Page 67 of Who We Were

I look at Amaya now, a tear dropping with my gaze. She wears a lot of shock anddevastation?"I don't have a horrible story with a heartbreaking ending to tell you, Amaya. It just never happened for me. I went to school, then kept going to school, then went again until I am where I am now. A very successful lawyer. An alpha with abundant respect and power in our society."

I deflate, my head hanging between my shoulders. I didn't mean to excuse my actions in any way. I just wanted her to understand me. But now I feel like I fucked up all over again.

Then the most serene thing happens. Amaya's chilly, little hand touches my much larger one. She may be cold, but warmth spreads from her grasp, up my arm and settles behind my breastbone. The subtle presence of Amaya in my heart is something I never knew could exist.

A bond. Not of the mate variety, but one between a father and daughter. It's love forming in its most pure state, and Iwill forever cherish the piece of my little girl that seeks out the support and affection only a father can give.

"I'm used to being alone too," Amaya whispers.

Catching her eye again, I feel a tug on that frail tether bonding us as family. Instead of wrapping her in my arms, I flip my hand over and hold hers in a gentle grip. "I amso, sosorry, Amaya. You never should have been alone. I won’t ever be able to make up the time we have lost and the pain you have suffered without me to shield you from the horrors of this world, but Iswearto you, I'm yours now and forever."

My voice wobbles just like her lower lip, but I continue. "I'm going to mess up,a lot," I confess and she giggles, making my chest spark with happiness. "But I will do everything in my power to be the dad I should have always been for you."

Amaya's gold eyes, so much like my own, study me for a moment before she gives me a nod. "Okay," she whispers. "Maybe..." She drops her eyes.

"Maybe what?" I encourage, tugging her hand just a little.

"Maybe you come over for dinner once in a while?"

Fuck if my heart didn't just explode in a burst of butterflies.My daughter wants to hang out with me!"I would fucking love that!"

My hand slams over my mouth, shocked at my outburst, but Amaya giggles again and leans away. "But," she says much stronger now with narrowed eyes that look a little playful, "you have to be nice to Vincent."

Ugh."Do I have to?"

"Yes."

Amaya leaves no room for argument. Looks like I'm just gonna have to glare at the big guy when she's not looking because there's no way I'll ever be okay with some alpha shacking up with my kid.

But as long as she keeps a little space in her life carved out for me to become the dad I really want to be, I can tolerate Vincent. As long as he treats her a thousand times better than I have, we should have no issues.

"You got it," I promise. It's my first promise I've made to her and it might prove to be the hardest.

A flicker of appreciation in our bond makes my chest inflate with pride. I'll do anything for her to keep looking at me like I hung the world even if she stays a little wary for a while.

I'll do right by her, no matter what.

44

AMAYA

I'm taking the final sip of my coffee when Kate lets herself into my house. "You aren't dressed yet?!"

Sputtering, I force the liquid gold down and shoot my friend a glare. "Damn it, Kate!"

"No, damn ityou!Why aren't you ready to go?"

Confused, I set my mug aside, then look down at my light blue tank top and cozy striped pajama pants. My nipples are a little perky, but I'mcovered. "What am I supposed to be ready for?"

Her eyes narrow at me just as Vincent enters the kitchen looking like a walking snack. My core tightens with a needy pulse and I swear my scalp tingles with the beginnings of sweat. It's moments like this that I wonder why the hell we haven't gone further than some sexy kissing.

Fingers snap in front of my face, Kate demanding I focus. "Uh, girls’ day, bitch. Don't you remember?"

I frown and drop my feet to the cool tile floors. I really don't want to leave my little window nook, having enjoyed my morning reading in the early morning light. For once I was ableto stop staring out the window at Samuel's house, and now I'm being disrupted.

I swear every time I'm doing something I enjoy, someone is requesting my presence. My naps have been screwed every which way, and now I can't have a nice Saturday morning coffee, apparently.

If I ask Vincent to put upreallytall walls around the house with retinal scanners at the gates, would he? Probably. Although, everyone who keeps visiting is pretty damn desperate and Kate's scrappy enough to break in.

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