Draven
Charlene and I turned to face the door as our son walked into the room. He hadn't seen us yet, and it was at this moment that Charlene decided to hit me again in the groin.
"Charl…" I stifled a groan that was about to escape my lips and squeezed my face into a frown.
Ash, my Lycan, burst into laughter. "Man up and stop acting like it's painful."
"You wouldn't know how painful it is until you shift and experience it," I fired back, glancing at the entrance and noticing that Dawn had also joined her brother.
Charlene was already heading toward them and kneeled in front of them. I watched as she listened to their complaints, and it made me smile.
It amazed me that she had been doing it for four years.
"What do you say, Draven? Will you allow our mate to go to that ugly human?" Ash asked, and when I didn't answer, he burst into laughter again. "Stop acting like an idiot. You were the one who rejected her years ago."
"Shut up," I yelled at him before he could finish. Now wasn't the time for sob stories about the past. "And don't tell me what to do!" I added, slowly standing up from the ground and heading toward the door. "There is no way I am going to let that stupid human have my mate."
Ash laughed. "You are truly foolish. One of the craziest wolves I have ever seen. Now you admit Charlene is your mate after everything you put her through years ago," he tutted. "I don't care about what you think, but there is no way I am ever going to let my mate disappear like she did five years ago."
"I don't plan on doing that either," I responded, my tone firm as I spoke. My eyes met Charlene's at the door, and she waved at me before pointing toward the children.
I blinked for a moment, then realized that the children were saying something. Ash had been whining in my head, and I hadn't noticed they were talking to me.
"Hey," Drew shouted excitedly and rushed toward me. He gave me a questioning look and then looked at Charlene. "You're the man from the restaurant," he said and hugged my leg.
"Is your name Draven?" he asked, and I nodded in response, surprised that Charlene had already told them about me. "Oh, okay," he sighed.
I wondered why he suddenly sighed and crouched to his level. "Are you alright?"
"Yes. My mommy always calls your name," he said, palming his forehead and chuckling.
I looked up at Charlene, who immediately shook her head in response. "That's not true," she mouthed.
"Drew is right," Dawn joined the conversation. "She is always mentioning Draven."
"And what does mommy always say?" I asked.
Charlene rushed toward us immediately and jumped into the conversation. "There is no need for that. I have to get the children ready because…"
"Draven, you annoying man!" Dawn shouted, raising her head to the ceiling as she dramatically pointed her fingers upward. "I hate you so much," she said, stomping her feet on the ground. "I loved you, but you left me. Now I am alone."
Ash laughed in my head, and I was dying inside, struggling not to laugh as Dawn exposed her.
"Draven, don't come back anymore! Go away!" Drew added.
Charlene grabbed their hands and tried to pull them away, but I stopped her.
"Let the children say their mind," I said because I wanted to hear more about what happened in my absence.
She cast a glare at me, but I looked away immediately and faced the children.
"Are you here to marry my mommy?" Dawn questioned.
"Are you our daddy?" Drew added, and before I could respond, he continued, "Daddy Adrian might marry my mommy soon." He jumped excitedly and walked out of the room.
Daddy Adrian? They called him daddy? Just the thought of that was enough for me to let out the loudest scream.
How could Charlene allow my children to call another man daddy? I had to deal with not knowing them for years and now also deal with being treated like a complete stranger.
My eyes met Charlene's again, and she stared at me with unreadable emotions. I wanted to question her about what the children had said, but I couldn't because Dawn had grabbed my hand and was pulling me into the living room.
Drew was in Adrian's arms, laughing as he threw him up, and seeing them together made me feel a knot in my stomach.
Was it sadness, seeing my son happy in another man's arms, or was it jealousy?
"This human is going to marry Charlene before you know it, and it will be your loss…" Ash said, and when he continued to speak nonsense, I blocked him out of my head and focused on Dawn, who was speaking to me.
"Have you met Damien?" she asked as she handed over a photo album to me, pointing at the pictures.
The first pictures were from when they were babies. "Mommy said Damien is sick, but he'll be coming home soon," she said as she pointed to another picture of a boy who looked just like me.
His blue eyes were brighter than mine, and I could tell it was Damien because he was the one who looked a lot like me.
When Dawn showed me another picture, it took all the willpower inside me not to scream.
In the picture was Adrian placing his hand on Charlene's shoulder while the children stood in front of them.
They looked like a real couple. Their closeness made my blood boil, and I could feel the heat radiating from my body. To control myself in front of Dawn and Drew, I clenched my fists tightly and shut my eyes.
I was on the edge of losing control, and I knew that if Adrian said even a word to piss me off, my fist would land on his face.
"Dawn," Charlene's soft voice sounded beside me, and I fluttered my eyes open.
She took the photo album from my hand and carried Dawn in her arms. "It's time to take your bath. We are visiting Damien," she announced and then turned to face me, slightly bowing her head. "Your Highness," she said, and before I could respond, she looked up at the ceiling.
Watching her reminded me of what Dawn had said earlier. "Are you going to say that you hate me again?" I jokingly asked, trying to blow off some steam and quench the anger boiling through me. "Or are you going to say you love me?"