Chapter 241

Words : 894 Updated : Jun 26th, 2025

The next day, sooner than I had expected or prepared for. I was still on cloud nine after shifting into our other state. It felt so good. Like I had unlocked something fierce. Something divine. After Alec left, I practiced more and each tit beceasier than the last. My mind occasionally drifted to Alec and that moment when I hugged him. That moment kept playing in my head over and over again, no matter how many times I tried to block it. It's just there. When I am not thinking about the mess with Xena and Kaden, my pack, Alec's pack, or Aspen, I think of him. Aspen's squeal brought my attention back to the present, and I forced those thoughts to the back of my mind. She was practically bouncing on the bed, kicking her tiny feet in excitement as I tried to get her into a little pink dress she'd insisted on wearing for our outing. "Are you excited for today, sweetheart?" I asked, tying her curly hair into two neat buns. She nodded furiously. "So excited, Mommy! Mr. Alec said there'll be lions! And maybe even giraffes!" I smiled, my heart clenching. She was glowing. Alec had told her about the zoo last night, and she hadn't stopped talking about it since. I couldn't help but feel a little flutter in my chest, knowing this day would mean something to her. She was practically bouncing on the bed, kicking her tiny feet in excitement as I tried to get her into a little pink dress she'd insisted on wearing for our outing. "Mommy!" she squealed, her curls flopping as she threw her hands up. "I need sparkles. All princesses have sparkles!" I laughed, brushing her hair back and kissing her forehead. "You don't need sparkles to be a princess. You already are one." She gave a scrunched-up, suspicious look. "You sure?" "Positive." I reached for the tiny silver butterfly clip I'd hidden behind my back. "But... I might have something just in case." Aspen's gasp nearly madetear up. "You got butterflies?!" I nodded and watched her eyes widen as I clipped them into her hair. "Now you're royalty." She twirled on the spot, arms stretched out, giggling in delight. "Mister Alec's gonna say I'm pretty." That word hitin the chest. I wanted so badly to tell her the truth. I don't understand why, but it was like an insistent echo that was pushing to reveal to her that Alecc was her father. Maybe it was because Aspen had already made up her mind and was unknowingly treating him like her dad. To her, he was someone to look up to. Someone safe. Someone hears. By the time she stepped out into the hallway, Aspen, holding my hand with a white cardigan barely staying on her shoulders, Alec was already waiting near the front door. And goddess help me. He looked... good. Black jeans, a soft gray shirt that clung a little too perfectly to his frame, and a clean shave that made his features sharper than usual. But it was the way he looked at Aspen-soft and completely enraptured that unraveled me. "There's my butterfly," he said with a grin, crouching down. Aspen let go of my hand and ran straight to him. "I told you I'd look pretty!" "You look more than pretty," he whispered as he picked her up. "You look magical. Like a little tiny beautiful Pixie." They both laughed as he twirled her around in circles, and I found myself smiling helplessly, stupidly, a little painfully. They looked... perfect together. Natural. Like this had always been their life. I couldn't breathe. The way she curled into his arms like she belonged there. The way he held her lwas ike she was something precious. My throat tightened. I wanted to turn away from the scene in front of me, but I couldn't, I was completely enthralled by them and by the could-have-beens. The ache inside grew. I didn't know what to do with it, even as the bond tugged softly as if it, too, was watching. The desire to hold on to this picture-perfect scene and Rever pe design ever let go. This is all I've ever wanted since I was a kid. It's finally happening, but not like I imagined it, and that? That is causing my heart to ache in ways I can't even begin to describe. "Ready?" Alec asked, glancing up at me and pulling from my thoughts. I forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah. Let's go." The animal park was nestled at the edge of the town. The whole drive It was filled with Aspen's chatter. Alec was engaging, but I found it hard to join them. My head was spinning, my heart was aching, and my soul was torn in all kinds of ways as my past desires and dreams collided with my current reality. It's like Alec sensed I was troubled, so he made sure Aspen was engaged enough while I tried collecting my thoughts. By the time they got there, Aspen could barely contain her excitement. She had never been to an animal park before, since we didn't have any close to home.

Chapter 241

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