Lily's point of view

Aiden was giggling from his chair as the day started with the subtle smell of toast burning. "Mommy, it is almost all black," he declared with pride, gesturing to the burnt bread as though it were a work of art.

I have been carried away by the thought of my encounter with Marcus yesterday, with a groan, I took what was left of my morning attempt out of the toaster. "I appreciate your observation, dear. I wouldn't have noticed."

With his tiny legs dangling beneath the table, Aiden giggled. "It’s like the sky at night, but crunchy!"

With a two-year-old whose wolf instincts were growing faster than I could keep up, this was life as a single mother. His strength was frightening for a youngster of his age, his growls during tantrums, and his keener hearing? To put it mildly, it turned daycare drop-offs into the most exciting part of everyone else's morning.

I grabbed his lunchbox and said, "All right, Mr. Night Sky Crunchy Toast." "It's time to leave!"

"But I'd rather not!" He crossed his arms and pouted. He gave me the faintest trace of a snarl as his lips drew back. It will frighten someone someday, but for now it was cute.

I put on a patient face and squatted down to his level. "We'll buy ice cream later if you attend daycare, I swear. How about that? "

Like a puppy considering a new chew toy, he cocked his head. "Chocolate?"

"Of cause darling."

"With sprinkles?"

"Agreed."

"All right!" Leaping from his chair, he snatched up his lunchbox and ran to the door.

I am raising a negotiator. Wonderful, as I gave a little sigh.

I was already flustered by the time I got to work. That morning, Aiden's daycare teacher had cornered me to discuss his "unusual strength for his age."

Miss Rachel had said, in a tone that was half impressed and partly worried, "He pushed one of his class mate yesterday, and the boy got injured as they were fighting over stacked box, Lily."

I responded with a fake laugh while yelling in my head, "Kids do weird things when they are angry." "I think it's just a growth spurt."

Miss Rachel didn't seem persuaded, and to be honest, neither did I.

I sat at my desk now and attempted to concentrate on the plans for the merger, but my mind kept going to Aiden. His intuition was growing more quickly than I had anticipated. I had vowed to protect him, but how could I conceal the fact that my two-year-old was capable of doing what he does at such a tender age.

I was startled out of my reverie by a knock on my office door. My colleague Sarah, with her red curls bouncing, stuck her head in. "Hi, Lily. At ten, you have the Marcus Steele meeting, right?"

"Yes," I replied, fighting the impulse to moan.

Sarah grinned. "Some of the guys are claiming that he was the sole reason you were promoted. that you two have a history. "

I arched an eyebrow. "History? Do I seem like the type of person who does that?"

Leaning on the doorframe, she laughed. "I just wanted to report that ever since you arrived, the man has been showing up more than normal. Coincidence?"

I firmly replied, "Yes," even though I wasn't positive. Yes, Marcus and I had a past, but it wasn't exactly a happy one. More like unsolved questions and betrayal."

"Well, it might be fate if it's not history." Before I could hurl a stapler at her, Sarah gave me a wink and turned to leave.

A flurry of emails and office rumors dominated the day. I was about to pass out by the time I picked Aiden up at his daycare, but he had other ideas, of course.

"I got a star today, Mommy!" His expression brightened as he proudly waved a sticker.

"That's fantastic, friend!" I said, taking him in my arms. "Why did you get a star?"

"Because I didn't bite Jason!"

"...Progress." I kind of said to myself.

The back of my neck pricked with alertness as we made our way to the car. It wasn't the typical paranoia that comes with being a single mother in a big city. This was sharper, different. As if we were being watched.

I looked around, but there was nothing out of the ordinary, just parents picking up their children and conversing. I pushed the emotion away, strapped Aiden into his seat, and turned on the ignition.

"Mommy, why does the man look at us?" Aiden asked as we were halfway home.

I tightened my hold on the steering wheel as I froze. "What man, my love?"

"A tall man was looking at us when we were coming to the car"

A beat skipped in my chest. Marcus.

I looked for him in the rearview mirror and feigned a grin. "Perhaps he was just looking in our direction. You realize how unique you are? "

With his small fangs showing, Aiden smiled. "You mean I'm like you?"

"Yes," I muttered. "You and I are alike."

After Aiden had gone to bed later that night, I sat with a glass of wine on the couch and tried to make sense of the day. What did Marcus want if he was observing us? Was he aware of Aiden?

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Marcus was standing there when I opened it, his dark green eyes as piercing as ever.

He said, "We need to talk."

"Oh, do we?" I folded my arms. "I already told you yesterday that there is nothing left to say, and how did you know where I stay by the way, have been following me?"

He clenched his jaw. "No, I just requested for your address, I had my reasons"

Frustration flashed in his eyes. “Please, Lily.......”

"Good night, Marcus." My heart thumping, I leaned against the door and banged it shut.

I had trouble sleeping that night. I could always see Marcus's face when I closed my eyes, the way he gazed at Aiden's room as if he knew it already. For what length of time would I be able to conceal this? How long until it all fall apart?

With every passing second, the clock grew louder. I finally gave up trying to sleep and went to see how Aiden was doing.

He was holding his beloved plush wolf while cuddled up in bed. I just stared at him for a time, amazed at how much he resembled Marcus.

"Mom?" With his eyes half open, he whispered.

"Yes, darling?"

"Is that person a bad man?"

The lump in my throat was swallowed. "No, my love. He is not a bad man. Simply put, it is complicated."

With a yawn, Aiden pulled his covers more around him. "okay. Good night, mom."

"Good night, Aiden."

I made a silent vow as I kissed his forehead: I would stop at nothing to keep him safe, regardless of what or whom we encountered.