The Alpha's Dark Solstice Claim

Chapter 10 - First Impressions.

Marybeth

I should have left the moment I saw her. That instinct came fast. Clean. Certain. Walk away. Avoid it. Keep things contained. But Seraphina didn’t give me the chance.

“Marybeth.” Her voice carried easily across the restaurant, smooth and composed, as if we were acquaintances meeting by coincidence instead of standing in the middle of something far more complicated.

I smiled, but it was strained. Of course, I did. She was already moving toward me, Rowan beside her … no, not beside her. Pulled into step with her, as if she had decided for both of them that this interaction would happen.

Like nothing had changed. Like yesterday hadn’t existed. Like I hadn’t stood in front of Rowan and told him my son’s father was dead.

“Seraphina,” I said. My tone matched hers. Polite. Controlled. Empty.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.” Her smile was flawless. A lie. A performance.

“I could say the same.” My cheeks were starting to ache. Her gaze shifted past me briefly to the table, to Daniel, to the shape of the evening she had just interrupted before returning to my face.

“And Eli?” she asked lightly. “How is he settling in?” The question landed too casually. Too familiar. As if she had the right to ask.

“He’s fine,” I said.

“Good,” she replied warmly. “That’s important.” Important. The word grated. She tilted her head slightly, as if considering something. “You know,” she continued, “There are a few schools in town that might suit him better than others. I’d be happy to help you find the right fit.”

Offer. Positioning. Access. All wrapped in concern. I felt my jaw tighten, just slightly.

“That won’t be necessary.” I sighed, tired of having to fake it. She had already spilled the beans.

“I insist,” she said gently. “It can be overwhelming, coming back after so long. Especially with a child.” There it was. Subtle. Deliberate. A reminder. You’ve been gone. You don’t know how things work anymore.

“I’m managing.” I held her gaze.

“I’m sure you are,” she said smoothly. Her hand rested lightly against Rowan’s arm. Possessive. Grounding. Claiming. “And Rowan knows the schools well,” she added. “Don’t you?” Rowan hadn’t spoken. Not once.

His eyes were on me. Not on Daniel. Not on Seraphina. On me. And there was something in that look … Tight. Contained. Angry. Not at me. At the situation. At her. At himself. But he said nothing. Did nothing. And somehow … That made it worse. Because silence was still a choice.

“I’m sure he does.” I smiled. Just enough. Seraphina’s gaze flicked briefly between us. Measuring. Adjusting. Then back to me.

“You shouldn’t have to do everything alone,” she said softly. The words landed like a blade wrapped in silk. Care. Concern. Control. I exhaled slowly. Then …

“I won’t be alone,” I said.

“Oh?” Her brow lifted slightly. I turned slightly. Just enough.

“Daniel.” He looked up immediately, composed but alert.

“This is Seraphina Blackridge,” I said. “And Rowan.” Daniel stood up, polite and steady and shook their hands. I got up to stand beside him.

“Pleasure.” Daniel smiled. Seraphina smiled at him. Warm. Evaluating.

“And you are?” Seraphine pretended not to have heard me call him by his name.

“Daniel,” he said. “Gamma’s son.” Recognition flickered in her eyes. Followed by something sharper. Interesting. Rowan’s gaze shifted to him then. Brief. Assessing. Then back to me. Always back to me. I picked up my glass. Set it down again.

“We actually have plans,” I said lightly. “So, if you’ll excuse us.” The dismissal was clear. Polite. Final. Seraphina held my gaze for a moment longer. Then smiled.

“Of course,” she said. “Another time.” There would not be another time. But she said it anyway. She turned. Rowan didn’t move immediately. For a second … Just a second … It felt like he might say something. Do something.

Break the silence he had been holding since she walked in. He didn’t. He turned. And followed her out. The evening had been ruined and moments later, as Daniel and I stepped outside the restaurant, the air was colder. Cleaner.

I didn’t realize how tightly I had been holding myself together until I stepped onto the pavement and felt it loosen slightly.

“That was … something,” Daniel said beside me.

“Yes.” I sighed deeply.

“You know them well.” He frowned, but I knew that he knew. Two alphas, living so close to the same town and moving around the same borders, clearly knew each other. It wasn’t a question. I glanced at him.

He wasn’t probing. Not pushing. Just … observing.

“I used to,” I said.

“That didn’t look like ‘used to.’” he frowned. No. It hadn’t.

“There are complications.” I exhaled slowly.

“I assumed as much.” We walked toward his car. Snow crunched softly underfoot. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then …

“As you may have already guessed, I have a son,” I said. The words came out clean. Direct. No hesitation. No softening. Daniel paused briefly as he unlocked the car. Then looked at me.

“I figured.” He smiled. That surprised me.

“You did?” I was thrown. He seemed so calm. I was half expecting him to run for the hills.

“You don’t move like someone responsible only for themselves,” he said simply. I held his gaze. Waiting. For hesitation. For discomfort. For the polite withdrawal I had seen in the others. It didn’t come.

“I’m not looking for anything complicated,” I continued. “This isn’t …” I gestured vaguely. “This isn’t about that.”

“About what?” He seemed amused.

“Romance,” I said bluntly. “I’m looking for someone stable. Responsible. Someone who can …”

“Help raise him,” Daniel finished.

“Yes.” The word sat between us. Honest. Unadorned. He considered that for a moment. Then nodded.

“Alright.” He smiled. I blinked.

“That’s it?” My voice went up one octave too high.

“That’s it.” He nodded.

“No questions?” I frowned.

“I’ll have them,” he said. “Later.” A faint smile. “But the premise doesn’t bother me.” Something in my chest shifted. Not relief. Not quite. But something close.

“You’re very … practical.” I waved one hand through the air, feeling thrown again. It seemed Daniel was going to keep me on my toes, which was a new experience for me.

“I try to be.” We got into the car, since he offered to drive me home after everything that happened and how our date was ruined. The drive was quiet. Not uncomfortable. Just … measured. When he pulled up outside my father’s house, he turned to me.

“I’d like to see you again,” he said. No pressure. No performance. Just a statement.

“I think that would be a good idea,” I replied. And for the first time since I made that call … It felt like I had made the right move. I stepped out of the car, pulling my coat tighter around me as the cold air hit again.

Daniel waited until I reached the porch before pulling away. I stood there for a moment. Still. Thinking. Then I reached into my pocket for my phone. Lina would want to know. I had made a decision.

A real one this time. I started dialing … And stopped. Because I wasn’t alone. The shift in the air came first. Then the sound of footsteps. I looked up. Rowan was walking toward me. Fast. Not controlled. Not measured. Angry.

And for the first time since I had returned … I realized this wasn’t over. Not even close.