Alpha Your Warrior Ex-Wife is Back (by Aurora Starling) novel Chapter 27

“I don’t know. But it wasn’t random. Someone’s orchestrating something, and I don’t know who I can trust here.”

I folded my arms, heart thudding. “Then let me find out. I’ll get to the bottom of it.”

She didn’t respond right away. Instead, she reached for the door again–but stopped when I added, ” I was on my way to check on Leo.”

That made her hesitate.

I watched her carefully. “You can come with me, if you want.”

Raven didn’t say yes, but she didn’t say no either. I handed her the extra shirt that I had brought and she slipped it on without a word. We walked in silence down the corridor, the only sounds the soft click of our boots and the distant murmur of the household waking for the day.

Leo’s room was quiet, filled with the faint scent of mint and honey from the medicines. He lay curled under the covers, his breathing soft and even. The in–house doctor, a lean, aging man named Halren, greeted me with a bow and a quiet nod.

“He’s asleep,” Halren said. “Took his medication an hour ago.‘

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“Any changes?” I asked, glancing back at Raven, who stood near the doorway, arms crossed.

The doctor hesitated, his eyes flicking to her, then back to me. “Well?” I pressed.

Halren cleared his throat. “He’s stable. But… developmentally, he’s a bit behind.” My chest tightened. “Why?”

Halren looked uncomfortable. “Growing up without his birth mother… it’s taken a toll.

Emotionally. Spiritually, even. Wolves that young feel those bonds deeply.” A sharp, dry sound cut through the room. Raven scoffed.

“What kind of person lets their child be separated from their mother right after birth?” she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

The words hit me like a slap. I flinched, just barely–but it was enough.

I turned to her, voice quieter now. “That matter has nothing to do with you.”

She met my eyes, and for a second, something flickered in her gaze–an emotion that I couldn’t name. But then it was gone, replaced by that same wall she always kept up.

“I’m just saying what anyone would think.‘

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Chapter 27

+25 BONUS

“No,” I said. “You’re saying what you think. Without knowing the full story,” she didn’t respond. Just looked away.

I walked to Leo’s bedside, brushing a hand gently through his hair. He stirred but didn’t wake. My heart ached with a dull, familiar pain–one I thought I’d buried years ago.

His mother… my mate… she hadn’t chosen to leave him. Fate had stolen her from us before she ever had the chance to really hold him.

“I lost someone,” I said softly, not turning around. “She didn’t choose to be apart from him. She died shortly after giving birth to him. So don’t stand there and judge when you don’t know what it cost me just to keep him alive.” I didn’t mention that I was the one who sent her away. That it was all my fault that this had happened to my son.

Behind me, silence stretched.

After a while, Raven said, voice low and unreadable, “I didn’t know.” “I didn’t expect you to.”

Another pause.

Then, quieter, almost reluctant, “Still. He’s lucky to have you.”

I turned around, surprised to find her watching me. Her expression was unreadable beneath that damned mask, but her posture had softened. Just a little.

“Maybe,” I said. “But I think he’d be luckier as long as you’re here to guard him.” Her brow furrowed.

“If Ivan will let me stay,” she said, and disappeared down the hall before I could say anything else.

I looked down at Leo again, sleeping so peacefully— thank the goddess for Raven. Even if she did hate me for whatever reason.