Page 35 of Bonded Beyond Regret

I nod, trying not to give in to how nervous I am. There’s no need for me to be nervous. Mom is right, I need to give my little girl a chance to be the amazing person she is growing up to be.

“I wanted to talk to you about something,” my voice is cautious, and my words are measured. Aisley’s eyebrows shoot up and she nods slowly like she’s bracing for something bad. I know that her reaction is because of the past three years, and I hate it. I have to fight hard not to flinch. “It’s nothing bad,” I promise and then immediately backpedal, “at least I don’t think it’s bad.”

“Mom,” Aisley stops my spiraling thoughts and touches my arm like she’s reassuring me even though that’s my job.

I shake my head and take a deep breath. “I wanted to talk to you about how you would feel if Samuel and I were to be together, like officially together as a couple.”

Aisley blinks a few times, and panic starts to set in. This could be what breaks my girl, and she’s pushed over the edge. If it is then it’s been a long time coming.

Before I can figure out what to say, because I really am at a loss here, she launches herself at me and wraps her arms around my neck and squeezes until it’s difficult to breathe.

“I figured you two were already together,” she squeals very close to my ear, not that I’m going to temper her excitement. Notabout this. “He’s looked at you like you’re the full moon since the moment we got here. And he’s so nice. I love him like he loves me. Even if he didn’t like me, it wouldn’t matter because he makes you happy.” She pulls back and presses her small hands against my cheeks with enough force that I have fish lips. “You deserve to be happy,” she breathes.

The only way to stop myself from crying is blinking about a million times. The lump in my throat is a good thing. I can almost ignore that dull throb in my chest. I don’t ever want Aisley to lose her connection to Andrew, but she has a big heart that has room to love Samuel as well.

“I’m so glad you love him, and I know he loves you too,” I barely get the words out as I pull my daughter back into my arms and hug her tight.

I will always be grateful that I was blessed with the beautiful soul that is my pup.

“Are we going to live with Sammy in the packhouse? Does this mean I could become the Alpha? Do you think,” her tone is cautious, “it would be okay for me to call him Daddy Sam?”

With a squeeze, I slowly let go of her. The look on her face tells me that she’s not only worried about how Samuel would feel about that, but me as well. I hate that she’s even a little bit worried about how I would react, but I get it.

“I think he would like that,” I admit. “I won’t ever forget your dad. He will always be a part of me because he was my mate and he’s part of you. We can remember him and honor him while moving forward and I know that Samuel can help us find a future worth living.”

Her eyebrows pull together like she’s thinking about my words. She nods slowly as she processes, and I can see Andrew in her so clearly for a moment. But I can see myself as well.

“Love our pup,”my wolf purrs softly.

Me too.

“How about we go and see Samuel? The only way we can fid out how he’ll feel about something is to go and ask him,” I point out.

Her eyes go wide and then she’s pulling me out the door and toward the packhouse with a strength that makes me laugh. When we reach his office and Aisley knocks, my heart starts to pound. I barely hear him tell us to come in.

The moment we do, Aisley lets go of my hand and rushes toward Samuel. He barely has time to push back from his desk before she’s there and crawling into his lap. She lays her hands on his cheeks and holds him in place.

As he takes in the very serious look on her face, he tries to glance at me, but she doesn’t allow it. It’s not easy to hold in my laughter.

Samuel’s voice is curious and cautious, “What’s going on with my favorite females?”

“Mom just had a very important talk with me,” Aisley’s face doesn’t give anything away. “She told me that you’re together now as a couple.”

His eyes go wide, and his heart starts to pound harder in his chest. “We are. How do you feel about that?”

If I weren’t already in love with this man, that would do it.

“I have a few questions.” Aisley doesn’t give him a chance to respond before she blurts, “Are we going to move in here and live in the Alpha suite? Do you know how to make pancakes with chocolate chips? What are you planning to get me for my birthday? How do you feel about vacations? I want to go to the beach.” I know some of these questions are coming out of nowhere because she’s nervous about asking the one that’s most important to her. “Can I call you Daddy Sammy?”

Samuel sucks in a sharp breath before he wraps his arms around my girl and presses her against his chest. She buries her face against his neck and squeezes him as hard as she can.

“I’ll answer all your questions and if I don’t have an answer then we’ll figure it out together,” his voice is thick with emotion as he looks at me to let me know that his answer is just as much for me as it is for Aisley. “Most importantly,” he swallows hard, his eyes glassy, “I would be honored to be called ‘Daddy Sammy’.” He nuzzles the top of her head. “I love you, little one, so much.”

“I love you, Daddy Sammy.”

Seeing such tender emotions for me and for the girl he wants to be a father to cross the face of the big, strong Alpha is a memory that will sit side by side with memories of Andrew for the rest of my life.

CHAPTER 15

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