<h4>Chapter 54: Chapter 54: TAKING MY SON</h4>


    <strong>MAEVE</strong><strong>’S POV</strong>


    The ck book wasn’t in the Luna’s rooms.


    While my search had been rushed, I’d been thorough. I’d checked the shelves, behind the paintings, underneath the bed, in the closet—even the bathroom. Nothing.


    I was just about to search the dresser when Serena walked in.


    Serena, of all people.


    For a second, I lost myposure, caught off guard by her sudden intrusion. Thankfully, I’d been a healer long enough to master the art of staying calm under pressure.


    It came in handy as I faced off with my former best friend.


    I could tell she didn’t believe the story I’d fed her. She probably suspected something, but after I left the Luna’s quarters, I put our terse exchange out of my mind.


    Regardless of what Serena thought, she had no proof.


    It was her word against mine.


    If she tried to go public about catching me snooping, I could easily paint her as a jealous maniac with a personal vendetta against her fiancé’s ex-mate.


    That kind of story would get the packhouse buzzing with gossip—and it had worked before. Just ask Lydia.


    And if it came to it, I still had the ultimate card to y: the truth about Serena’s influence over my faux miscarriage five years ago.


    That was an armed weapon with teeth, one I’d been saving rather than baring to Ivan. Something told me it woulde in handy one day, and I wasn’t about to waste it now.


    Back in my chambers, I looked around for Asha but he was nowhere in sight.


    Maybe he was in the bathroom?


    I checked—empty.


    "Asha? Baby?" I called out. No answer. "Nina?"


    I crouched to check under the four-poster bed. Nothing. Just as I straightened, the front door burst open and Nina walked in.


    She looked out of breath. Nervous.


    My heart skipped. "Nina. What’s happened? W–where’s my son? Where’s Asha?"


    "Don’t get scared, Maeve. He’s fine," Nina rushed to reassure me, though the hesitation in her eyes told me otherwise. "It’s just—"


    "What?" I snarled, my patience snapping. "Whatever it is, spit it out already."


    "It’s Alpha Ivan," she blurted. "He was here. I stepped out for a few minutes to make a fruit sd for Asha. When I got back, I found them ying together in front of the firece. Then Ivan asked to take Asha out flying in his private ne."


    I blinked rapidly. "Whoa, whoa. Back up. Did you just say <i>flying</i><i>?</i>"


    Nina inhaled sharply. "I told him you’d be mad, but he wouldn’t listen. I tried to insist, but Asha was excited. He pleaded, and Ivan told me not to alert you until after they’d left."


    "Do you hear yourself?" I snapped. "Why would you listen to Ivan of all people?"


    "It wasn’t about listening to him—it was about listening to Asha. He really wanted to go. He was so excited."


    "Getting my son ready to go out with my ex-mate was not your decision to make, Nina," I shot back. "You should have told me first."


    "Fine. I’m sorry," she muttered, looking away.


    I exhaled, fists clenching. "I’m going to the port. I have to get my son back."


    "What?" Her brows shot up. "No offense, Maeve, but is that necessary? I’m hardly a fan of the Alpha, but I doubt he’s going to harm Asha on a little trip."


    "It doesn’t matter. I’m going anyway." My voice was ice.


    She shut her mouth and stepped aside.


    I stormed toward the door and threw it open. Before leaving, I nced back over my shoulder.


    "While I’m gone, let Dev know the Luna’s room is clear. He’ll understand."


    * * *


    The Ash Creek port was private property. The tarmac was empty, save for the rectangr yellow markings painted across the long stretch of pavement. The path seemed to go on for miles.


    ording to the port chief, the ne wasn’t due tond for another five minutes.


    They’d taken off from Ash Creek three hours ago—an interstate flight headed to a port in the Eastern borders.


    The fucking East!


    Ivan had a lot of exining to do—right after I ripped his throat out.


    I stood on the sidewalk adjacent to the tarmac, tapping my foot impatiently, waiting for the ne to appear. Five minutes felt like an eternity.


    I couldn’t believe Ivan had taken Asha out of the pack without telling me—and worse, that he’d convinced Nina to keep it from me.


    Maybe I was overreacting, but there was something about him taking my son anywhere, without my consent, that made my blood boil. It felt like a blindside. A vition.


    Perhaps, if he had asked, I might have said yes. Maybe. But he didn’t. He made the call and took my son away while I wasn’t there to stop him.


    Before I could sink deeper into my rage, I heard it—the faint hum of metal wings cutting through the sky. I looked up, and there it was, glinting in the sunlight as it descended.


    A few minutester, the ne touched down, rolling across the tarmac beforeing to a stop. The plug door opened, and the descent steps unfolded.


    My brows drew together as Ivan appeared at the top.


    He wore a customized aircraft jacket that fit him obscenely well, the expensive leather clinging to his broad shoulders like it had been made for him alone.


    The sleeves were pushed up just enough to reveal strong, veined forearms, the kind that hinted at his rippling, panty-dropping muscles.


    Dark shades shielded those storm-gray eyes. He bounded down the steps with that effortless, infuriating confidence I hated... the kind that rolled off him in waves and made lesser wolves step aside without a word.


    The wind caught in his dark hair as his boots hit the tarmac, and for one stupid, treacherous second, I understood why the goddess had thought it a good idea to tie me to him.


    Right behind him was Asha—in an identical jacket and matching sunsses.


    For a second, I was taken aback. They looked like they’d stepped straight off a magazine cover—grinning at each other like they’d just shared the adventure of a lifetime.


    If I’d been angry before, I was livid now.


    I stepped off the sidewalk and strode toward them. It took Ivan a moment to notice me, but when he did, his shades came off and his smile vanished.


    That wary, guarded look slipped into ce.