An Uneasy Paradise

VANESSA

The Barbados sun kissed my skin as I lounged by the resort pool, trying to convince myself this was exactly what Fabian and I needed. A break from the chaos back home. A chance to breathe without looking over our shoulders.

"Mom, watch this!" Fabian called, his small body poised at the edge of the pool.

I lowered my sunglasses, smiling. "I'm watching, baby."

He jumped, tucking his knees to his chest in a perfect cannonball. Water exploded upward, raining down on a couple nearby who shot me annoyed glances. I mouthed an apology, not really meaning it.

Let them be annoyed. My son deserved to be carefree for once.

When Fabian surfaced, his wide grin was worth every penny of this extravagant vacation. For six years, I'd sheltered him from the dangerous politics of pack life. Now that our worlds had collided, these moments of normalcy felt more precious than ever.

"Did you see how big that splash was?" he asked, paddling to the edge.