Chapter 243

Words : 1247 Updated : Jun 26th, 2025

The rest of the visit passed in a blur of giggles and tiny hands pressed to glass enclosures. Aspen's favorites were the baby goats. She got to feed one, and when it nibbled her fingers, she laughed so hard she had to sit down. Alec was right there beside her, brushing dirt off her knees, and I stood a few steps away, trying not to let the ache in my chest show. Trying not to let myself succumb to the desire to have this. To be a complete family. I stared at them and witnessed the love in Aspen's eyes as she stared at her father. To Aspen, Alec belonged to her. And what scared me more than anything else was being like this. The three of us felt right. "She roves him," Nyx whispered in the back of my mind. I nodded silently. "Do you still?" I didn't answer, and she didn't push. We ended the day at a cozy little diner tucked between trees, with string lights hanging from the branches and outdoor seating that gave us a clear view of the sunset. Aspen was bouncing in her seat, her animals on either side of her like bodyguards. She sat between us in the booth, her cheeks stained with chocolate ice cream. She was talking nonstop, telling Alec all about her favorite animals and how she wanted a pet goat-maybe even a "baby tiger" if it could be nice. I watched them with my chin resting in my palm. Alec was hanging onto her every word. His eyes never strayed from her. "I have to admit there is something hot about him watching her talk and actively listening to her," Nyx whispered, breaking from my trance. I was shocked. Her voice sounded so dreamy in a way I've never heard her. "I thought you hated Alec and Knox?" I asked because, what the fuck? I was confused by the sudden change. "I did, and so did you, but that's not stopping you from lusting after him." My immediate reaction was to deny everything. "I am not lusting after him! Where the hell did you even cup with that?" My heart started racing as my mind went back to those few moments with Alec. I could deny everything. Pretend that nothing had happened. That it was all the effects of the upcoming full moon and the bond between us, but we both knew it was a lie, ie, even though I wasn't ready to admit it yet. "I may have been missing in action, Sadie, but that doesn't mean I was not aware of what was happening," she said with a wicked smile. "It-it's not like that," I muttered, feeling a bit guilty. "You don't have to be ashamed, Sadie." She said, "I still don't like Knox all that m, much and I don't trust him, but that doesn't mean I am not attracted to him. He is a hot bastard; I cannot deny that, and I won't even try to." "Nyx-"cut off before I could say anything. "You are trying to suppress what you are feeling, and that's not healthy. You want him; at least your body wants him, and that's normal. You don't have to feel ashamed for wanting to fuck his brain out, Sadie. Those are just emotions, and they are completely normal. So, accept them, allow yourself to be truthful with yourself, and then let them fade if that's what you want and you are sure you don't want to act on them." I remain quiet as I listen to her. She made so much sense. Nyx just realized what I have been doing. I've been fighting what I feel. I've been trying to suppress it, believing that allowing myself to feel is akin to letting Alec off the hook easily. But just because I feel it doesn't mean I have to act on what I feel. It just allowsto feel it. "You okay?" he asked quietly when Aspen was busy drawing something in her ice cream with a spoon. "Yeah," I said. "Just... watching." He smiled gently. "She's amazing." "She is." "And you're... incredible with her." That startled me a little. "I just... try." "No, Sadie," he said, voice low and earnest. "You are. You've done so much for her." I didn't know what to say. The emotions were sitting in my throat like they had nowhere else to go. The full moon was close-I could feel the tension in my skin, the way every look he gave me lit a fire under my skin. But here in this moment with Aspen between us and soft music humming in the background, it wasn't just lust or longing. It was something gentler. It was home. When Aspen was done with her ice cream, we decided to order coffee, a glass of milk for Aspen, and a cake. He cut into a bite of strawberry cheesecake, holding it up to Aspen's lips. She took it with a hum, then grinned mischievously. "Mommy, feed Mister Alec too!" I froze and blinked, caught completely unawares. "What?" "Yes! You fed me. You should feed him, too." She smiled sweetly as if she didn't know she was putting herself in a spot. Alec chuckled. "I don't think that's-" "Mommy, he needs to have a taste." "He can feed himself, Ash. He's a grown-up." Aspen pouted, her little lip wobbling. "Don't you dare," I warned her with a playful glare. "You already got two stuffed animals." "Pretty please?" I knew the determined look plastered on her face. Aspen was stubborn. She wasn't going to give this up, and it wouldn't hurt. I sighed, picked up a bite, and leaned over the table. Alec leaned i, too, looking far too amused. "Open up, big guy," I said. He did, and I fed him the cake. He chewed slowly, deliberately, holding my gaze the entire time. There was a blazing fire behind them. A fire that, if I weren't careful, would burn both of us. "Delicious," he murmured, though I wasn't sure if he meant the cake or the moment. Aspen clapped. "See? That was not hard, and it was nice." I buried my face in my hands, laughing, my cheeks burning. I can't believe my daughter did that. That I fed Alec. Who would have ever thought? I took a breath to ground myself. For a moment, a moment for one long, aching moment- I didn't feel the weight of everything pressing in around us. It was just the three of us. Sweet, silly, and effortlessly whole. A family. Even if just for a day. When we got back to the pack, Aspen was already asleep. Alec picked her up. Her little head tucked. Under his chin, his hand was fisted in his shirt. It was a beautiful and touching moment seeing her so loved by him, so protected. "Thank you," I said as he shut the door gently. He looked at me, eyes unreadable. "For what?" "For this. For today. She needed this." "So did I," he said quietly, then paused before continuing, "And maybe you needed it too." Maybe I did, but I looked away because I wasn't ready to admit that he was right.

Chapter 243

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