Alpha Alec's Redemption by Kathy M

"Mommy!"

I turn to find Aspen sprinting toward me, her little legs moving with such speed it

makes me wonder if she's secretly the Flash.

I barely have time to brace myself before she leaps into my arms.

"Hi, my love,” I greet her, burying my nose in her hair just to inhale her scent.

I don't know about you, but there's something about our kids that calms the raging

storm inside us. Something about their presence that eases the pressure building in our chests. It doesn't matter how stressed you are or how much you're drowning. Once you see their smile, everything else melts away, replaced by peace.

"Hi Mommy," she murmurs, nestling against my shoulder. "I missed you, but I let you sleep."

In other words, she didn't wake me up. How can I not love this little girl?

"Goddess, I love our daughter," Nyx says, her voice soft and full of warmth.

I can't disagree. Aspen has met Nyx. Many times, actually. Even though she doesn't fully understand the whole werewolf thing, her love for Nyx runs just as deep.

"Thank you, my love," I whisper back to Aspen. "Mommy was really tired."

"I know," she replies simply.

I hold her close, letting her warmth and the serenity she brings wash over me. For the first time in a while, my thoughts quiet down.

But then her name is called.

She lifts her head and waves enthusiastically, motioning for her friends to join us. They don't hesitate; they come charging like a tiny tornado.

Where the hell do kids get so much energy? I consider myself pretty fit, but I could never match that kind of chaos.

"Hi!" they chorus the moment they skid to a stop in front of me.

"My friends," Aspen announces proudly. "They're tins."

I blink. "Tins?"

She nods. "Yeah... tins."

"You mean twins?"

"Yeah... tins," she repeats stubbornly.

I start to correct her again but stop myself. "Never mind."

her personality, this could turn into a back-and-forth, and trust me, nothing is

fraternal twins, clearly, but you can still see

crouch a little. "What are your

the little girl

says, standing a

lovely to meet you,"

they say in perfect

title again. Why does everyone keep calling me Luna? Still, I'm

to call me that," I tell them

a look. A weirdly silent conversation between them

they say together,

the way they're so in sync is kind of creepy... but also weirdly adorable.

glance at Aspen, still clinging

tired?"

she replies.

don't you think you should get back to your friends?"

and Aiden are clearly waiting for her. And besides, I need to get started with training. With this new Kaden development, mastering

says sweetly, kissing

behind her as the trio disappears down

usual training spot. A quiet clearing that offers the solitude I need to focus. I've been coming here

far, I've managed to master teleportation, telepathy, and my third form. It's something. But it's

need to train harder and push deeper, faster. If I'm not ready when the time

my shoulders. "Where

warm-up," Nyx replies. "Today, I want us to focus on

catch myself. Why am I nodding? She's inside

before we do," she

to

form, the one you call

of human and wolf. It's

don't really get that,"

it was a third form.

sighs Where I come from,

human form and a wolf form There's just... one. That form is

in-between."

frown, trying to piece together what she's saying.

not a wolf?"

to explain without telling

not ready for that yet. Just... stop thinking of it as a

what the hell do I think of it as then?

different aspects of

I mutter.

"I