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

but you can still see the

crouch a little. "What are

the little girl

boy says, standing a little

meet you," I smile

they say in

title again. Why does everyone keep calling me

have to call me that," I tell them gently.

weirdly silent conversation between them

they say together, flashing

way they're so in sync is kind of creepy... but also weirdly adorable. It's like their bond runs deeper than just being family

at Aspen, still clinging

you tired?" I

she replies. "Just saying

you, but don't you think you should get back to your friends?" I smile at her, brushing a strand of

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

Mommy," she says sweetly, kissing my

off, laughter trailing behind her as the

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

I've managed to master teleportation, telepathy, and my third form. It's something. But it's not

push deeper, faster. If I'm not ready when the

my shoulders. "Where do we

replies. "Today, I want us

myself. Why am I nodding? She's inside

before we do," she

need to understand

form, the

a blend of human and wolf. It's

get that,"

a third form. A hybrid mix. A three-in-one kind of

I

human form and a wolf form

in-between."

to piece together what she's saying. "Wait, are you saying

not a wolf?"

telling you everything,"

ready for that yet. Just... stop thinking of it

think of it as then? Maybe it's like

and spirit, different aspects of one

I mutter.

"I think