Alpha Your Warrior Ex-Wife is Back (by Aurora Starling) novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Claire’s POV

I bit the inside of my cheek as I looked at my daughter. This wasn’t something that any six year old should have to worry about, especially when her own mother had no idea how to answer that question.

What about her dad? Would I take Gideon back if he asked? After everything he put me through six years ago, I knew he didn’t

deserve me. I knew it and yet…

Nova was still watching me with expectant, almost hopeful eyes. I ruffled her hair playfully before pulling her into a hug. “Let’s work on getting your brother back, first. But before that, I think a certain little wolf needs a bath. What do you think?”

As I expected, Nova immediately wriggled out of my arms, shrieking wildly as she ran from the room. I heard Emma start chasing after her and I almost felt bad. Almost. I would have done anything to get out of that conversation.

“Smooth,” Ivan’s low voice came from the shadows seconds before he emerged. His frame took up the entire doorway, which would have been intimidating if I hadn’t seen the faint hint of amusement hiding behind the steel of his eyes.

I shoved a knife into my boot. If I had my wolf back, I wouldn’t need the stupid thing. But even for ‘normal‘ wolves, rogues were dangerous. I needed all the weapons I could carry.

“If you think you can do better, next time I’ll send her to you.”

I didn’t even try to hide my smile as a look of abject horror came over Ivan’s face. “You will do no such thing, Claire. I mean it. As your prince, that’s an order.”

I chuckled. “My, my, my. The big bad Alpha Prince is scared of a six year old. What would the other packs think if they found out?”

Ivan’s eyes narrowed as he bared his fangs. I rolled my eyes and continued getting ready. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. Emma had been right when she told me that the Alpha Prince wasn’t as cruel as he would like the rest of the world to think he is.

In the beginning, I had walked on eggshells around him, afraid that I would offend him somehow and be punished. But as time passed and I watched how he interacted with those in his inner circle, it became clear that, though aloof, there was a warm and loving heart beating in his chest.

And while Ivan and I would probably never be the best of friends, trading secrets and braiding each other’s hair, we’d settled into a relationship of light teasing, reassuring touches and having each other’s backs. Anything more than that was out of the question. He was the Alpha Prince while I was…nothing.

“What, exactly, is your plan for your son? How will you get him back? I will advise that merely kidnapping him would not work. It would put the Night Mountain pack at war with the Silver Crescent pack. And while I have no doubt that we would win, there would be heavy casualties on both sides.” Ivan’s questions interrupted my thoughts. I finished getting ready for my shift and crossed my arms, meeting his eyes defiantly.

“I don’t know. Right now, I just want to be around him. And maybe while I’m with him, I can get some intel on what’s going on with the Silver Crescent pack. Look for any weaknesses that I can exploit. But I promise I won’t put the Night Mountain pack in danger. This is my home now.” This was my shelter in the storm. The only place that I felt safe. Plus, Nova was here. I would not bring war to her doorstep.

Ivan regarded me coolly, a thousand unsaid words behind his eyes, but he finally nodded and left without another word. I sighed before following him out the door. It was going to be a long night.

***

“Are you absolutely sure about this, Claire?” Peter asked once again as we pulled into Gideon’s driveway. Ivan had reassigned him to be my bodyguard. I had tried to argue that a bodyguard needing a bodyguard seemed weird, but Ivan had pulled rank. So

here we were.

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Chapter 14

+25 BONUS

“Yes and remember, it’s Raven Larson here. Claire Hallow is dead.”

I climbed out of the car, expecting to be greeted by one of the staff members, but was met with Gideon’s familiar face instead. His green eyes zeroed in on me and I lowered mine. To everyone else, I’m sure it looked like respect. But in reality, I was terrified that he would recognize me. It had been dark at the party.

C