Chapter 276 Mother and Son

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Nancy only took a half day off. She had an important client meeting at three that couldn’t be rescheduled, so she had the driver drop her off at Park Hotel Group headquarters first.

She kissed Yardley goodbye through the car window.

Nancy walked through the glass doors of the hotel building, heading straight for the elevators.

Only after she had completely disappeared from view did Yardley tell the driver to take him back to Wolfe Manor.

When he got home, Yardley found his father Alpha Hunter in the backyard, standing over a well-worn Weber grill.

Smoke rose from the charcoal, carrying the scent of lighter fluid and raw beef.

A selection of craft beer sat in an ice bucket next to Alpha Hunter’s folding chair.

The Bluetooth speaker on the patio table was cranked up, playing classic rock.

Alpha Hunter looked up from the burger patties he was arranging. "You’re home early. Nancy finally figure out what a pain in the ass you are?"

"Good to see you too, Dad."

"Grab me that steak sauce. It’s on the kitchen counter."

Yardley went inside. The kitchen was quiet, just the hum of the refrigerator. He found the familiar bottle, then headed back outside.

Alpha Hunter took the bottle and squeezed a generous amount over the meat. "What’s eating at you?"

"Need to tell you something."

"Then spit it out. You look like you’re about to tell me you wrapped the Porsche around a tree again."

Yardley leaned against the deck railing.

The March afternoon was mild, with a cool breeze that carried the smoke from the grill.

"Nancy is Orion’s biological mother."

Alpha Hunter’s spatula stopped moving. He set it down on the side of the grill and turned to face his son. For just a second, a flash of gold flickered in his eyes, disappearing as quickly as it appeared. "The same woman who rejected you seven years ago?"

"She didn’t reject me. She lost her memory."

"Son, I was there." Alpha Hunter’s voice was flat. "I watched you go through a bottle of Macallan every night for three months straight. I watched you shift and disappear into the woods like you were trying to run yourself to death. That wasn’t a woman who forgot. That was a woman who ran."

"She ran because Xander threatened her. She thought leaving was the only way to keep me and Orion safe."

Alpha Hunter stared at him for a long moment. Then he reached into the ice bucket, pulled out a cold beer, and popped the tab. "Does the boy know?"

"I’m going to tell him tonight."

"That’s going to be one hell of a conversation."

"Yeah."

The sound of breaking glass came from inside the house. Sharp. Final. Then a small voice saying, "Oops."

Yardley was already heading for the back door.

Orion stood frozen in the kitchen doorway, barefoot.

A puddle of apple juice spread across the white tile floor.

Glass shards from what looked like one of the good drinking glasses caught the afternoon light streaming through the window.

He wasn’t looking at the mess. He was staring at his father with wide eyes, a flicker of pain surfacing in them.

He had heard everything.

"Dad?" His voice cracked the way it did when he was trying not to cry. "Is Nancy really my mom?"

Yardley crossed the kitchen in quick strides, careful to avoid the broken glass. He crouched down to his son’s eye level. "Yeah, buddy. She is."

Orion stared at him for a long moment, his little face scrunching up as he tried to process this.

"Then why did she pretend not to know me before? I kept saying she was my mom, and nobody would believe me."

"But... but if she’s really my mom, why didn’t she remember me? Moms are supposed to remember their kids."

His lower lip trembled. "Did I do something bad? Is that why she forgot?"

The question hit Yardley like a punch to the chest.

He pulled his son into his arms, feeling the small body tremble against him.

"She wasn’t pretending, Orion. She really didn’t remember. When you were born, something happened to her. She got sick and lost her memories. She forgot me. She forgot you. It wasn’t her fault."

Orion pressed his face against his father’s shoulder. "Is she better now? Is she still sick?"

"She’s getting better. She hasn’t remembered everything yet, but she’s here now. And she loves you so much."

Orion pulled back to look at his father. His eyes were red-rimmed but hopeful. "When she comes home, can I hug her? A real hug, like hugging a mom?"

"Of course you can. She’ll be thrilled."

Orion wiped his nose with the back of his hand, leaving a shiny streak across his cheek. He looked down at the broken glass and juice spreading across the floor.

"Dad, I think I broke one of the good glasses."

Yardley stood up and ruffled his son’s hair. "Don’t worry about it, kiddo. We’ve got plenty more where that came from. Stay right there. I’ll get the broom."

Orion nodded but didn’t move. He just stood there, processing everything he’d just learned, while his father cleaned up the mess around his feet.

--

Nancy stopped by Sweet Treats Bakery on her way home from work, picking out a chocolate cake with rainbow sprinkles - Orion’s favorite.

She had been planning to tell Orion the truth today too.

But when her Uber pulled into the circular driveway of Wolfe Manor, the little boy was already bursting through the front door.

The moment she stepped out, he threw himself into her arms.

"Mom! I know! You’re really my mom!"

"You forgot me, but I never forgot you."

Nancy’s breath caught in her throat. Tears started rolling down her cheeks.

She hadn’t expected her son to already know.

Nancy immediately knelt down. "I’m so sorry, sweetheart. Mama was sick. I promise I’ll never leave you again."

"I brought you cake. Your favorite. Are we okay?"

Nancy looked at the little boy nervously, afraid he might reject her.

Orion answered with action instead of words.

He planted a sloppy kiss on her tear-stained cheek.

"I was never mad at you, Mom. I just missed you like crazy."

From the front steps, Yardley watched the mother and son embrace, something warm spreading through his chest.

They were both bawling like babies.

He had finally made peace with himself too.

"Perfect timing," he called softly. "Food’s ready."

Nancy wiped the tears from her son’s face with her thumbs.

"Come on, kiddo. Let’s go inside."

"Awesome! Mom, let’s go eat!"

After washing their hands at the kitchen sink, Orion blinked his puffy red eyes at her. "Mom, my friend Jake at school said his dad’s gonna have a daughter. I want a baby sister too."

Little sisters are cool. I could teach her stuff and protect her.

Nancy’s face turned bright red.

She looked up and caught Yardley’s amused gaze.

He grinned, walked over to his son, and ruffled his hair. "We’ll talk about it."

"Sweet!" Orion threw his hands up.

He immediately bolted toward the dining room and slid up to Alpha Hunter’s side.

"Grandpa! Dad said we might get a baby sister!"

Nancy thought to herself: Hold up. When did I agree to this?

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