alpha

“Six weeks pregnant.” Scarlett Stovall stared at the test report in silence. Before she could tell her husband, the Alpha, his phone rang. “Rebecca, what’s wrong?” he asked, his voice soft in a way it had never been for her. Then he stopped the car. “Get out.” He left his pregnant wife on the roadside in the dark to rush to another woman. That was the night Scarlett understood the truth. She was never loved. She was assigned. Two years ago, Ashton married her only to fulfill his dying grandfather’s last wish. Their bond was duty, not desire. His heart has always belonged to Rebecca, the fragile childhood friend who only needs to cry for him to come running. When Rebecca shows up in the rain and collapses in Scarlett’s home… carrying Ashton’s child… everything shatters. And when she falls down the stairs and whispers, “My child…” All eyes turn to Scarlett. Blame is easy. Especially when you were never chosen. Now, pregnant with the Alpha’s heir and ordered to take care of the woman who destroyed her marriage, Scarlett must decide: Should she keep fighting for a man who calls her unworthy? Or should she walk away… and take his legacy with her? Because this time, the child she carries is not just a mistake. It is power. And if the Alpha pushes her too far… He might lose everything.

[Mature Content Warning] On the night her fated mate rejected her for another woman, Violet didn't cry or beg. She smiled. "Congratulations, Alpha. I hope she was worth our severed bond." Everyone believed she was a weak, shiftless omega. No one knew she was the last heir of an ancient bloodline hunted to extinction. Now, two Supreme Alphas have claimed her as their mate. Both want to mark her, but Violet doesn't want a mate, she wants answers. Too bad the bond — and her two new mates — won't let her go.

DISCLAIMER: STRICTLY WRITTEN FOR ADULT READERS IN MIND. SOME SCENES CONTAIN VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ACTIVITY. “Sit here. Right on this desk.” Ceo Ji-hoon instructs his new secretary. Mikaela already knew Ceo Ji-hoon was a pervert, but nothing would have prepared him for what happened next... Mikaela Reeves is a well trained Special Forces lone-agent skilled in stealth and combat. With ethereal features and a codename: Angel, he wants nothing more but to be taken seriously by his peers and recognised by his achievements, not his looks. But when the Director-General sends him on a long-term undercover mission as a secretary to the CEO of a top automotive company that has ties to a criminal cult-like mafia group, alongside a bee sounding intelligence aid, he struggles to adapt and lay low. CEO Jang Ji-hoon is a dominant alpha, Head of the Jang Dynasty and currently a Suspect of an alleged crime of sponsoring the human trafficking ring that exploits young, (mostly Omega) male and female adults that Guild Of Blood and Bones is operating. The exploitation of omegas infuriates Mikaela for many reasons, one of which is that he is secretly an Omega himself. He knows that justice for the victims rests on his ability to complete the mission. Yet the alluring scent and the mysterious danger of his new boss distract him so much. Being an Omega himself, he can't help but be excited. Will he be able to persevere against his own biological urge to be dominated by this Powerful, Older man to prove he is more than the average omega or will he fall into temptation, fail the victims as well as disappoint The Special Forces Unit and himself?

Her blood was liquid gold. The moment it hit the basin, an urge to mate slammed into Dexmon, obliterating any concern for timing, place, or consequence. His heart thundered, caught somewhere between hunger and outright panic. His wolf surged. Aegon: Mate her. Mate her again. Mark her. In that order. Dexmon: Absolutely the fuck not.   ________________________ [Synopsis] Mate. He knows it instantly. She has no idea. After a year in silver chains, Serena's wolf is dead. At least, that's what she believes. A stranger saves her life. She returns the favor without knowing he's the Crown Prince of Drakenfell. But Dexmon is betrothed to a princess who will murder to keep him. So he stays silent. Fin Shadowclaw, the youngest Alpha King in Skardos, can't take his eyes off her either. His wolf says 'Mate.' A second chance he won't take for granted. Serena, as usual, has no idea until someone tries to kill her. Fin catches it in time, and marks her to save her life. Right when his fangs are deep and venom flowing, a black wolf slams into him. He's knocked back, and watches as the wolf's fangs bite right over his mark. Serena wakes up to a fuming Alpha Prince, ready to re-mark his territory as many times as it takes. And a possessive Alpha King who's already decided nothing will pull her away from him. Two marks. One girl. And a war that has nothing to do with territory. Love triangles don't usually involve mass murder. ________________________ Content Warning: This novel contains dark themes, dubcon, abuse, SMUT, explicit scenes, and morally gray characters. Reader discretion advised.  Tags: love triangle, matebond, war, royal family, betrayal, shifter, queen, underestimated, alpha king, luna Discord: https://discord.gg/JR2yGgKNq8

Althea Nocturne is nothing but a wolfless omega rejected by her Alpha mate and framed for murdering his unborn heir. With a pack baying for her blood and nowhere left to run, she flees into the one place no wolf dares tread: the Red Mist, where the Hellhound of the North makes his den. Thorne Vargan is a creature of shadow and vengeance, the son of a Witch Luna burned alive by Althea's own mother. He swore to destroy everyone responsible and when Morgana's daughter stumbles bleeding into his hellish domain, he sees his chance. He claims her as a captive. As the perfect tool to gut the pack system from within. But the bond doesn't care about his plans for retribution. It doesn't care that she's the daughter of his enemy. It thrums for her with a fury that threatens to consume them both Her scent tempts the beast he's barely controlling, her fear feeds something he thought long dead while she bears secrets that could unravel everything he's built. And while Thorne keeps her caged, the Alpha she fled is coming. He wants his little omega back. But Thorne isn't letting her go. — ~Excerpt~ "Because," he said, his voice dropping to a husky growl that made my core clench, "my restraint is going to shatter if you keep touching me." The words hung in the air between us. I looked down, following his gaze, and saw it, the unmistakable bulge pressed against his pants, hard and straining. My pheromones. They were affecting him. "I would like to take you up on your offer," he muttered, his voice rugged, tipping into ravenous. Confusion whirled through me. "What offer?" "The kiss," he whispered. "Not a peck, Thea." My heart ceased beating, liquid fire filling my veins. "I want tongue.” — Dark paranormal romance Morally Grey ML Forced proximity Captor/Captive ENEMIES to lovers Fated mates Angst Smut

You are a wolf. The most violent beast in this violent realm. Enjoying the thrill to which you were condemned. You are a wolf. Feeling abandoned by your pack. To fight back you took human skin. You are a wolf. Seeking the company of men. All you have is lies and shame. All you have is that thrill.

I am Alina Graves. My whole life I was taught to be invisible. Omega. Orphan. Servant. I scrubbed floors in Blackthorn Castle while the alphas feasted, and lowered my eyes when they passed by. I knew: survival meant silence. But on the night of the Blood Moon, fate decided otherwise. I was thrust into the sacred circle in place of the ailing bride. And the bond struck—like lightning to the chest. My mate is Kael Blackthorn, the future Alpha King, whose name is whispered with fear across all the lands of England. He did not want an omega on the throne. He publicly rejected me before the entire pack. Called me a mistake. The humiliation burned hotter than fire. But at night, he came. Claimed me as his. Secretly. Cruelly. Without choice. Now, every glance from him is a brand. Every order is a chain. Every whisper in the castle corridors hints that my blood hides an ancient power capable of destroying the entire kingdom. I was meant to remain broken. But if fate made a mistake in choosing me for him—I will make the world bleed for that mistake.

To werewolves, humans are maggots. Aurora is a human trapped in a brutal pack, betrayed by her lover, sold into marriage with a man twice her age, and now accused of the ultimate sin: stealing the Moon Core, the relic that once chained the Wolf God Lycaon himself. The Lycans descend upon her. Four ruthless sons of Lycaon; the Scions of Sin. Greed. Pride. Lust. Wrath. Each brother is one of the Original Sins made flesh. Each will sacrifice anything to keep their father imprisoned forever. The Moon Core is their only weapon and now a fragile human has absorbed it. To them, Aurora is vermin. A thief. A disposable tool. But the Core is alive inside her, awakening powers she was never meant to wield. The brothers who swore to destroy her begin to crave her—body, soul, and every shattered piece in between. Now they face the impossible: kill the maggot who could end their race… or surrender to the woman destined to unravel their empire and them. •Morally grey MLs • Enemies to lovers • Dark reverse harem • possessive alphas • betrayal & revenge • Angst • Smut (the Moon Core isn’t the only thing pulsing inside her)

Elara spent her entire life believing in one thing: the mate bond. As the daughter of a low-ranking wolf, she knew her place in the pack. Quiet. Loyal. Invisible. But everything changed the night the Moon Goddess revealed her mate. The Alpha. Kael Blackthorn. The most powerful werewolf in the region. Cold, ruthless, and destined to rule. For one brief moment, Elara believed fate had chosen her. But Kael rejected her. In front of the entire pack. Humiliated and broken, Elara leaves the only home she has ever known. She disappears into the human world, determined to build a life where she is no longer defined by the mate who cast her aside. Years pass. And Elara changes. She is no longer the quiet girl the pack once ignored. She has power. Secrets. And a strength Kael never saw. But when fate brings them together again, the bond between them awakens stronger than ever. Only this time… Elara refuses to be claimed. And Kael realizes something terrifying. Rejecting her may have been the greatest mistake of his life. Because the woman he lost… might be the only one capable of destroying him. —or saving him.

Once upon a time, Eclipse lived a quiet life—until the Moon Goddess bound her to Malric NorthSteed, Alpha Prince of the North. A man who was Cold, Ruthless and Ambitious beyond mercy. On the night she was rejected as his mate, Malric slaughtered her entire pack… and then crowned another woman his bride. Buried under the burning betrayal, Eclipse dies with her family, but five years later, she is reborn as Arrow—an assassin feared by wicked nobles and criminals alike; a ghost whispered through the underworld. Every life she takes is training that sharpens her resolve toward a single purpose: Kill Malric NorthSteed. Then burn his entire empire to the ground. But Malric is no longer just an Alpha Prince. He is now the Alpha King of the North—untouchable behind towering palace walls and absolute power. So to reach him, Eclipse must do the unthinkable. She enters the grand Bridal Selection, a ruthless competition of fifty women vying to become his next Luna Queen—each bride hiding secrets, ambitions, and bloodstained desires of their own. Disguised, surrounded by spies and trapped among obsessed rivals and lethal politics, Eclipse plays the role of the demure woman seeking Malric’s heart… while plotting to rip it from his chest. Yet as the competition turns deadly, a terrifying truth emerges. In this game of hearts and death, she is far from the only pawn on the board; Her family’s massacre was no simple act of cruelty; The bond she once shared with Malric NorthSteed had been anything but an accident; Not to mention that Malric has been playing this game long before she even drew her bow, Eclipse tows the line of danger while donning on a fake mask before him. Because if Malric discovers who she truly is— If he realizes she is the mate he once rejected— If the embers between them ignite into something dangerously real— Then Eclipse will face a fate far worse than death. For when he catches her, no arrow, no mask, no hatred will save her. Not from his vengeance. Not from his power. Not from the forbidden love that could destroy them both.

Selene Jameson has always been the family stain, unwanted daughter, shadow to the golden children. The night her mother dies saving her life, Selene loses the only person who ever loved her. When Atlas D'Angelo, the boy she gave everything to, betrays her in the cruelest way possible, she vows never to beg for love again. But fate has darker plans. On the night Selene finally tastes freedom, fame, money, a future of her own her family sells her to a supernatural auction. She's thrust into a hidden world ruled by lycans who see humans as nothing more than commodity. Then he buys her. Mikhail Morozov, Wintercrest Alpha and High Alpha of the Onyx Concord. Feared across Nocturna, Lycan Realm. With a shattered past, a missing sister, and a throne built on blood and betrayal, the last thing he needs is a defiant human girl with a sharp tongue and darker humor than his sins. But Selene isn't human. She bears the Crescent, a mark of ancient power that could save the Nocturna or destroy it. When Kustav Volkov, a rival ruthless Alpha, is revealed to be Selene's father, he lays his claim on her. Mikhail offers Selene a choice: marry him in a blood-bound pact that grants her protection under lycan law. But this marriage of convenience will be anything but convenient. *** "And you smell good," I interrupted, words tumbling out before I could stop them. "Really good. Like winter but not the terrifying kind. The beautiful kind. With snow and—" I scrunched my nose, grasping for the description. "Those delicate frost patterns that appear on glass." Mikhail produced a sound deep in his chest that could've been a growl or a chuckle or something caught between. "Why are there two staircases?" I blurted suddenly, fixating on the duplicated grand stairway looming before us. "Is this intentional? Seems ridiculously excessive." "There's only one staircase, moya." "Are you certain? Because I'm definitely seeing two. Perhaps you require vision correction. Do lycans need glasses? That would be hilarious. Tiny spectacles perched on a massive terrifying wolf—" "Selene." His voice emerged strained, taut in a manner that penetrated even through my fog. "You need to stop talking." I peered up at him, hurt piercing through the pleasant haze. "Why? Am I irritating you? I'm sorry. I'll stay quiet." "No." The word escaped sharp, nearly anguished. "You're not irritating me. You're—" He severed the sentence, jaw clenching so viciously I witnessed the muscle twitch. "Just... rest." But I didn't want rest. I wanted to comprehend why his expression appeared like that—all rigid and ravenous and something else I couldn't identify. "Are you alright?" I asked, raising my hand toward his jaw. He intercepted my wrist before contact, his hold gentle yet unyielding. "Don't." "Why not?" "Because I'm barely maintaining control as it is, and if you touch me right now—" He halted abruptly, eyes compressing shut momentarily. "Just don't." That should've frightened me. The ferocity in his tone, the way his restraint appeared to unravel at the seams. But intoxicated-me simply smiled, inexplicably pleased. Then I caught the way his gaze dropped. Just for a fraction of a heartbeat. To my mouth. Heat bloomed through my chest, spreading like wildfire. "You want to kiss me," I breathed, the revelation making me giddy. His eyes snapped back to mine, glacial blue turned predatory. "Kissing," he said slowly, voice dropping an octave, "doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what I want to do to you." The air left my lungs. His grip on my wrist shifted, thumb finding my pulse point. Pressing there. Feeling the frantic rhythm he'd caused. "Kissing is gentle," he continued, leaning in just enough that his breath ghosted across my lips. Close enough to take. Close enough to claim. But he didn't. "Kissing is sweet. What I want?" His eyes dragged down my face, my throat, lower then back up with deliberate slowness. "There's nothing gentle about it."

I died on my wedding night. My mate the Alpha I had loved all my life abandoned me before the entire pack, humiliated me, and whispered his final command through our bond: “Just die already.” And I did. But fate was cruel. Instead of peace, I opened my eyes again… reborn to the very night of my betrayal. This time, I wasn’t the weak, naïve Luna who let her sister steal everything. This time, I would tear their lies apart.

“You incompetent god! I should’ve been the Alpha with big di*k, not some pitiful Omega!” — Cherion’s death was… not heroic. Winning the lottery only to die of a heart attack five minutes later was the definition of cosmic irony. But fate wasn’t done laughing at him yet. He woke up inside a tragic omegaverse novel he once read, right in the body of the pitiful omega doomed to be rejected, humiliated, and die alone. Still, he thought, “Fine. I’ll just avoid the main plot.” Except the main plot avoided him. But the script suddenly changed! Instead of being cast aside, Cherion was married off to Zarius, the empire’s greatest war hero… and the man destined to become the villain everyone feared. A cursed Alpha, praised as a savior but fated to die by the Crown Prince’s hand. Married to the future villain? Doomed. Married to a cursed Alpha? Double doomed. No, no doomed at all! He had a plan. A brilliant, flawless, absolutely desperate plan… but still a plan! “I said I’ll help you break your curse. In exchange, you let me go. Do we have a deal or not? Or are you too insecure to trust an Omega?” “Careful, little Omega. That sharp tongue of yours is daring me to test how it tastes.”

[WARNING: HEAVILY RATED 18 AND STRONG SEXUAL LANGUAGES BUT NO RAPE] Excerpt "Marry me, and you shall have your heart's desires. We both know you want it..." Xavier's husky voice drifted from the shadows of the cell, making every cell in Asher's body ignite—right down to his peaking nipples. Asher managed to stand his ground, refusing to break even though the crushing weight of Xavier's pheromones threatened to pull him under. "In your damn dreams. I am straight," he declared. Xavier laughed mockingly, the sound echoing off the cold stone walls. "Let's see how long that lasts..." He leaned down and cupped Asher's length firmly in his palms, watching as Asher’s face turned a deep, heated red. ******* Synopsis He thought he had it all—a beautiful family, a gorgeous home, and a prestigious profession. But one fateful night, it all crumbled away, and he landed in a deadly prison. In a society where homosexuality is a taboo, he was accused of sexually harassing a man. A fucking man, when he was straight as an arrow. Like, how? But that was just the beginning of his nightmare. He landed straight into the cage of an infamous Mafia lord of the underworld—the demon himself, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. A demon in bed and a beast by day. Asher thought he could fly under the radar; all he had to do was lay low and avoid the man forever. But he never expected to capture the lord’s undivided attention. Xavier Devereaux was mad for him, obsessed with him, watching him day and night. He wouldn't even sleep if Asher wasn't safely in his cell. All hell broke loose when Xavier declared him his "bride" in front of the Nine powerful Mafia houses, leaving Asher at the mercy of fate and powerful war. Now, a deadly desire has risen. Truly, Xavier Devereaux isn't just a mad fucker, but a deranged man in desperate need of therapy. But the good thing? Asher realized he has a thing for bad boys...

Waking up as the villainess in a beastworld was NOT on Bai Yue's bingo card. Even worse? She had apparently ditched three adorable beast cubs to chase the heroine's leftovers like some obsessed side character. The original Bai Yue left a fluffy snow leopard cub, a mischievous fox kit, and a clumsy red panda baby... for a man who didn't even want her. Yeah, no. Hard pass. Now she is on a mission: collect all her babies, feed them snacks, and give them the childhood they deserve. But there's one tiny problem, their fathers keep showing up. The mysterious Snow Leopard warrior who hasn't spoken to her in months. The cunning Fox Lord who's very suspicious of her sudden personality change. And the gentle Red Panda scholar who looks heartbroken every time he sees her. All she wanted was to fix her mistakes and love these precious babies, and maybe go back home. She didn't sign up for a reverse harem of overprotective beast daddies who are way too attractive when they're being good fathers.

Kiara Kingsley had learned how to disappear. Exile taught her that—how to keep her head down, bury claws beneath skin, how to pass as human, how to raise a child in a world that would never understand what he truly was. For years, she believed she had succeeded. The past stayed silent. The pack stayed away. And her little Mat grew, blissfully unaware of the blood humming in his veins. Until the night he vanished. The hamlet spiraled into panic - questions,sirens,fear. But Kiara felt none of it. The air carried their scent.She knew exactly who had taken her little Mat. And she knew what it would cost to get him back. Returning meant facing Caspian Silverheart—her Alpha mate, the one man she never learned how to hate. The same man who had stood frozen and shattered as his father pronounced her banishment, sealing her fate before their entire pack. Kiara never blamed Caspian. Some sins were too heavy to share, and she had carried hers alone. To bring Mat back, Kiara knew she must return beyond the veil and face the one truth she had spent years avoiding. Some betrayals were written into fate long before love ever had a choice. Crossing the veil, Kiara expected judgment, hatred, and the ghosts of everything she had destroyed. What she did not expect was a world she no longer recognized. The pack she left behind had been reshaped. Power had shifted. Familiar laws felt dangerously flexible. And the silence surrounding her little boy’s disappearance was far too deliberate to be accidental. As old bonds resurfaced and buried truths began to stir, Kiara realized her exile may never have been about punishment. It may have been about erasure. And the laws governing blood, lineage, and power now circled dangerously close to Mat as well. Because Mat was not just her little boy. He was a convergence…of bloodlines, of broken oaths, of a future the pack was never meant to unlock. Now that she had returned, the lies holding their worlds together were beginning to fracture. And along with thay her Mate Bond. Everything she thought she knew about love was about to shatter. All myths about bonds and affairs were going to rewrite themselves. Will Kiara be able to navigate treacherous terrains where love seems like a seductive siren. Her heart thinks it knows what it wants, but does she? Will she find that bliss of a happily ever after? (**spoiler alert - The story involves several supernatural myths, lores and creatures apart from the wolves themselves.This might not be a typical reverse harem story but might contain elements of it. Certain subplots might contain elements/mention of r*pe.Readers discretion suggested. Happy reading to all of you, hope you have a blast reading this baby!)

A prophecy names one true moon. ----- Lyria has spent her entire life in the shadows — scorned, scarred, and invisible. The illegitimate daughter of a king who pretends she does not exist, she has learned to want nothing and expect less. But when fourteen alpha suitors arrive to compete for her sister's hand, five of the most powerful men in the kingdom cannot seem to stay away from the girl they were never meant to notice. Each one is powerful enough to shake kingdoms. Each one is drawn to her in ways that defy reason. But Lyria can only choose one, and the road to that choice will cost more than she ever imagined. And Jacinta will burn the kingdom down before she allows Lyria to take what she believes is hers.

[MATURE BL OMEGAVERSE] Griffin Mafia, the strongest group among the other mafias in Dormania. A country famous for having 60% of its population belonging to the mafia. Their leader is known to be quite mysterious and intelligent, Alastair Vale. Not many people have ever seen the dominant Alpha. But they are certain that he is a terrified cold hearted man who will get whatever he wants. At the same time, Alastair finds himself drawn to an Omega he often sees standing near a bus stop not far from a university, Noel Ashford. The only Omega who doesn't seem afraid of him at all and instead appears bold enough to answer his every word. "You think I'm weak just because I'm an Omega? Let me tell you something, Mr. Vale..." "Feisty Omega." 'Fuck, he turns me on.' A smirk appeared on the Alpha's face every time the Omega defied his words. Although love eventually blossomed between the Alpha and the Omega, reality would never allow them to live peacefully behind the gunfire. "I won't let you see Vale again! You will never be allowed to leave this mansion for any reason, let alone to see him. Not now and not ever!" "He's not as bad as you think! He's just—" Regis, Noel's older brother, glared at him with a sharp gaze and a face flushed with anger. "ALASTAIR IS A MURDERER!"

Serenity Keller gave everything to be the perfect Luna—her pride, her dreams, her heart. But when betrayal stains her name and the Alpha she loves locks her away as a suspect, she realizes the truth: she was never truly trusted. Pregnant and accused, Serenity walks away from the most powerful pack in the territory—choosing exile over humiliation. Elias Vernal believes he is protecting her from enemies who want her dead. He doesn’t realize the greatest threat is losing her forever. When secrets unravel and Liv returns with truths that shatter the pack’s foundation, Elias must decide: protect his power—or fight for the woman he let walk away.

Ethan's life was going well... sort of. With three months to his wedding and almost enough savings to finally quit his stripping job, everything seemed almost perfect… Till his fiancé suddenly dumps him, and he loses everything he's ever built... in the span of one week. Standing at the edge of a storybuilding, he's about to throw himself off to end the suffocating pain when he suddenly gets a call... for an interview with a high-ranking company he never applied to. A company under the renowned Alpha Aurelian Vale. The S-tier Alpha who would change his life forever, and just may be tied to Ethan's present and past in more ways than he could even begin to imagine. The Alpha he THINKS he doesn't know. ******* "Why should I trust you? Isn't playing games the core of your business? Everything is a game to you. Even this... "He says, and I step closer to him... pushing myself against him, as I see fear return to his eyes. "You don't know me, Ethan. "I remind him, and I watch the anger in his eyes melt into stubbornness. "And you also don't know me, Mr. Aurelian! "He retorts, and I smirk. That's the Ethan I like. Feisty. "But I do know you. "I say, and he visibly gulps as beads of sweat begin to form across his forehead. "You're impulsive, stubborn, and daring. You are broken and hurting inside, but you mask all that pain with a smile. Never really healing from them, but burying them. Praying the day doesn't come when they rise from their graves. Your humour is your defence mechanism. It makes you feel stronger when you're intimidated or scared. "I continue, and his jaw drops as he gawks at me. I lean in closer to him, enjoying the heat of the proximity, as I drop low enough for my lips to brush against his ear, and his delicate orchid scent fills my lungs. "Am I wrong? "I question him, and he just blinks back. Visibly stunned by my words. I smile in satisfaction at him before stepping away from him, and once again I hit the emergency stop button. "I know you better than you think, Ethan. The sooner you understand this, the better. "I add before reaching for a cigar in my breast pocket and lighting it. I know it's against the rules, but I don't care. "You might want to cover that. "I say, pointing at the bulge in his pants, and he immediately turns red as he tries to drag his shirt down to cover it. Just then, the elevator doors open, and I smirk as people pour into the elevator, looking between Ethan and me. I see the stink eyes I get because of the cigar in my hand, but I only step out of the elevator because of the infant I see a mother carrying. As I leave Ethan behind, I send him a text. *Meet me in the car.*