Chapter 14
Casey
I held Theo and watched Bastien go, my heart hammering so hard in my chest that I thought it might break through my ribs.
“It was so cool, Mom. The bug had these orange legs and big eyes,” Theo said, sounding far away even though my fingers gripped his shoulders like a vice.
“That sounds like an interesting bug,” I managed to reply, amazed that my voice didn’t shake. I turned to Theo’s nanny. “Hey, Bethany, would you mind taking Theo upstairs for a snack? I have some things to take care of in the shop.”
“Sure,” Bethany said with an easy smile. Thankfully, she had no clue my life was crashing down around me. She would distract Theo from the storm of anxiety ravaging my heart and mind. Bastien had seen Theo. There was no hiding my son now. I’d seen the questioning look on his face and the shock that followed.
“I’ll see you in a little bit, okay?” I said to Theo, who happily nodded as Bethany ushered him upstairs to our apartment.
As soon as Theo was gone, I locked the shop door and flipped the closed sign. The sales I could’ve made didn’t matter, not when my son’s safety was at risk. Bastien may have rejected me, but that didn’t mean he’d do the same to Theo. If he decided to claim Theo and take him back to his pack—
I rushed to Vivian’s room. I needed to know what Bastien talked to her about, and why he was in town in the first place.
Vivian was extinguishing a stick of incense when I came through the door. Her eyes met mine, and she asked, “Casey, what’s wrong?”
“Tell me why Bastien was here,” I said, pacing back and forth. “What did he want to see you about? What did you tell him?”
“Whoa, whoa.” Vivian put her hands up. “Let’s take a deep breath and calm down. What happened?”
“I can’t be calm right now,” I said, my fingers curling into fists. “Bastien saw Theo.”
Her eyes went wide. “Did he say anything?”
“No, he just left,” I said, ready to tear my hair out over the lack of answers. “Now, please tell me what he said, and don’t give me that psychic-client confidentiality crap.”
“Okay, rude. I can see why you and Bastien are”—she crossed her fingers to represent fated mates—“you-know-what. With that kind of attitude, you’re two peas in a pod. But honestly, he didn’t say much. He’s looking for an ex-pack member. He didn’t come for you.”
I frowned. Several wolves lived in town, and I’d sold protective symbols to a few. Any one of them could’ve come from Bastien’s pack. The idea threatened what little safety we had.
“Theo and I have to leave,” I said, my mind racing. “Out of state is probably best. Hell, I’ll go across the damn country if I must—as long as Bastien and his pack can’t find us. His Alpha was intent on us having kids, so there’s no way he wouldn’t take Theo if he got the chance. And now that Bastien has seen Theo—you must have noticed how Theo has Bastien’s eyes.”
“Casey, you need to take a moment,” Vivian said, putting her hands on my shoulders. “The pack isn’t here. It’s just Bastien.”
I drew a shaky breath, looking at Vivian with tears welling in my eyes.
“I know, but—” I shook my head. “Viv, if anything happens to Theo—I can’t lose him. That pack is like a cult, and there are more of them than I could fight if they decide to come for Theo.”
Vivian tightened her hold. “I hear you, and I understand why you’re scared,” she said, her voice calm. “But I don’t sense any danger to Theo from Bastien. And all Bastien knows right now is that you have a son with blue eyes. If he asks, tell him you got pregnant with someone else. You shouldn’t upend your life just because Bastien came to town. Theo is happy here.”
That much was true. Theo was happy, and Delta Springs was the only home he’d ever known. I didn’t want to move, but I would if it meant keeping him safe.
“Are you sure Bastien isn’t a threat?” I asked. I trusted Vivian, but my instincts were in overdrive, telling me to run.
Vivian closed her eyes, taking a moment to connect with her Sight.
“You know your magic shields Theo from my ability, but I can read Bastien’s intentions. He only came here to get answers from the ex-pack member,” she said. “And once he gets what he needs, he’ll leave town.”
Despite Vivian’s assurance, I couldn’t fully let go of my fear. Theo was my whole world. The idea of him in danger was enough to turn my blood to ice.
“Why don’t I make you a cup of chamomile tea?” Vivian offered.
“I think I need something stronger than that,” I said with a hollow laugh.
“I’m sure whiskey and chamomile go together.” She rubbed my arm supportively. “You’ll get the best of both worlds.”
“Sounds good,” I said, exhausted but jittery.
The stairs to my apartment were tucked away in the short corridor that led to the storeroom. Most people didn’t know the apartment existed, and I’d picked it for that reason. In the back of my mind, I’d always worried that Bastien’s pack would come for us.
Upstairs, I found Theo on the couch I’d thrifted a few years ago, watching cartoons and munching on apple slices and peanut butter. Bethany was sitting next to him. She was a great nanny, and Theo adored her. I’d made my own little community in Delta Springs, and I didn’t want to give that up.
“Do you need me to stick around?” Bethany asked while Vivian went to the kitchen and put my kettle on the stove.
“That’s all right, Bethany. You can head home,” I said. She’d already stayed past her usual time, and I knew I’d stick by Theo’s side like a helicopter parent until I calmed down—or until Bastien left town, whichever came first.
I walked Bethany to the door and returned to find my medicinal cup of tea ready for me. I sat on the couch with Theo, and Vivian took his other side. The cartoons on-screen sang a repetitive song that Theo loved. He hummed along, kicking his little feet while he stuffed another apple slice in his mouth. It was peaceful—beautiful in the way only simple things could be.
The tea warmed my throat, the whiskey and hot water working in tandem to soothe my frayed nerves. Vivian always made such an incredible cup of tea that I’d asked her more than once if she had any witch blood. She’d laughed and said she added her secret ingredient: love.
“Are you all right, Mama?” Theo asked, looking up at me with those big baby blues.
“Of course, baby, I’m here with you,” I answered, dropping a kiss to the top of his head. He snuggled into my side, and Vivian gave me an encouraging smile. “Now, tell me about that bug you saw.”
I wrapped my arms around Theo, and he immediately launched into a play-by-play account. My heart warmed.
I didn’t want anything to disrupt the life I’d made in Delta Springs. I just hoped Vivian’s psychic vibes were correct, and Bastien’s presence wouldn’t bring everything tumbling down.