Two days passed without seeing Jack. He came home late and left before dawn, though somehow he always found time to visit Cody. I learned this from my son's excited chatter each morning about the stories his father told him before sunrise.
I told myself I did not care about his absence. I told myself it was easier this way, with distance between us. But my wolf grew restless, pacing inside me, wanting her mate.
On the third morning, I broke. I found John's number in my contacts and pressed call before I could change my mind.
"Sister in law," John answered cheerfully. "How have you been?"
I winced at the title but did not correct him. "Hello, John. I am fine. Have you seen Jack these past days?"
"Wow, someone is in love," John teased. "You missed him, right? He is fine. Actually, he is right here. Talk to him."
My stomach dropped. They were together. Now Jack would think I was worried about him, which I was, but I did not want him to know that.
"My love," Jack's deep voice came through the phone, and my breath caught.
"Hi. I have not seen you in days and decided to check on you," I said, trying to sound casual.
"Thank you for checking on me," he said, and I heard the surprise in his voice. "I do come home every night, but I did not want to disturb you. How have you been?"
"I am fine. Goodbye," I said quickly, moving to end the call.
"Aurora, wait," he said urgently.
I paused, phone pressed to my ear. "Yes?"
There was a breath of silence, and then three words that changed everything. "I love you."
I could not speak. Could not breathe. The words echoed in my mind, in my heart, in the very marrow of my bones. He loved me. Alpha King Jack Hudson loved me.
I hung up without responding, clutching the phone to my chest. My reflection in the mirror showed flushed cheeks and bright eyes. I looked like a girl experiencing her first crush, not a grown woman with a child.
He loved me.
I touched my lips, remembering how he almost kissed me by the lake. How he called me his love in front of everyone. How he looked at me like I was the only person in the room, in the kingdom, in his entire world.
My wolf howled inside me, demanding I go to him. Demanding I accept what he offered. But fear held me back. Fear of being hurt again. Fear of trusting him completely. Fear of losing myself in him the way I did before.
At the palace, Jack handed John's phone back to his brother. They sat in the Alpha's office, papers about the Maslow situation spread across the desk.
"She is finding it difficult to say she loves me," Jack said quietly. "But I think with time, she will fall for me too. I am sure of my feelings for her."
"Aurora will suit you, Jack," John said. "She is a good woman. Strong. Loyal. Exactly what our pack needs in a Luna."
"She is pure and innocent, despite everything she has been through," Jack continued, his voice rough with emotion. "She is the only woman I have felt this way for. I will not rest until she is mine, until she accepts me as her mate and not just as Cody's father."
John studied his brother's face, seeing the determination there. "She will, eventually. You are a good man, Jack. You deserve to be loved."
Jack nodded, though his eyes held shadows of doubt. He picked up his glass of whiskey, rolling it between his palms. "Sometimes I wonder if I ruined everything five years ago. If she will ever truly forgive me."
"She called you today," John pointed out. "That means something. She was worried about you."
"Or she was simply being polite," Jack countered, but there was hope in his voice.
"My brother, the mighty Alpha King, reduced to analyzing phone calls like a lovesick teenager," John teased, trying to lighten the mood. "Clara would have found this amusing."
At the mention of Jack's deceased mate, both brothers fell silent. Clara had been gone for three years, lost in a rogue attack that nearly destroyed Jack. For a long time, no one thought the Alpha would recover. Then Cody appeared in his life, and with Cody came Aurora.
"Clara would have liked Aurora," Jack said softly. "She always said I needed someone who would challenge me, who would not just submit because of my title."
"Aurora definitely challenges you," John agreed with a laugh.
Jack smiled, a real smile that reached his eyes. "She does. Every single day. And I love her for it."
He stood and walked to the window overlooking the pack lands. Somewhere out there, Aurora was in his home, caring for their son, probably trying to convince herself she did not feel anything for him.
"I will win her over," Jack said with quiet conviction. "Whatever it takes, however long it takes. She is my second chance, John. I will not waste it."
John joined him at the window. "What about Maslow? He is not going to stop attacking our interests."
"Let him try," Jack said, his voice hardening into the Alpha tone that made enemies tremble. "He wants to provoke me into making a mistake. He wants me distracted. But I will handle him and win Aurora's heart. I can do both."
"Confident," John observed.
"Determined," Jack corrected. He turned from the window, his expression fierce. "She is mine, John. My mate. My future. My Luna. She just does not know it yet."
Back in my room, I finally set down my phone. My hand trembled slightly, and I pressed it flat against my thigh to steady it.
He loved me. The Alpha King loved me.
I closed my eyes and let myself imagine what it would be like to say it back. To accept him fully. To become his Luna and rule beside him. To give Cody the family he deserved, with both parents together, in love, united.
The image was beautiful and terrifying in equal measure.
A knock on my door made me jump. "Come in," I called.
Cody burst through, his face bright with excitement. "Mommy, Daddy says he will be home for dinner tonight. He says he has something important to tell us."
My heart skipped. "Did he say what?"
"No, but he seemed happy," Cody said, climbing onto my bed. "Are you going to mate with Daddy? I heard the servants talking. They said you are his true mate."
I pulled my son close, breathing in his familiar scent. "Would you like that?"
"More than anything," Cody said seriously. "I want us to be a real family. I want you to be happy, Mommy. And Daddy makes you smile."
"He does," I admitted, surprising myself with the honesty.
"Then say yes when he asks," Cody said simply, with the uncomplicated wisdom of a child.
I kissed his head, my heart full and aching. Tonight Jack would be home. Tonight he would tell us something important. Tonight might change everything.
And for the first time since he came back into my life, I thought I might be ready to let him in.