Rejected and Pregnant I Fled The Pack novel Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Damon pov

I stayed with my mother until she’d finished feeding Hazel and finally, visibly, succumbed to the exhaustion she’d been fighting since her arrival, one of the nannies gently taking Hazel to settle her in the nursery while my mother drifted off on the couch, still in her travel clothes, too tired to make it to the actual bedroom.

I co her with a blanket, checked once more with both nannies that everything was properly arranged-locks their contact information exchanged with Callum’s team, a clear understanding that any concerns should me immediately rather than waiting and made my way back toward my own quarters as the afternoon began shifting toward evening.

evelyn looked up when I came in, Willow settled against her shoulder in that particular, boneless way that meant she’d finally drifted off after what had apparently been a fussier afternoon than usual.

“How’s your mom,” she asked quietly, careful not to disturb Willow.

“Exhausted. Sad, honestly, in a way that’s hard to watch.” I sank down onto the couch beside her, the day’s accumulated tension finally starting to catch up with me now that I’d actually stopped moving. “She didn’t want to come back here, Evelyn. Not really. She just didn’t have another option, with everything happening with Marissa.”

Aat’s a hard place to be in,” Evelyn said gently. “Forced back somewhere you fought so hard to leave.”

That’s exactly what she said.” I leaned my head back against the couch cushions, closing my eyes briefly. “I got her settled with nannies, made sure everything’s secure. She was asleep before I even left.”

“Good. She needs it, from everything you’ve described.” Evelyn shifted Willow slightly, adjusting her against her shoulder. “Did your father show up at all?”

“No.” I opened my eyes, turning to look at her. “Which I think is probably the right call, actually, giving her space rather than immediately trying to insert himself. But I keep waiting for that to shift, honestly. Some part of me doesn’t fully trust the distance any more than I’d trust him showing up.”

“You think he’s just biding his time,” Evelyn said, not quite a question.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “That’s the honest answer. Ever since the rogue attack, ever since he fought alongside me like that, I’ve been sitting with this strange, unresolved tangle of wanting to believe he’s actually changing and knowing better than to simply trust it without real evidence over time.” I dragged a hand down my face, exhaustion evident in the gesture. “And now my mother’s back here, vulnerable in her own way, exhausted and managing an infant that isn’t even hers biologically, and I keep thinking about every way he might try to use that. Guilt her into reconciliation. Manipulate the situation to make himself look supportive when really he’s just angling for control again.”

“Have you talked to him directly about staying away from her right now?” Evelyn asked.

“Not yet. I should, probably. Make it clear rather than just hoping he reads the situation correctly on his own.” I sat up slightly, already turning over how I wanted to approach that particular conversation. “I don’t want to assume the worst about him constantly, especially after everything with the rogues. But I also don’t want to leave my mother unprotected from whatever he might try, especially while she’s this exhausted and vulnerable.”

Evelyn was quiet for a moment, watching me carefully. “You know, it’s interesting. You’re describing almost exactly the same caution I’ve had to hold about him this whole time. Wanting to believe genuine change is possible, while still protecting the people you love from the possibility that it isn’t.”

1/2

+15 Bohus

I considered that, recognizing the parallel she was drawing. “I suppose I am. It’s strange, actually experiencing that particular tension myself instead of just understanding it intellectually from watching you navigate it.”

“Welcome to it,” she said, something wry but not unkind in her tone. “It’s exhausting, holding both possibilities at once. Hope and caution, constantly balanced against each other.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify