Page 56 of Rogue’s Reckoning

I glance at Willow, who gives a small nod. "I'd love to," I tell Wren.

As Wren leads me to the slide, chattering excitedly, I feel a lump form in my throat. This amazing little girl is my daughter. I've missed so much, but I'm determined not to miss any more.

We spend the next hour playing on the playground. Wren shows me all her favorite equipment, and I push her on the swings, reveling in her delighted giggles. Willow watches from the bench, her expression a mixture of caution and something softer—something I can't quite read.

As the sun starts to set, Willow calls Wren over. "Time to go home, Little Bird," she says.

Wren pouts for a moment but doesn't argue. She turns to me with a bright smile. "Will you come play again sometime?" she asks.

I look to Willow, who gives a slight nod. "I'd like that," I tell Wren. "If it's okay with your mom."

As Willow helps Wren gather her things, I pull her aside for a moment. "Thank you," I say softly. "For letting me meet her. She's incredible, Willow. You've done an amazing job with her."

Willow's eyes soften slightly. "She is pretty great," she agrees.

“I meant what I said before," I continue. "I'm so sorry for everything that happened between us. You deserved better, and I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you both."

Willow looks at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then she nods slightly. "I appreciate that," she says softly.

I can see the walls she's built around herself, the caution in her eyes. But there's also a hint of the Willow I used to know—strong, compassionate, loving. God, I've missed her.

"Little Flower," I say gently, using the old nickname without thinking, "I know it'll take time, but I hope someday you can forgive me. I want to be someone you and Wren can count on."

To my surprise, Willow doesn't flinch at the nickname. Instead, her eyes soften further. "We'll see," she says, but there's less edge to her voice now.

On impulse, I lean in and press a soft kiss to her cheek. "Thank you again," I murmur.

For a moment, Willow leans into me slightly, and I catch a whiff of her familiar scent. Then she steps back, composing herself.

"We should go," she says, her voice steady. "Say goodbye to Rogue, Wren."

Wren runs up and throws her arms around my legs. "Bye, Rogue! Thanks for playing with me!"

I kneel down to her level, my heart swelling. "Thanks for letting me play with you, sweetheart. I had a great time."

As I watch Willow and Wren walk away, hand in hand, I feel a mixture of emotions. Joy at finally meeting my daughter. Sadness for all the time I've missed. Hope that maybe, just maybe, I can be part of their lives going forward.

I know I have a long way to go to earn Willow's trust back. But for the first time in five years, I feel like I have a chance. And I'm not going to waste it.

I enter the clubhouse,my emotions a roiling mess after meeting Wren. The joy of finally seeing my daughter is warringwith the pain of all I've missed and the guilt over how I treated Willow. I head straight for the bar, grab a bottle of whiskey, and pour myself a generous glass.

"How'd it go, brother?" Hades asks, approaching cautiously.

I down the whiskey in one gulp, relishing the burn. "She's perfect," I growl. "And I've fucked everything up."

The next few hours pass in a blur. I’m ecstatic, fucking proud that I’m a dad. My daughter is amazing. Hades stays and shoots the shit with me, asking questions about Wren. We drink and talk about my little girl. Hades can’t wait to meet her and has already claimed the best uncle title.

By the time most of the brothers have cleared out, I'm well and truly drunk. The anger I’ve been holding on to since finding out that I have a daughter is simmering just below the surface.

"Rogue," Ghost's voice cuts through my haze. "We need to talk."

I glare at him, not in the mood for one of his lectures. "Fuck off, Ghost."

He doesn't back down. "This shit can't continue, brother. You've been drinking too much, picking fights. It's affecting the club."

His words ignite the anger I've been trying to drown. "The club?" I snarl, standing up unsteadily. "The fucking club is why I lost Willow in the first place!"

Ghost's eyes narrow. "We've been through this. We all made mistakes back then."

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