Chapter 8. Small World II

No one, not even my uncle, could contemplate using my son as a pawn to get back at the Alpha King. I knew that Zander had many enemies, and if they discovered Austin's true identity as Zander's blood, they could use him against him. That's precisely why I had kept my son hidden from everyone, even from his own father.

Uncle nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of my decision.

"Zander is heartless and hates me. He will see my son as a burden of the past and want to get rid of him. He will kill him, Uncle," I contemplated the possibilities with the sharp ache in my heart.

The bitter experiences of life and betrayal had made me wary and cautious. I was no longer an innocent girl. I was a mature woman now. A protective mother.

"If people know I have Alpha King's son, they will come after me and Austin. No, Uncle. I will never let them do that. I will never let anyone know that I have Alpha King's son. He is my son, and I will protect him from all evil. No one can take him from me," I declared fiercely, reaffirming my commitment to shield my son at all costs.

After losing everything, I was only left with Austin. He was my sole source of hope and belief, the reason to keep going despite the crushing pain of betrayal. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my anxiety, repeating the process a few times to steady myself.

"So you have decided on it already," Uncle scoffed, his frustration evident as he observed the difficult circumstances we were living in.

"Yes, Uncle! I will go to the Moonglow pack and try to fix things so that I can start a new life," I announced with determination, undaunted by the challenges that lay ahead. "But, I can't do this without your help. You must ensure that no one knows about Austin. Just like we have kept him hidden from everyone until now, we must continue to do the same in the future," I urged, looking at him with hope.

"I will, Selena. But why are you talking, sounding so hopeless as if you will not come back?" he frowned, his concern for me evident in his expression.

I rose from my seat slowly and leaned against the window, gazing at the setting sun, its warm hues reflecting my mixed emotions.

"I don't know, Uncle," I shrugged, uncertainty lacing my words. "But my heart feels uneasy as if something untoward is about to happen," I sighed, grappling with the overwhelming feeling of foreboding.

"Then don't go. We will find another way to get money," he insisted.

"There is no other way, Uncle," I replied, turning to look at him and trying to offer a reassuring smile despite the gravity of the situation. Uncle's face showed perturbation, and I knew he was torn between wanting to protect me and respecting my determination.

"Don't worry. I am not so weak that I can't take care of myself. I have survived there for almost a year. So I can manage a few days at least," I coaxed him gently, hoping to alleviate some of his worries.

"Okay, Selena! If you've made up your mind, I won't stop you. After all, you know better what you're doing. You've lost your family and everything, even your mate betrayed you. You deserve another chance to move on and start your life with a new beginning," Uncle reminded me, and my heart clenched painfully as the memories of everything that had happened resurfaced.

"When will you leave?" he asked.

"Tomorrow!" I replied promptly.

"Tomorrow?" he furrowed his brow in surprise.

"Yes, Uncle! The sooner this work is done, the better. I have to come back before the new school session starts for Austin," I explained, trying to balance my responsibilities as a mother and the urgency of the situation.

"Have you thought about what you're going to tell Austin?" he prompted.

"No, Uncle. But I know I have to tell him eventually," I replied, glancing over at my son who was innocently engrossed in watching TV, a carefree smile on his face.

Austin was an incredibly bright and perceptive boy, even beyond his years. I had no doubt that he would understand, but it still weighed heavily on my heart to break the news to him.

After dinner, as we all settled down for bedtime, I felt it was the right moment to share the news of my departure with Austin.

"Austin! Honey, I have to tell you something," I began, trying to soften the impending revelation.

"What happened, Mom?!" he asked, his innocent blue eyes blinking with curiosity.

"Sweetie, I have to go out of the city for work, and I won't be able to come home for a while," I gently informed him, watching as his innocent face fell with sadness.

"Is it necessary to go?" he asked, his lower lip slightly quivering in a heartwarming display of emotion. I nodded, trying to hold back my own tears.

"Okay, Mom!" he replied, his voice tinged with disappointment.

My heart ached at the sight of my little boy having to endure so much at such a tender age. Life had matured him beyond his years, and I couldn't help but wish that once I successfully completed this work, he would never have to face any more hardships in his life.

"Austin, you know Mom loves you so much. But, baby, I have to go because it's very important, and after that, I will never have to leave you again," I assured him, gently sweeping his dark hair aside and planting a loving kiss on his forehead.

"Really, Mom?!" His eyes sparkled with hope and innocence.

"Yes, my darling," I replied, a warm smile gracing my face.

Once this task was completed, I would continue my studies and find a stable job, ensuring a future where I could spend my life with Austin and Uncle. But this work needed to be accomplished without any interruptions. I just hoped nothing went wrong this time.