Chapter 103: MOTHER

Siren’s POV (ten years ago)

My son almost tips me over with a big hug.

He’s getting bigger, but I wrap my arms around my boy automatically. His face is pressing into my neck and I start to growl.

My omega is on edge at the unexpected action.

My son can always hug me, but he never hugs me like this. He’s breathing too fast into my neck, his arms are too tight around me, and he’s not breaking the hug.

I look at my husband for solutions or a clue.

Darius is still covered in splatters of blood. He tilts his head to the side. He’s looking back at me with confusion on his face.

"Baby...what’s wrong?" I ask my baby as I bury my fingers in his soft hair and he shakes his hair.

"Nothing" he says, still holding me like his life depends on it.

"You’re hugging mama tighter than usual, buddy. What’s going on?" my husband asks, coming closer to take a look at our pup.

"Eli...are you scared?" I ask softly and Elias nods. His breath hitches as he tries to hold back tears.

My own son is scared in my own house? Who dares to put him in this position?

"Round up every single person in this house. Now" I order and within seconds, everyone who eats from my table gathers in the room.

Two lines of maids and guards are formed. They keep their heads down, and I can see the confusion in their body language.

My husband is already loading his gun with fresh bullets. He’s still high off the trip we’re just returning from, still excited to spill more blood.

"No one leaves my sight until someone explains why my son is scared" I say quietly and the room goes silent with fear.

"Are there any answers or shall I blow someone’s brains out?" Darius asks loudly with madness in his tone and eyes.

He’s going to shoot someone, but I need my answers first.

"Which one of you?" I ask again, keeping my voice low and icy even though my fingers are moving gently to calm my son.

"We didn’t do anything, sir" one of the maids say and I tilt my head, I’m waiting for her to complete her words.

"Then who?" I ask and she doesn’t respond.

"I do not leave my children in your care, pay you, and protect your families only to come back to...this" I growl at them, tightening my grip on my son.

Their job is to look after my house and everything in it. They owe me their lives and death, the least they can do is to manage my home when I’m away.

"Where are Damien and Malachi?" my husband asks.

"They’re playing in the field, sir" one of the female guards responds.

"Eli, go to your brothers. I’ll deal with this. Are you hurt?" I ask and he shakes his head. I pull him away to check his body by myself.

There are no physical injuries on him, so I let him go.

With my thirteen-year-old out of the room, I fold my arms, staring blankly at the lined up staff.

"Yes?"

"Siren, actually just a few minutes ago..." one maid starts to speak, but she gets interrupted.

"Siren! Darius!" Julian, my husband’s first righthand man, calls and I turn my attention to him as he comes down the stairs.

He takes it a step at a time, hands on the gold railing and mouth smiling. He makes me feel unsettled, but I won’t be the one to stand between my husband and his friend of twenty-four years.

"What’s going on? You’re back earlier than planned" he says with that charismatic voice and outgoing personality.

"Why are you here?" I ask in a clipped tone, and he looks at me with tender eyes.

"My favorite couple are away, isn’t it right to look after their sons? At this point, the boys are my godsons too, am I right?" he says with laughter and Silas growls.

Silas is the godson of my sons, not Julian. And ever since an argument they had over collaborating with Winslow’s trade system, Silas has been against Julian.

"My sons already have a godfather" I say flatly and Darius puts his hand in my waist, it’s a protective posture he takes when I’m around other alphas.

"Where is Elias? That boy is turning wild these days, he was stealing a watch in your room" he says, looking around as if he cares for my son.

Anger rushes through my veins but my husband speaks before I would lash out.

"Cut the bullshit, Julian. Elias might be rude and act odd, but he’s not a thief" Darius says.

"He said someone broke into your room, and when I checked around, there was no breaking and entry. The door was opened but only Elias was there, I saw him-" I interrupt the man by flashing my omega eyes at him.

"So, you accused my son of theft?" I take a step forward and the man steps back.

"I was only doing my duty as your husband’s right-hand man. The future of your empire--"

"The future of MY empire is in the hands MY sons" I interrupt him again with more aggression.

"You’re permitted to scold him if there’s proof of wrongdoing but going as far as scaring him when you know his mental state is unacceptable" I raise my voice with every word I say to pass my message.

My boys are my world.

"You’re getting agitated over nothing" Julian says with that breathy laughter.

"My son is not nothing" I correct the man with iciness in my tone.

"Repeat that sentence again, Julian" my husband says, holding up and aiming his gun at his own friend.

The people in the room gasp, some of them move back, and others hold on to each other for a form of safety.

Julian looks around at them before settling his gaze on my husband.

"You’re insulting me right in front of your employees because of a...boy?" Julian asks in confusion and takes another step back.

"And I will blow your brains out if you push me. If you respect me like you claim, you wouldn’t play with my sons’ lives or emotions" Darius growls and Julian laughs.

"I’ll see myself out, have a good day Siren and the great Peter Pan of the mad boys" Julian says, nodding at us with a smile on his face.

"We have to get rid of him" I say to my husband once he’s out.

"I’m already on it" Darius says, caressing my side to calm me down.

"And I need you to keep my boys as far away as possible from him, Silas" I order and Silas nods grimly.

Two days later;

The painting I’m making isn’t coming out as well as I would like it, but I continue to add more details.

"Siren?" someone calls and I put the brush down with a sigh. My hair is still in the messy bun, my apron is stained, and there is paint on my face.

"Yes?" I call, looking over my shoulder as a man comes in with fear in his eyes.

"S-Siren" he stutters my nickname again and I tilt my head to the right, a habit I picked from Darius.

"Elias is missing" the man says and I sigh again, turning my head to look at my painting. It’s a small house on fire.

"Eli likes to hide in the woods these days, you can check there and check with his brothers" I say, but the man doesn’t leave.

"S-Siren" he stutters again.

"What now?" I snap with irritation.

"Kai and Damien are missing too...as well as Julian" he says and I rise to my feet, toppling my painting over.

"What did you just say?"

"It’s been two hours and there is no trace of Julian or his belongings" he says and my heart jumps from my chest to my throat.

Julian wouldn’t dare kidnap my sons...would he?