Chapter: 30

He'd always been... cold with me, even when we had sex. I knew that all the extremes of his emotions-passionate love and fervent jealousy -were reserved for Celeste.

But today...

I closed my eyes, the water running down my face, and pictured the dark, murderous way with which Kieran looked at Lucian, at Lucian's hands on me.

The rage he exhibited seemed an awful lot like jealousy, but I couldn't understand why.

"Mine," he'd growled just before he tried to kiss me.

I brought my fingers up to my lips, the water sluicing between them. I hadn't let him kiss me, but I still felt the shadow of his lips, the warmth of his breath against me.

What would have happened if I'd let him? "Get it together, Sera," I chastised myself sharply.

After all, there was a more likely explanation than jealousy and possessiveness: ego.

Kieran was a proud Alpha who probably had double the normal testosterone level of a normal man. And Lucian hadn't made things better by announcing to the room that he was interested in me, no matter how nice his intentions were.

Two Alphas had basically had a pissing contest, and it would have happened over a plot of land just as easily as it happened over me. I didn't need to read too much into it.

Not into the near-kiss or Lucian's declaration. Because the fact of the matter was the same-no one but Daniel truly wanted me.

I'd made my peace with that a long time ago.

When the hot water started to cool, I took that as my cue to step out of the shower.

I headed downstairs and began preparing dinner in anticipation of Daniel's return from school.

All the confusion and tension of the day faded away when I heard the front door open and close, followed by the sound of rushing feet heading for the kitchen.

"Mom!"

I turned in time to catch his hug but couldn't help wincing when he squeezed my middle, drawing a protest from my abused abs.

He froze and pulled back immediately, looking at me in horror. "Are you okay?" he asked in alarm. "Are you hurt?"

I shook my head vehemently. "No, baby, not hurt. Just sore."

He frowned. "Why?"

I shrugged. "Your mom had a training session today."

His eyes lit up. "Like the kind Dad does?"

I smiled. "Nothing that intense-not yet, at least, but... yes.”

The pride that shone in his eyes made every sore muscle worth it.