Alpha Alec's Redemption by Kathy M

Chapter 243

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 really loves 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 me 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 come up 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 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.

that," I muttered, feeling

trust him, but that doesn't mean I am not

"Nyx-"

cuts me off before I could

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

She made so much sense. Nyx just made me realize 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

when Aspen was busy drawing something in her ice cream with a

I said. "Just...

smiled gently. "She's

"She is."

incredible with

me a little. "I just...

said, voice low and earnest. "You are. You've

The emotions were sitting in my throat like they had nowhere else

moon was close-I

he gave me lit a fire under my skin. But here in this moment with Aspen between us and soft music

It was something gentler.

It was home.

was done with her ice cream, we decided to order coffee, a glass of milk for Aspen and a cake cut a bite of strawberry cheesecake, holding it up to Aspen's lips. She took

Mister

froze and blinked, caught

him too." She smiled sweetly

she was putting me in a

"I don't think

to

feed himself,

her little

you dare," I warned her with a playful glare. "You

"Pretty please?"

knew the determined look plastered on her face. Aspen was stubborn.