Magnus walked purposefully into Eda's office and closed the door behind him, his heart pounding as hard as he loved his mate. He watched as Eda sat in the chair, her expression reflecting a mixture of uncertainty and resentment, as he took a seat across from her.

"My son, how are you?" I've missed them. "It hasn't been a day since I've left, that I haven't stopped thinking about you," Magnus whispered, trying to break the ice with a dose of nostalgia.

"Mateo is fine, but he misses his father," Eda, with an icy look, replied without hesitation.

Magnus felt the need to unravel the tangle of emotions that surrounded...