Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 524

I wanted to argue, but the truth was, I could barely lift my arms. I’d be useless in a search. And the way Andrei had looked at me right before he left… There was regret and pain in his eyes, but there was murder there, too. Like two sides of him were warring over the thought of killing me just like he’d killed Isaac.

“Fine,” I said. “But I want updates.”

“Of course,” Damon replied, leaning down to kiss my head. “I’ll let you know the moment I hear anything.”

With that, he left to coordinate the search efforts. Grace stayed with me, helping me drink some water and eat a little bit of soup. My hands shook too badly to hold the spoon myself, so she fed me like I was a child. It was humiliating, but I was too exhausted to care.

“How are the kids?” I asked between spoonfuls. “They didn’t see me like this, right?”

“No. But they did sense something was wrong. Damon and I told them that you bumped your head. Max gave me that look like he knew I was full of it.”

“And Hope?” I asked.

Grace smiled faintly. “She’s fine. No more fussy than usual.”

That was a relief. But I thought about the moments in the cabin, when I swore I’d heard another voice in my mind. I still wasn’t sure if it was really there, maybe linked to my Bloodmoon ability, or just my subconscious telling me to get up. Probably the latter. Either way, I wanted to see the kids myself, just to be sure they were okay.

“I need to see them,” I said.

“Later. Once you’ve rested more.”

I protested weakly, but Grace wouldn’t hear it. Eventually, I finished the soup and lay back against the pillows. My eyelids felt heavy, and I could feel myself starting to drift off when I heard small footsteps in the hallway, followed by a soft knock coming from low on the door.

“Auntie Grace? Is Mama awake yet?”

Max’s voice.

Grace looked at me, and I nodded. She went to the door and opened it. Max stood there in his pajamas, his hair sticking up in all directions. When he saw me, his face crumpled.

“Mama,” he whispered.

I hesitated. What was I supposed to tell him? That yes, I found his father, but he was possessed by something dark and violent? That he’d killed a man and run off with the body?

“I saw him,” I said carefully. “But I couldn’t bring him home. Not yet.”

“Is he okay?”

“I don’t know, Max. I really don’t know.”

He was quiet for a moment. Then he curled up against my side, and I held him tight. “I’m scared, Mama.”

“Me too, baby. Me too.”

We lay there together in silence. Max’s breathing eventually evened out, and I realized he’d fallen asleep. I probably should have sent him back to his own bed, but I couldn’t bring myself to move him. Having him here, warm and safe against my side, was the only thing keeping me from falling apart completely.

I closed my eyes, and eventually, I let myself drift off to sleep again.