For the briefest of moments, I truly believed I would have been able to avoid Rowan. Even as he moved boxes from my car to the room I’d be staying in, it felt like if I just stuck close to Rin, everything would be okay.

But, of course, Rin was a five year old child, so he clearly didn’t grasp what I was trying to do.

As Rowan and I carried the last few boxes into my room—I couldn’t let him do all the work—Rin had the bright idea to scurry off into the living room to do what Goddess only knew and left me to fend for myself.

I swallowed thickly, looking around my new room to avoid Rowan’s intense gaze. The walls were painted an off white, almost beige color that allowed the decor in the room to really garner all of the attention.

The bed against the right wall was covered in a sage green bedding set that matched the curtains on the back wall. Those had been opened to let the natural light in and the view of the backyard was beautiful. The Maddens’ had a little forest behind their home which never ceased to amaze me. 

There was a big circle rug partly under the bed that came out into the center of the room. It also matched the curtains and bedding.

The frames that were hung from the walls all held images of different plant leaves. They really brought everything together and I found myself growing fond of this room already, as well as the home attached to it.

I also sneaked a peek of the walk-in closet and attached bathroom before Rowan finally broke the silence.

“Aleksander,” Rowan’s voice called out into the spacious room, sending shivers down my spine at the way my name sounded coming from his lips.

His gaze was still intense, hazel eyes fixed on my brown ones as his frame towered over mine. He kept a respectable distance, as if he didn’t want to spook me, but it was still intimidating. The tone of voice he used made it sound like he wanted to discuss something serious.

Oh no. . .

“I know this is a rather awkward situation to be in, which is why I decided—”

“I. . .I’m gonna go check on Rin! You know what they say, if the kid goes quiet, they’re up to no good, right? Thanks for the help.” I rushed to cut him off, quickly scurrying out of the room before Rowan could try and speak again.

That sounded an awful lot like the beginning of a rejection.

Forcing that thought far from my mind, I took a peek into the living room and saw Rin calmly drawing at his usual spot in front of the coffee table. I breathed in deep, but the feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach didn't let up, so I rushed off to the bathroom.

The click of the lock echoed in the rather large guest bathroom as I slid down to the ground, back against the door. Knees pulled tight against my chest, I rested my head on them as I tried to calm my breathing.

I was being stupid. I knew Rowan wanted to reject me, so why was I acting like the world was ending?

Because, if your fated mate rejects you, your world is ending. . .

That thought only sent me further into a spiral, so there I was—on the floor of a rich family’s home, hyperventilating and bawling my eyes out over a man I didn’t even know because we were fated and he was married. How humiliating.

Once I finally managed to get my breathing under control, I splashed water onto my face from the marble vanity, wiping the tear tracks from my cheeks as I prepared to brave the outside world once again.

The house was large enough to give me a moment before I reached the living room, the walk not doing much to ease my upset stomach.

Once I emerged from around the hall, my eyes immediately found Rowan sitting on the floor next to Rin, the both of them chattering away over whatever picture Rin had drawn.

I tried sneaking by, but of course Rin’s sharp eyes found me before I could even take two steps past the living room.

“Alek! Come see, come see!” 

And I was stuck, yet again. I could never say no to Rin when he gave me those big sparkly doe eyes.

“Whatcha got, Bud?” I carefully sat down on the other side of the boy, cautious to avoid eye contact with his father.

“Look!” Rin picked up the piece of paper and shoved it in my face. 

He had drawn two figures. A little stick boy holding the hand of a taller stickman. I immediately guessed it was meant to be him and Rowan. 

Then I saw the names under the stick figures’ feet.

“He drew you both together.” 

Rowan’s voice broke the silence and I tore my eyes away from the drawing. Rin looked up at me excitedly, waiting patiently for a response while I tried not to burst into tears in front of them.

Children were so pure and never felt ashamed to share how they felt, even if they disliked a person. I wish adults were like that. . .

“I love it, Rin! I want to frame it and hang it in my new room. Is that okay?” I cringed slightly at the crack in my voice and hurried to clear my throat, hoping no one noticed.

The home I grew up in always felt barren and empty. The only family member I ever felt close to was my sister and after she had gone away to college, a small part of me couldn’t help but resent her for leaving me alone with our parents.

The idea alone that Rin cared enough to include me in a drawing made my heart burst with affection and fondness for the boy.

“Yes, yes, yes! Mommy just hangs them on the fridge. Daddy, can we get frames for all my drawings? Please!” Rin immediately turned his puppy dog stare onto his father while Rowan pretended to act surprised. I couldn’t help but giggle. 

Even though the anxiety and dread of being around Rowan seemed to grow by the second, my inner omega couldn’t help but feel pleased at being close to him and witnessing him interact with his son for the first time. The inexplicable need to protect Rin from the very beginning also began to make more sense. My omega most likely sensed that Rin was related to our fated mate long before we discovered it ourselves. 

“What a great idea! A whole wall dedicated to my little artist, what do you think?” The exaggerated expressions on Rowan’s face made me smile as Rin hopped up from the floor and nodded his head eagerly.

“I need to make more! Mommy’s gonna love it,” and then Rin went immediately back to his previous position and began drawing another picture.

I caught Rowan glancing my way every few seconds, paying close attention to my eyes. A look of concern crossed his face and I wondered if he could see the red underline and surrounding puffiness of them.

Rowan ruffled Rin’s already messy hair and looked over his head at me, “Are you okay?”

He whispered the words, and Rin was far too preoccupied to listen in on an adult conversation, anyway.

I gave him a slight nod and refocused on Rin’s drawing, swallowing the lump in my throat that hadn’t gone away ever since meeting Rowan.