Page 82 of The Alpha's Stolen Mate

But I was more afraid of the mental scars Axel and the Rogue wolf who attacked me when I was sixteen had given me. Before I left the hospital, I’d brought this up to Healer Aja. She recommended a therapist she knew from the Pryegate Kingdom who specialized in healing trauma. I had a video call scheduled with her in a week just to see if she might be the right fit for me.

“Do you think Aunt Mia stayed back at the hospital because she’s sad that you, Grayson, and I are moving back to Brindle Creek?” I asked as my mom carefully cut her pie.

Earlier today—right before we heard the good news about my dad—my mom and I talked to my Aunt Mia in front of the compound’s hospital. Gabriel took Grayson for a walk to the coffee shop to buy him a donut. My mom and I told Aunt Mia that Gabriel had made it safe for Grayson and me to move back to Brindle Creek. Aunt Mia had been ecstatic, but I could see the sadness in her eyes when she thought no one was looking.

“I do,” my mom said and sighed.

“Do you think she would ever consider leaving the farm to live with us?”

My mom shook her head with a sad smile.

“No, honey, I’m sorry. I don’t think she would,” she said, sliding a piece of pie onto a plate. “She loves being on the farm. It makes her feel close to Edward. I’m sure she will visit us and we will visit her.”

“You’re right. I’m going to miss her so much, though. And I know that Grayson will, too.”

“He will,” my mom agreed. “But it will be good for him to live close to his father and grandfather. And he will be able to get to know Gabriel’s parents.”

I smiled when I remembered Gabriel's parents meeting Grayson for the first time yesterday. It was a quick meeting at Gabriel's house. Gabriel and I didn't want to overwhelm our son after everything that had happened over the last few days.

Gabriel's mother had introduced herself with unshed tears in her eyes, and when Grayson gave her a hug, I saw them falling gently down her face. Then, Gabriel's father hugged Grayson close and told him how excited he was to have him as a grandson.

I was glad that Grayson had two more people in his life who loved him.

My mom handed me two plates to carry. One of them held a huge piece of pie.

“Who’s this one for? Gabriel? It’s massive.” I asked.

My mom smirked.

“That’s for my grandson. He’s a growing boy,” she said and winked.

I laughed, grateful for the people in Grayson’s life who loved him as much as his father and I did.

***

“And then there was a big dragon who came out of nowhere. He opened up his mouth, and a burst of flames shot out. But the wizard was ready for him. He cast a spell that turned the fire into ice and was able to save the entire village from the vampire, goblin, and even a dragon,” Gabriel said.

“Woah! George is such a cool wizard!” Grayson said. “I want to be just like him when I grow up.”

I smiled from Grayson’s doorway. Gabriel had offered to get our son ready for bed. I used the rare alone time to take a long bath and then dressed in my most comfortable pair of matching pale pink pajamas. When I checked in on the boys, I’d caught the tail end of Gabriel’s bedtime story about a wizard named George.

“All right, buddy. It’s bedtime,” Gabriel said and leaned down to kiss the top of his head. “Goodnight, Goose.” He patted the top of the dog’s head.

Goose thumped his tail from his spot on the end of Grayson’s bed.

“Fine, but promise to tell me another story about George tomorrow night?” Grayson said as I walked into his room and kissed his cheek.

“I promise,” Gabriel said.

When Gabriel shut the door, there was a panicked look on his face.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as we walked down the hallway.

“I’m awful at coming up with stories.” Gabriel ran a hand through his tawny hair. “The story about George the wizard is something my dad used to tell me when I was a kid. And my dad wasn’t really creative either. He just told me the same story over and over again.”

I giggled and bumped his shoulder with mine. My skin heated at the contact.

“So, you’ll tell him the same story tomorrow night, too. Or you’ll get books to read to him. It’s not really about the stories you tell him, but the time you spend with him,” I said.

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