#Chapter 97: Lessons Learned

DEREK I’d never felt more nervous about knocking on a door in my life. And that included negotiating with rival Alphas and walking into rogue territory with a barely-functioning truce. This was worse. Because this was Aiden. Because I’d let him down. Elena opened the front door of the Moonstone estate before I had a chance to knock twice. She looked like she hadn’t slept in a few days, but she was holding herself steady—shoulders squared, mouth neutral. No warmth, no bite. Just controlled coolness. “Hey,” I said. She stepped aside. “He’s in the sunroom.” I started to thank her, but her hand lightly touched my arm. I looked down to find her eyes locked on mine. “You better fix it.” I nodded. No excuses. At the door of the room was a childishly written sign that said ‘NO ALPHAS ALLOWED.’ I winced. And stepped inside. Aiden was sitting cross-legged on the floor with crayons spread around him like a sunburst, scribbling on a folded piece of construction paper