The One

The Revelation: Part 2

The atmosphere in the room thickened, almost palpable, as she radiated a fiery anger, an aura that felt like a tempest ready to erupt. But before anyone could muster a response, a chaotic clamour erupted from beyond the door.

A child's piercing voice cut through the tension, unmistakably frantic, echoing off the walls as it beat against the door like a relentless storm.

"DON'T YOU TOUCH HER! LET ME GO!"

"LET ME IN!"

"I DON'T CARE WHO YOU PEOPLE ARE! BUT IF YOU MAKE HER CRY I WILL KILL YOU!"

"OPEN THIS GODDAMN DOOR!"

Her heart raced; recognition washed over her as she braced herself. She quickly linked her mind with her son's: 'Luke, watch your language', but even that could barely stem the tide of his defiance. For a moment, he paused, catching his breath before erupting once more.

"MUMMY?!"

Luka, overcoming the gravity of their connection, seemed to forget the mental link entirely, his tiny fists pounding against the door in a frenzy.

"I'M HERE MUMMY! I'LL KEEP YOU SAFE!"

She shot a glare at her mate, her pride flaring like wildfire. "You said you hope my man will never betray me. I'm telling you now, he won't. He is my world, my precious little man. He won't betray me as you did, and I'll choose him over you time and time again without a shred of regret."

With determination, she crossed to the door and turned the lock.

As the door swung open, Arlo stirred, his senses ignited by the sweet, comforting scents of forest and vanilla wafting in with the child who rushed into his mate's embrace.

"Mine, my baby, alpha, strong, baby, mine," he murmured through their private mind link, overwhelmed by the moment as he inhaled deeply, taking in the sight of his mate and the boy enveloped in her arms.

Luka looked up at his mother, his eyes wide with concern as he tenderly wiped away the remnants of her sadness, his youthful countenance fierce with resolve. "Mummy, you okay? Why did you cry? I can feel your distress and anger. I'm here, Mummy. I'll beat them all."

"I'm okay, my baby boy. I'm sorry for making you worry, and thank you for rescuing me, my dashing knight," she whispered, embracing him fiercely and pressing a kiss to his forehead. The room fell into a profound silence, the weight of their bond holding everyone captive as they watched the mother-son duo, united in comfort.

"Luka, my baby, do you remember when I told you that you'd meet your father soon?" Karol asked softly, her heart swelling at the sight of him nodding vigorously, still clinging to her.

"Do you want to meet your father now?"

She attempted to gently detach herself from him, wanting to see his face, but his grip was as tight as a vice, unwilling to release her warmth.

"Luka, baby?"

"Okay, Mummy, but only if you hold my hand tightly," he conceded earnestly.

"Okay, baby, I will always hold your hand."

The room erupted in muffled gasps, awe sweeping over them as they realised the astounding resemblance standing before them—Luka, a perfect mirror of his father in his youth.

Christian's heart thudded painfully in his chest as he took in the sight, his eyes widening in disbelief. There they stood, mother and son, radiating strength and unity in the glow of this momentous revelation, an unexpected twist that detonated like a bombshell in the still air.

"This is your father," she said, finally breaking the heavy silence with a wave of her hand towards her mate.

Luka scrutinised his father, his brow furrowing as he took in every detail, still firmly clasping his mother's hand. Taking a tentative step closer, Christian lowered himself to one knee, his hands raised in a gesture of peace.

"Hi, Luka, I'm your daddy," he said, voice laced with a mixture of hope and trepidation.

Luka's expression remained inscrutable as he turned his gaze from his father to his mother, eyes brimming with love before he greeted his father in a flat tone. "Hi, I'm Luka."

She felt a warm surge in her heart, unable to contain her smile as she observed their interaction, watching as Christian's heartstrings tugged at the tender moment.

"Luka, please be nice," she urged gently, a playful note ringing in her voice.

"Okay, Mummy, I'll try, but you know my mouth sometimes can't control," he said, as if declaring war on the world's expectations.

"Em, how are you?"

"Good, but apparently someone made my Mummy cry. Is it you?! Making my Mummy cry?"

Karol rushed to reassure him, "We had a little argument, honey. It's okay now, since I have my hero with me." She attempted to lighten the mood, her heart aching to ease Luka's tension.

"Yes, my son, I'm the one who wronged your Mummy, the love of my life," Christian confessed, his voice earnest.

Luka's eyes darted from his mother's face to his grandparents, the love radiating from them only heightening his instincts as a protector. Without hesitation, he gripped his mother's hand, tugging her towards the door.

"Mummy, let's go."

"Please wait," Christian begged, desperation lacing his tone as Luka turned to glare at him.

"No, no more waiting and no more talking. You made my Mummy cry, I hate you! Hate all of you!"

Luka's voice, fierce and trembling, echoed through the room as he clung tightly to his mother, tears streaming down his face. Karol wrapped her arms around him, cradling him gently, whispering sweet nothings to soothe her heartbroken child.

"Oh, baby," she cooed, her voice a balm for his wounded spirit.

"I hate to see you crying every time, Mummy. You are a liar, Mummy. You said you are okay, but you cry. You said you are good, but you cry. Mummy, you even cry whenever I change into my wolf form. Mummy, we heard you cry, we both heard you cry—me and Beau—we both heard you sobbing all alone, all alone."

Luka erupted into a crescendo of tears, his tiny body shaking with hiccups as he snuggled closer to his mother, a sense of desperation in his voice. Karol, struck by the devastating realisation, felt her own tears spill unbidden down her cheeks, drawn forth by her son's raw emotion.

"Oh, my baby boy, you shouldn't know that. Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered, her heart breaking.

Christian watched the heart-wrenching scene unfold, unable to contain his own anguish. When he saw and heard the pain lacing Luka's words, he rushed to envelop them both in a tight embrace. Karol flinched at his sudden closeness, taken aback for a moment, before surrendering to the warmth of his arms.

"I'm sorry, baby. Mummy's sorry. I didn't want you to see that, I'm so sorry, my sweet boy," she murmured, her voice trembling with remorse.

"Daddy's sorry too, Luka. Daddy is so, so fucking sorry for being a foolish man," Christian added, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Christian, watch your language," she admonished gently, yet she felt a pang in her chest.

"Sorry, Mummy. Can you forgive me, buddy?" Christian implored Luka, who turned to his mother with wide, hopeful eyes.

"What? Luka, darling, it's up to you. It's your call; after all, he's your father," she replied, her heart heavy.

"I won't forgive you until my Mummy forgives you," Luka declared, glancing first at his father, then at his mother, while a sweet, innocent smile danced on his lips.

"Baby, would you like to spend some time with me? Let's get to know each other," Christian proposed out of the blue, gazing lovingly at his son, who sat caught between his parents, unsure how to respond.