11 Man to Man

Kael POV It's evening when I return to my office and retake the seat behind my desk. I spent two hours working out after that sh*t with Seraphina. I can't f**king believe she slapped me. She actually slapped me across the face. I raise my hand, rubbing my cheek, but the sting is long gone. "If you ask me, you got off easy. If I was her, I would have punched you with a closed fist in the balls after the bulls*t you said," Atlas says. "What is your f**king problem? You should be just as pissed as I am. Yet you're here giving me sh*t for saying what needs to be said. She isn't here because she cares about us. She is here because she saw an opportunity and she took it. She is no different than Lydia." "Bullsh*t. You are painting her with the same brush as that selfish b**ch. You don't know anything about her except what you've decided is true, because you are still hurting over our mate's betrayal. She is not Lydia," he says before he recedes in my mind. My wolf has lost his f**king mind. Before I can tell him he is being childish and unreasonable, there is a soft knock on my office door. "Come in," I call out. The door opens slowly, and I expect Jessie to step inside, but instead Eli's small frame moves into the room. My first thought is something is wrong with Seraphina. I remember that a**hole Dominick saying the boy clings to his mother. Why would he be here without her unless something is wrong? Are those f**king drugs still affecting her? "Kael, can I talk to you," Eli asks, his words steady. His question startles me, and it takes me a moment to respond. "You were mean to my mom today," he says. His words shock me. How did he know what was said between me and Seraphina? He had been at school. Had she told him what I said? No, I've seen how much she cares for her son. She wouldn't tell a five-year-old those types of things. She wouldn't upset him with such details of an adult conversation. "I came home early today. I wasn't feeling well. I heard you being mean to my mom in the gym," he says, answering my unspoken thoughts. "Elijah, the conversations that happen between adults," I start to say, but he cuts me off. "I may not be like other kids, Kael, but I'm not stupid. My mom is always nice to me. She tells me how much she loves me all the time. She hugs me when I don't feel good. Thomas used to hug her, but now that he is with aunt meanie no one hugs her but me. It's my job to protect her. I like it here, Kael. I like my new room. I don't want to leave, but I don't want you to be mean to my mom anymore," he says. I open and close my mouth a few times, staring at this child. He seems so small compared to my big frame, yet he is standing here with his back straight, defending his mother. My mind flashes back to me as a small boy. Remembering the way my mother would hug me after a particular harsh word from my father. I knew he loved me, but I also knew he expected me to grow up quickly. I was expected to become alpha. What would I have done if someone spoke to my mother the way I talked to Seraphina today? I focus my attention back on Elijah. Atlas pushes forward, listening without saying a word. I take a deep breath. "I am sorry, Elijah. I will do better. I want you and your mom to be comfortable while you are here." He watches me carefully weighing my words before he finally nods. He turns to leave but I stop him. "Elijah, where is your mother? I will apologize to her too." This time he offers me a genuine smile. "She fell asleep watching Spider-Man with me. I chose it because she thinks it's boring. I knew she would fall asleep," he says. It's my turn to smile. The kid is right. He is smart. He planned to get his mom out of the way so he could come here to talk to me alone. "Who is your favorite superhero, Elijah," I ask, before I can stop myself. "I like Daredevil, but I can't watch the movie because of the bad parts," he says, whispering the last words. It's a weird superhero for a kid to like, especially since he can't even watch it. That movie is definitely for adults. "Why him," I ask truly curious. "He is different, like me. He can't see but he still helps people. When I grow up I want to help people even though I'm different," he says. My heart squeezes in my chest. "How about you let your mom sleep and you and I go watch a movie in my theater room. I even have a popcorn machine." His eyes light up, and I wheel off behind my desk. "Better," Atlas says, and I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Seraphina POV As I start to wake up from the nap, my body decided I needed, my arm moves instinctively to wrap around Eli. My eyes fly open when I find him gone and the bed cold. I sit up, looking around the room and call out his name. There is no answer. I move to the ensuite bathroom and it's empty. Where the hell would he go? I head out of my room and down the hallway. Thankfully, I find Jessie in the living room. "Jessie, where is Eli? His isn't in my room or his room." "I haven't seen him, but I did hear a movie playing in the theater room," she says with a knowing smile. Why the hell would he go to the theater room? We have a huge TV in the room I've been using. I make my way down the hallway until I reach a set of double doors. The sound of Zootopia playing from inside makes me smile. When I push the door open, I feel like I've been sucked into an alternate universe. Eli is sitting next to Kael in the theater chair. Eli is talking animatedly about something happening in the movie and Kael is smiling. Actually smiling like a real person. I pinch myself thinking maybe I'm still sleeping.