Chapter 30: Panic Attack
Natalie~
The soft hum of the night seeped into the guest room as I sat on the edge of the large bed. Zane’s words from earlier echoed in my head, loud and unrelenting, like a storm I couldn’t escape.
"Not everyone in your life is out to hurt you, Natalie, you’re safe as long as you stay here."
Safe. Could I trust him? Could he really protect me? Could he stand up to Alpha Darius? The mere thought sent a cold shiver down my spine. Zane didn’t know the depth of Alpha Darius’s cruelty. He didn’t know the lengths that monster would go to ensure I never escaped his grasp entirely. And yet, Zane had spoken with such conviction, such quiet strength, that for a fleeting moment, I’d almost believed him.
But belief was dangerous.
I stood, shaking off the weight of my thoughts, and turned to Alexander, who clung to my waist like a little koala. His small arms wrapped tightly around me, his head resting against my hip as though I might disappear if he let go.
"Come on, little one," I said softly, brushing his messy blonde hair out of his eyes. "Let’s get you to bed."
"No," Alex whined, tightening his hold. "Wanna stay with Mommy Natalie."
My heart clenched at the name. Mommy Natalie. He had called me that from the first day I met him in human form, and every time he said it, it chipped away at the walls I had built around myself. But I couldn’t be his mother. I wasn’t even sure I could be anything at all.
I smiled faintly at him despite the heaviness in my chest. "You need to sleep, Alex," I whispered, picking him up despite his protests. He wrapped his arms around my neck, yawned, and nestled against me, his warmth a stark contrast to the cold that seemed permanently embedded in my skin.
"Promise you won’t leave?" he murmured sleepily.