Beta (7 page)

"Christian? Did
something happen?" I asked as I knelt in front of him.

He looked away
from me and picked up his backpack when the teacher walked up to
me.

"Mrs. Collins?"
She asked.

"Yes."

"I thought you
should know, there was a small incident today. One of the little
girls told Christian you aren't his real mother and he was
upset."

I sighed, "Great.
Thank you for telling me."

She nodded with a
light smile and went to her desk. I looked down at Christian who
wouldn't even acknowledge me. Well, this was certainly the morning
from hell.

*********

Christian and I
drove in silence to my office. He came to work with me almost every
day. Titus and I didn't want a babysitter to watch him all day so
if I truly couldn't bring him to work, Titus's mother, Aria, would
watch Christian. Titus wanted to be with Christian but his days
were often too full of pack business and it wouldn't be entirely
appropriate to bring Christian along just yet. In a few years,
maybe I would be okay with Christian running patrols with some of
the groups but he was far too young right now.

"Christian, do
you want to talk about it?" I asked.

Out of the corner
of my eye I saw him shake his head. I sighed, worried he really did
hate me now. We hadn't told him yet because we thought he was too
young. We didn't think he would be able to fully understand the
situation yet but maybe that was a mistake. Maybe we should have
told him sooner.

"I understand why
you're upset. Are you sure there is nothing you want to ask me
about?"

"Is Brittany
lying," he asked though he was pouting worse than I've ever
seen.

"Before Dad met
me, he was seeing another woman and they had you. A few months
later he and I met and we raised you."

I didn't know if
I should tell him that his birth mother abandoned him in the
hospital. I didn't know what kind of emotional strain that would
put on him and I wasn't going to gamble on his matured emotional
state.

"Why did he leave
my mom," he demanded to know.

I wouldn't show
him how deeply that statement cut. I fought back tears for his sake
but I felt a couple strays roll down my cheek. I quickly wiped them
away before he ever noticed.

"I am his
mate."

"You made him
leave her!" He accused loudly as we stopped in front of my
office.

He threw the car
door open and ran inside without waiting for me like he normally
did. As much as I tried to control myself, I was in a losing
battle. I fished my phone out of my bag and called Titus to let him
know what happened.

"Hey, Lizzy. How
was Christian's first day?"

"He, um, he knows
I'm not his mother," I said quietly. I tried so hard not to cry but
I couldn't help it.

"How?" He
demanded to know.

"One of the girls
in his class told him. He accused me of making you leave his mom
and then he ran inside my office. I don't know what to do," I said,
helpless in this situation.

"Okay, love. It's
going to be okay," he said in an attempt to soothe me, "Why don't
you grab Christian, send the rest of your patients to Anne, and
meet me at home."

I nodded but
realized he couldn't see me, "Okay. I'll be there in a few
minutes."

"See you then. I
love you."

"I love you,
too."

I hung up and
looked in my mirror to fix my face. When I felt ready, I went
inside to my receptionist and sent my last two patients to Anne,
the other pack doctor, whose office was connected to mine. We
figure being the only two pack doctors that we would make it as
convenient as possible for clients and put our businesses
together.

I walked back to
my office to find Christian face down on my couch. I hesitated but
approached him and placed my hand on his back.

"Come on. We're
going home."

"I want my dad,"
he responded. He sounded angry but I knew he was crying.

"He's going to
meet us there."

"I'm not supposed
to get in a car with someone that's not my mom and dad," he
repeated the words I had told him a thousand times.

"I may not have
given birth to you, Christian, but I am your mother," I said
firmly, "Now let's go."

He drug himself
off the couch but still wouldn't look at me as he trudged down the
hall and into my Range Rover.

The entire car
ride was silent except for Christian's occasional sniffling. The
fact that he was upset made me upset. I never wanted to see my son
in pain, especially emotional pain and knowing that I had caused it
was the worst feeling of all.

When Titus and I
bought this house, we were looking for something big enough to
raise our entire family in without ever having to move. However, I
thought this was slightly over the top. We only used two of the
seven bedrooms and more often than not, when Titus wasn't home,
Christian never left my side. Most of the time it was just me and
Christian in the house and we would watch movies in the in home
theater or go swimming.

I parked in the
large garage; Titus's matching SUV was already parked in the garage
which didn't go unnoticed by Christian. He jumped out of the car
the second I turned it off and ran inside. I gathered my purse and
made my way inside.

I crossed the
giant slate tiles through the kitchen and went into the living room
where Titus and Christian sat on the leather wrap around couch.
Titus offered me a sad smile as I sat on the other side of
Christian. I knew he didn't want me to sit next to him but I wasn't
going to let him think I didn't care about him. I wasn't giving in
that easily.

He buried his
head in Titus's side in an attempt to get away from me. I tried to
hold a blank expression but I couldn't do it. The best I could do
was keep my tears silent and as minimal as possible.

"Christian,"
Titus said firmly as he adjusted slightly to pull Christian out of
hiding, "Why are you upset?"

"She made you
leave my mom," he pointed at me, "I want my real mom."

Jesus, he didn't
even know how hurtful his words were. He was just a boy but I knew
this was something I would never forget. His betrayed eyes would
haunt me for the rest of my life.

"That is your
real mom," he motioned to me, "Do you remember another mother?"
Titus asked.

Christian shook
his head timidly.

"Because there
has never been another one. The woman that gave birth to you is not
your mother. Why would you think she is?"

"Brittany said my
real mom loves me and Lizabeth made you break up with her," he said
on a shaky voice.

The way he said
my name was unnatural. He had called me mom or momma ever since he
could talk.

I sighed,
"Christian, your father and I have been together since you were two
months old. Before that, he had help from Sarah."

"Brittany may
have been right about your mom not giving birth to you but she is
definitely your mother and nothing will change that."

"But if she
didn't have me, she can't love me," he protested.

In that moment, I
knew he wasn't angry. He was afraid that I couldn't love him the
way a mother that gave birth to her child could.

"Has there ever
been a time you didn't think I loved you?" I asked.

He thought for a
moment but shook his head.

"See? You are my
son, Christian, even if I wasn't the one that had you."

He nodded
sheepishly and wrapped his arms around my waist as he buried his
face in my stomach. I looked to Titus who appeared to be angry
though I knew it wasn't directed at me. He was probably mad at the
parents of the girl or maybe he was mad at the girl herself. I
couldn't tell but as long as it wasn't directed at me or Christian,
I would join him in his anger.

"I'm sorry,
Momma," he mumbled, "I love you."

I placed my hand
on his little blonde head, "I love you too."

"Christian, why
don't you go get a snack and head upstairs for your nap," Titus
said.

Christian ran off
to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water and a pack of apples
and peanut butter before running up the stairs.

Titus ran a hand
through his hair and exhaled roughly, "Are you okay?"

I nodded, "I'm
fine."

"Are you
sure?"

"I just can't
believe someone would say that to him. Where would she even learn
something like that?"

"I don't know but
I'm going to put a stop to it," he said.

I knew there was
no stopping him now. He was on a mission because someone had upset
his wife and son. Titus was territorial and possessive and would
protect us at any cost even if it was only emotionally.

*******

I leaned against
Christian's door frame and watched him nap. I couldn't believe the
morning I had. I had to tell Macy she couldn't have children, I am
going to learn everything I can about fertility treatments, and my
son found out he wasn't biologically mine. When I woke up this
morning, I never would have guessed my day would be this
rough.

Titus came up
behind me and wrapped an arm around my waist, securing me against
his rock solid body. He rested his chin on the top of my head as I
absently ran my fingers over his forearms.

"He felt
betrayed. That's why he reacted like that," he said
quietly.

"I know. Still,
it was hard to hear."

"I know, love.
Come on," he said as he pulled me down the hall towards our
room.

I smiled lightly
as I turned into his arms but that didn't stop him from getting me
to his destination.

"Titus," I said
in an attempt to get him to stop.

"Don't bother
trying to talk me out of it," he smirked.

"Christian will
be awake soon," I reminded.

"I guess I'll
have to make this quick then."

I laughed at his
clear determination but I couldn't deny that I loved it. I loved
that he was still this attracted to me. True mates were rare these
days and I was lucky to have met mine. I couldn't imagine my life
without him and I never wanted to think about what would happen if
something happened to him.

He closed our
door behind us quietly so Christian wouldn't wake up. Even though
we had been together almost five years, he never pushed me far
sexually. I was a virgin when we met so he took that as he needed
to go easy with me but I had just about enough of that. I knew he
was always satisfied but I wanted to blow his mind. I just didn't
know how to do that. I thought about using my mouth but what if I
did it wrong and he didn't like it. I knew I was safe with
everything we had been doing for half a decade but I didn't want
him to lose interest in any way.

"Lizzy!" Adrian's
voice sang from downstairs.

Titus groaned in
frustration but released me. I laughed lightly and kissed his
cheek.

"I'm sorry. I
forgot he was coming over today," I said.

"Yeah, yeah," he
said, disappointed.

I kissed him one
last time before making my way downstairs with Titus following
closely.

"Hey, Adrian,"
Titus greeted before turning to me, "I have to get back. I'll see
you in a few hours."

I nodded and
watched him leave through the garage.

"A little midday
hanky panky?" Adrian teased.

I laughed and
shook my head, "I wish that was why he was home."

"What happened?"
He asked as he sat next to me.

"Christian found
out I'm not his biological mother."

"Oh my God. Tell
me everything."

I settled in and
retold the entire story. With Adrian, I never left out a single
detail. He was my best friend and for a long time, he was my only
family. Adrian is like the sister I never had but in male form. He
was even closer than that though.

"What a little
bitch," he said as he took a sip from his wine glass. After the
morning I had, I had earned a glass of wine before five.

"So is Titus
pissed?"

"To say the
least," I said taking a sip.

"Better make sure
he doesn't do too much to the parents."

"I know... I have
a question for you," I said slightly nervous.

"What's up?" He
asked curiously.

"Have you and
Liam done a lot?"

I felt my cheeks
burn slightly since sex was never something I would openly
discuss.

"Oh my God,
Lizzy! Are you asking me for sex advice?!"

"Sh!" I scolded,
"You'll wake Christian!"

He laughed
quietly as he covered his mouth but he looked excited to have this
conversation.