Your mom wanted to take an Uber since she can’t drive,” Sebastian explained smoothly. “But I wanted to drive you both.”
“Why can’t we just go with Dad, Mommy?”
I closed my eyes briefly, silently cursing Sebastian for manipulating the situation. “Fine,” I grumbled. The things I did for love.
The drive was excruciating. Leo happily watched videos on his tablet while Sebastian and I marinated in awkward silence. After twenty minutes, I reached for the radio, desperate for any distraction.
“How’s the arm?” Sebastian’s deep voice stopped me.
“Fine.” I stared straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge how sexy he looked doing that one-handed steering thing.
“Can you give me more than a one-word answer?”
“Why should I?” I snapped. “You’ve never been interested in anything I’ve said before. In fact, you went to great lengths to tune me out. So why the sudden interest?”
His silence confirmed everything. I pushed down the familiar ache and focused on the passing scenery instead.
“Your mother’s been asking for you,” he tried again.
“You’re awfully chatty and it’s getting on my nerves, Sebastian. Can you just ignore me and pretend I don’t exist like you usually do?”
His grip tightened on the steering wheel, jaw clenching. Good. Let him feel a fraction of the frustration I’d lived with for years.
At the airport, I watched Sebastian greet his twin brother Damien and Roman while I held Leo’s hand. Then Aurora appeared, and Sebastian turned immediately to Aurora’s side as if drawn by an invisible thread. He curved his body around hers, kissing her forehead as her gardenia scent filled the air.
The casual intimacy made me dig my nails into my palms—it was like watching a scene from the life I’d thought would be mine. Aurora’s eyes met mine over his shoulder. She didn’t even try to hide her satisfaction.
“Five minutes,” the pilot announced.
“Leo, say goodbye to Aurora,” Sebastian’s voice carried that note of authority he always used when he expected instant obedience.
“I don’t know her, so why should I say goodbye?” Leo shrugged, leaving everyone staring in shock.
Aurora’s smile froze, color flooding her cheeks. Roman and Damien exchanged uncomfortable glances while Sebastian’s brows furrowed into a deep scowl. The look he shot me clearly blamed me for our son’s attitude.
Before I could respond, Leo crashed into my legs, hugging me tight. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
“I’ll miss you too, baby.” Tears burned my eyes. “Promise you’ll call me every day?”
“Promise!”
My mother approached after Leo boarded, tears swimming in her eyes as she reached for me. I stepped back. “Please don’t.”
She’d never hugged me before—not when I was sick, not when I presented as wolfless, not even on my wedding day. I didn’t need her fake sympathy now.
“Take care of yourself, Thea,” she said softly. “Don’t worry, we’ll look after Leo.”
I nodded stiffly; she turned away and boarded the plane with Sebastian’s parents.
I watched the plane climb higher until it was just a speck against the clouds, taking my whole world with it. The emptiness that followed felt like a physical thing, pressing against my lungs until I could barely breathe. I didn’t wait for Sebastian’s inevitable attempt to talk. Instead, I walked out of the terminal and hailed a taxi.
Sebastian’s name kept buzzing on my phone every few seconds. Just looking at it pissed me off. I switched that shit off and shoved it deep in my bag. No more. From today on, he could call all he wanted—I was done being his puppet to control.