---- every night!" Six years old. The number echoed in my head like a death knell. My son had been five. Only five when his father murdered him. "you're talking about Serena's son," I said slowly, the realization hitting me. ''You actually believe I would hurt a child?" "You threatened them!" Damon's face flushed red with anger. "You said you'd make me regret it! Did you think I'd forgotten?" I tried to speak, to explain, but my throat had closed up completely. The grief and shock made it impossible to form words. "Serena is a good woman," Damon continued, pacing back and forth like a caged animal. "Kind and gentle, unlike you. I won't allow you to hurt her anymore!" ---- He spun to face me, his Alpha authority radiating from every pore. "From today forward, Serena and Ethan will live in this house. Ethan may be mixed-blood, but he's still my son. I won't let him suffer on the streets because of your jealousy!" "Our son is dead," I whispered. "What did you say?" "Our son is dead!" The words erupted from me like a primal scream. "While you were playing happy family with your mistress, your real son was dying in agony!" Damon's face went blank. "That's impossible. I would have been told-" "By who? You disappeared for two weeks! I buried him alone!" For just a moment, uncertainty flickered in his eyes. Then his expression hardened again. ---- "you're lying. Trying to manipulate me with guilt. Our son is fine. He's probably hiding because he's afraid of you." The casual dismissal of our child's death broke something inside me. "you know what, Damon? You're right. Serena should move in. Give her my room too while you're at it." His pupils contracted to pinpoints-I recognized the sign of his impending rage. "Don't test me, Aria! What Alpha doesn't have multiple lovers? I've been more faithful to you than most! One mistress is nothing!" "One mistress?" I laughed bitterly. "Is that supposed to make me grateful?" "You'll always be my primary mate," he said, as if offering me a great gift. "Serena could never replace you. She knows her place."