Alpha Alec's Redemption by Kathy M

Chapter 0178

She moves, smiles and kisses my cheek. "I close the door."

My clever, sneet munchkin. I chuckle as I correct her. "It's closed the door, honey."

"Close," she repeats it wrong again.

"Closed" "Close"

I give up. I help her get inside the bathtub. It's after she's in that I realize that I miscalculated. How am I supposed to wash with only one hand? I'd been so focused on everything else that I completely forgot that one arm was in a cast. Sighing, I debate on whether I should call Martha, but then after a while I decide against it. It can't be that hard.

I start with her hair, as she tells me about her day. It takes a little bit longer than usual, but I manage. After that, I wash her body, just as slowly as I did with her hair. I drain the water before twisting the tap for more. She likes soaking and just playing with her toys so I let her sit for a while.

"Mommy," she suddenly turns to me all serious.

"Yes, baby?"

"Where is daddy?"

heart stops for a second as I try to process what she asked me. I'm frozen as I watch her wide green eyes staring

have never had this discussion before. She has never asked, and I've never bothered to with it. I knew that when she got older, she would ask questions, but I just planned to tell her that her dad and I weren't

when

to have this conversation. I mean, what would I tell her? That her dad is here, but he didn't want her? That he almost ended both

and icicles fill my veins. My hands are shaking and she notices. I take a calming breath, trying to push down the fear. I don't want her to see how her question nearly gave

in a towel, I lead her to

then set her on the bed. I fetch her pajamas and help her get dressed. I am silent, but my brain is scrambling to come up with a reasonable answer. I don't want to lie to her, but I also

release breath knowing that she's still waiting for

our pack, but

a deflection and not an answer, but it's all I had right now. My brain seems

frend asked... he say everyone has a daddy," she answers. "But I don't," she looks down as she says the last part, and that just