Chapter 24: Chapter 24

"I can help with every possible thing if you promise me one thing. Then you don't have to pay me back." Lauren's brows arched together in confusion.

"What is it, Mr. Knight?" She asked him and he stared at her with a serious expression on his face.

"Just stay away from my sons." His words fell like thunder on Lauren's head. She stared at him in utter shock.

'He thinks I'm seducing his sons? But I only have feelings for Jaxon. And it's a mutual feeling. I didn't seduce him.'

"They seemed to have feelings for you. And I don't want them to have any relationship with you. You have a son Lauren. You should at least think about him. Jaxon has a mate and you are still trying to lure him. Why? You want to become the Luna of this pack?" Mr. Knight screamed at him, wounding her heart badly.

He was pointing his finger at her character now. And it was too much to bear with. But she was helpless. She had to control herself for her son. She needed money and only he could help her in this crucial time. So she hung her head low.

"Pardon my impudence, I will stay away from them but will they stay away from me?" Lauren's voice was low and she was afraid of his rage too.

"You don't have to bother yourself for that matter. I will take care of it. Just stick to your promise that you will stay within your limits. I will handle this matter for this time. If I saw you going near them unnecessarily then you would see the worse side of me."

Shiver ran through Lauren's body hearing his dangerous warning. She was well aware of his capabilities. She knew he could do anything to her only son. So it's better to stay away from that forbidden fruit that had taken her heart away from her at first glance.

"I can live the rest of my life without love but I can't think of living without my son. He's the whole world to me. I can sacrifice anything for him. Jaxon is nothing in front of Alex." Lauren thought in her mind and made up her mind that from now on she would maintain distance from the Knight brothers, especially Jaxon.

"Don't worry, Mr. Knight. I will remember my place and stay away from them." A devilish smirk appeared on Mr. Knight's lips hearing that.

"Good. You just follow my order. I will help you with everything. Here." Me. Knight passed her a Black card.

"It has an unlimited amount. You can use it as much as you please. Make me happy and be happy." Saying that he patted her shoulder and left his study leaving Lauren alone there.

One fat tear rolled down from her eyes in pain. Because of her helplessness today she had to take his help in exchange for her love. She felt like he sold his love for money. She felt low doing that. Today he did not just buy her love with money, he crushed her self-esteem under his feet.

She sobbed and cried leaning on the table.

"Why? Why me, God? Why I'm so vulnerable. Why do I lose everything? Why can't I be happy in my life? Why can't I live with my loved one? Why can't I be loved by someone? Why did you give me happiness and snatch it in the end? If you don't want to give then why do you give hope?"

"Do you know how badly it hurts? I felt like dying. Did you forget to put the threat of love in my destiny? Won't I get love in this lifetime? At first, it was Rowen now Jaxon. Why did you take away from me whoever I love? I'm tired. I can't bear to lose anyone anymore. So please stop this game and let me live in peace. Don't send anyone into my life. I want to live the rest of my life with my Alex alone. I don't need anyone for me. I'm enough for myself.

Picking up the Black card from the table Lauren went to her room to take her bag then she made her way downstairs to leave for her house but she found Beta Rhys standing in front of the main gate leaning on a black car. Seeing her approaching him he held the car door open for her.

"Are you going to drop me at my place?" Lauren asked him to confirm and Rhys nodded his head affirmatively.

"Mr. Knight told me to drop you at your place and stay with you tonight and bring you back tomorrow safely to the Dark Moon Pack. He's worried about the child's safety. You know they have so many enemies. Don't you remember what happened last time? What if someone attacks you again." Lauren nodded at him and got into the car after giving him a small smile. She was disturbed so she didn't talk much.

Rhys's heart skipped a beat at that smile and his right hand reached out to the left side of his chest.

'Why am I feeling this way towards her? I have to get a hold of myself.' Making up his mind Rhys settled himself in the passenger seat while Lauren was sitting behind in the backseat.

The driver started the engine taking the address from Laurene. Laurene was busy browsing her phone while Rhys's eyes were busy enjoying the beauty in the car through the rear mirror. He could not understand why he couldn't stop looking at her. In the pack house when he saw her in front of him he couldn't take his eyes off her. His eyes always went where she was.

He was confused about his emotions. He didn't know what his heart felt towards her. He was unaware of the fact that he was gradually falling in love with her without his knowledge.

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As soon as the door of her house opened she was welcomed by the cheerful voice of her son.

"Mumma!" Alex came running to her with his open arms.

Lauren bent on her knees on the floor so that her son could hug her. "Hola, Monkey!" They both hugged each other with immense love. The longing for each other had come to an end for a temporary period. But still, they met each other after a long time.

Rhys was shocked to discover the truth that Lauren already had a son. But he was happy to see them happy.

Lauren and Alex parted from each other and Alex noticed Rhys standing behind her Mom. His eyes lit up seeing a well-built handsome man standing with her Mom.

"Dad!" Everyone was shocked to hear that word from him. Especially Rhys.

Lauren looked behind at Rhys and then back at Alex. And she understood Alex mistook Rhys as his long-lost Dad. As Rhys's eyes were as green as his. Before Lauren could clear the misunderstanding he ran to Rhys and wrapped his arms around Rhy's legs.

Rhys was so overwhelmed with emotions that he lifted his arm happily. "Hey, Champ."

"Where were you all these years Dad?" Alex wrapped his arms around Rhys's neck and broke into tears.

It was such a complicated situation that neither of them was in a state to clear his misunderstanding. If they told him now that Rhys was not his Dad then he would feel hurt. So Rhys decided to play along with him.

"Sorry, champ. Please forgive Dad for leaving you and your Mom alone. I was busy with work. But I promise from now on I will stay with you as much as possible." Alex squealed with delight while Lauren kept staring at him in utter disbelief.

"What is he saying? Why is he making the situation more complicated than it is now?" Lauren was hella tense. Myra placed her hand on Lauren's shoulder.

"What's going on, sister? Who is this handsome? And what is he doing here?" Myra whispered into her ear, eyeing the father and son duo.

"He's my friend and came to give me protection. The Old Knight sent him with me. But Alex mistook him as his Dad seeing him with me. I don't know what made him think that he's his Dad. Now how am I going to make him understand the truth? Look, how happy and excited he is. If I tell him that Rhys is not his Dad I don't know how he will react." Lauren was about to cry.

"Don't worry, let Mr. Handsome handle the situation. By the way, he's not a bad option either to make him Alex's Dad if he is interested. If you are not interested in him then I won't hesitate to pursue him." Myra said grinning ogling at Rhys. And Lauren gave her an unbelievable look while shaking her head.

"You are impossible, Myra. Can't you stop running behind the handsome men?" Lauren scolded her and Myra twisted her lips in annoyance.

"Don't spoil my mood. Now go to your newly found husband." Myra pushed Lauren towards Alex and Rhys. Who was gossiping non-stop? Lauren was amazed to find her son so comfortable with Rhys. Rhys doesn't like to socialize but he seemed comfortable with Rhys. A smile broke into her lips seeing her son so happy with his newly found fake father.

If a lie can make her son so happy she's willing to depend on a thousand lies for her son's happiness.

"Are you happy, Monkey?" Lauren asked Alex who smiled at her showing his teeth.

"I'm over the moon, Mommy. Thanks for bringing back my Dad. Now no one will tease me saying I don't have a Dad." Saying that Alex wrapped his arms around Rhys's neck.

Tears welled up in Laurence's eyes hearing that. For her stupidity, her son had to go through all this bullying and teasing. She darted her eyes at Rhys with an apologetic look but Rhys blinked his eyes in an assuring way saying that it was okay.

"Oye, Monkey. Now that you have got your father you will forget your crime partner right?" Myra teased him when he stuck out his tongue at her.

"Don't worry, you are my bestie. Your place is still intact." Alex's words brought a smile to Myra's lips.

"Aww! So cute." Myra pulled his cheeks while he groaned with annoyance.

"Now let them go freshen up. Your father is going to stay with you, he's not running away again." Rhys put him down on the floor.

"Dad, go to Mom's room and freshen up. We have prepared so many dishes for you." Alex said with excitement. His eyes were shining brightly.

"Okay, champ. I'll be right back." Rhys raffled his hair with a smile.

"Come with me." Lauren held his hand and pulled him with her to her room. She shut the door and locked it then whipped to face Rhys.

She didn't know how to talk to him about the matter that happened outside.

Rhys sensed her nervousness as she was continuously chewing her bottom lip while looking down.

"You didn't tell me you have a cute son too?" His calm tone made her amazed and looked up to look into his eyes.

A smile was plastered on his lips. Rhys advanced towards her and held her by her shoulder. "There is no news to feel so nervous around me. You can talk to me freely. I won't judge you. And what happened outside it's totally fine. I felt content when he called me Dad. If I had found my mate at the right time then I would have a child like Alex too. He's way too happy right now. It wouldn't be a perfect time to disclose this matter to him now. So when you get the right time you can explain this to him. Until then let's go with the flow. He's happy, nothing is more important than this. I liked Alex. I wish I had a son like him." He chuckled at the end and his hands fell to his sides.

Lauren felt like a stone had been lifted from her chest.

"Thanks a lot, Rhys. You don't have an idea what you have done for me. It's a huge thing for me. Alex is so happy to find you. And his happiness is everything to me. I can do anything for his happiness. He's the whole world for me. I know it might be very awkward for you but thanks for helping me."

Lauren said with an embarrassed smile while pushing a hair strand behind her ear, looking down. She looked adorable while doing that which made Rhys' heart skip a beat. And he silently kept looking at her. But when Lauren looked up at him he felt embarrassed for doing that.

Rhys mentally shook his head. "Rhys, what's wrong with you? Why are you looking at her like that? Have you lost your mind? Get a hold of yourself." Rhys scolded himself in his mind.

Lauren was looking at him confused. Because Rhys was standing there lost in his thoughts.

"Rhys, are you alright?" Lauren asked him while placing her hand on his arm and he jumped back away from her touch as if her hand burned him. His action made Lauren more confused than before.

"I'm fine. I'm fine." Rhys said, looking away, making Lauren frown.

"Are you sure about that? It seems like you are not feeling well. If you are feeling unwell you can take some rest." Lauren said in a soft tone and Rhys's heart melted right away seeing her concern for him.

"No, I'm perfectly fine. It's just that you are way too beautiful. You are doing something to my heart." Lauren's cheeks turned beetroot red at his words. She looked down shyly while biting her bottom lip.

"Please don't do that, otherwise it will be difficult for me to hold myself from kissing you hard." His bold words made her look at him with wide eyes. And when her eyes locked with him she felt his intense eyes boring into her soul. She immediately looks away from his intense gaze nervously.

"Ummm…. You freshen up first. Alex is waiting for you." Saying that she stormed out of the room.