<h4>Chapter 37: Chapter 37: THE BAD MAN</h4>


    <strong>MAEVE’S POV</strong>


    Asha’s re could’ve set fire to the damn room.


    He looked like he was one second away from shifting—which was wild, considering he was five. But that’s how deep his loathing ran.


    He wasn’t scared of Ivan like he had been earlier. He despised him. And the part that gutted me was that I couldn’t even me him.


    Impressions mattered to kids, and Ivan—Neanderthal that he was—had disappointed my little boy twice in a row.


    Worst of all, he had cornered his mummy against a wall like a fucking brute. Themp in Asha’s small hands twitched, like it itched to swing.


    I rushed to his side.


    "Baby, hey," I said gently, crouching beside him. "Drop that, sweetheart. It’s bedtime. You shouldn’t be here."


    But Asha yanked it away from my reach, nting his tiny feet like a warrior made of fire and grit.


    "No. Get behind me, Mummy," he said, his voice tight with resolve. "I’ll protect you."


    My heart skipped.


    He took a step in front of me, shielding me with his little body like it was the most natural thing in the world.


    "I’m not afraid of the bad man anymore."


    For a moment, my chest swelled with pride, but that crashed the second I caught Ivan’s expression—the shattered, bruised look on his beautiful face.


    It shot right through my chest and scarred my wolf. It was a look I wouldn’t be forgetting anytime soon.


    He stood there like he’d been sucker-punched. Like he couldn’t figure out where the hell he went wrong.


    His fists kept clenching and unclenching. His jaw flexed. His breathing was weak. And his eyes. Sweet Goddess, those eyes—


    He wasn’t hiding the pain. Not this time. He couldn’t, even if he tried.


    It was the first time I saw Ivan look small. Emotionally.


    Like the version of him I used to know—the one who traced constetions on my back and made me believe in sweet little nothings—was peeking out through a crack in his armor.


    Any other day, I’d haveughed at the awkward stiffness in his shoulders, mocked the way he kept ncing between us like a man holding a grenade. But today? Today, it just fucking hurt.


    And it was for that reason that the next words left my lips, tired and exhausted from this never-ending emotional torture.


    "I think it’s time you leave, Ivan."


    "Yes! Leave us!" Asha echoed fiercely.


    Ivan’s shoulders were tight with so much tension, I was surprised he could even manage to keep still. He was quiet for a moment, stuck in that state, then...


    "I’m sorry," he said after a beat, his voice strained and distraught. It was so unlike him to sound that way—so defeated. "I never meant to make you ufortable, Asha."


    Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him give me an inscrutable look. In that moment, I would’ve done anything to know what he was thinking.


    Before I could ruminate on it further, he turned on his heels and walked out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.


    But even then, with the door shut, the suffocating air he left behind stayed.


    I turned to Asha immediately, and just then, he abandoned hismp and rushed into my arms for a hug just as I dropped to my knees to wee him.


    I hugged him back, relishing his warmth—cherishing the moment. His expression had shifted from the brave facade to a watery, anxious stare.


    His worry on my behalf made my heart ache with a mixture of immense love and guilt.


    "Mommy, that was so scary! I almost peed myself. I thought he’d hurt us," Asha whimpered, tightening his little arms around me.


    "Oh, my brave, brave boy," I pulled away just enough to ruffle his hair and meet his teary eyes. "My sweet pup, you really are one of a kind. I’m so proud of you for standing up to protect me like that."


    He blinked at me, suspicious. "You’re about to scold me, aren’t you?"


    I sighed, smiling despite myself. "Just a little. Because that was dangerous, Asha. You shouldn’t be eavesdropping on adults, baby. You should be sleeping right now."


    "I wasn’t eavesdropping," he muttered, his brows pinching tight in that stubborn way that always reminded me of... well, him. "I heard noise, and when I looked, I saw the bad man cornering you. Was it wrong that I wanted to shoo him away—like how you shoo bad things from me?"


    The tears welled again, his bottom lip trembling—and just like that, any edge I had melted into soft uselessness.


    "No, baby," I said, brushing my knuckles across his cheek. "Not wrong at all. That was a brave thing you did, and I’m proud of you, sweetheart. But the man—Ivan—he wasn’t hurting me."


    Oh, not at all. He was only whispering the filthiest of intentions into my ear like the arrogant entitled bastard he was.


    Asha’s eyes widened, then narrowed like he didn’t believe me. Still, his mouth tugged into a half-smile.


    "So... does that mean I get a treat? I vote ice cream!"


    I chuckled, returning his grin. "Let’s wait till morning before we discuss the reward for your good work, little soldier. Hmm?"


    He groaned dramatically but nodded.


    "Fine!" Then he paused and tilted his head up at me, his expression turning serious. "But... are you okay, Mummy?" His small palms cupped my cheeks, heartwarmingly. "You looked scared. Did he scare you—even a little?"


    "I’m okay, baby," I whispered, pulling his hands down and kissing each one. "I’m sorry if we frightened you."


    "Nope. Not scared anymore. I have Mommy now—and ice cream!" he squealed with a grin.


    "Shhh!" I pressed a finger to his lips, even asughter spilled from mine. "You’ll wake the entire damn house."


    We fell into a softer silence, one that felt more like safety than whatever energy Ivan had left behind. I exhaled slowly and shifted to sit on the floor, patting myp.


    "Come. Sit with me for a bit."