Alpha Alec's Redemption by Kathy M

Chapter 241

Sadie

The next day came 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 time it became easier 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! Mister 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 dramatically. "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."

scrunched-up, suspicious look. "You

I reached for the tiny silver butterfly

I might have

me tear up. "You

eyes widen as I

twirled on the spot, arms stretched out, giggling in delight. "Mister Alec's gonna say I'm

me

hit me

badly to tell her the truth. I don't understand why, but it was like an insistent echo

me to reveal to

Alec

had already made up her mind and was unknowingly treating him like her dad. To her, he was someone to look up to.

into the hallway, Aspen holding my hand with a white cardigan barely staying on her shoulders, Alec was already waiting near

And goddess help me.

that clung a little too perfectly to his frame, and a clean shave that made his features sharper than

said with a grin, crouching

ran straight to him. "I told you I'd

her up. "You look magical. Like

in circles, and I found myself smiling -helplessly, stupidly, a little painfully. They looked... perfect together. Natural.

breathe. The way she curled into his arms like she