Page 29 of Redeeming His Omega Mate

“Really,” I said with a smile, handing it to her. “Now you have your own flowerpot.”

“Thank you!” Aria beamed as she took the pot from my hands and set it carefully beside her.

I settled on a nearby rock, watching as she inspected the pot with a thoughtful expression, ensuring it was perfect for what she had in mind. She went ahead to fill it with soil, using her tiny fingers to poke small holes across the surface. Watching her gentle hands move over the pot was soothing.

“Have you ever planted a flower?” she asked, not looking up as she selected a vibrant bloom and gently nestled it into one of the holes.

“No,” I admitted.

“Would you like to try?”

“Sure.”

“Give me your hand,” she instructed with a smile.

I extended my hand, and she placed a flower in my palm. “Just put it in this hole,” she said, pointing, “then pat the soil around it.”

She spoke with the confidence and precision of a little teacher, which I found adorable.

I followed her guidance, carefully tucking the flower into place. “You’re really good at this,” I remarked, smiling as we continued planting together.

“I do this a lot back home with my best friend, Tobias,” she shared.

“You have a best friend, huh? What’s he like?”

She paused, her lips forming a pout. “He’s soooo annoying,” she emphasized, her eyes crinkling as she shook her head. “But he can be nice sometimes.”

I chuckled as she returned to arranging the flowers. “Aunt Maeve always makes him apologize whenever he annoys me,” she added, then glanced up to explain. “Aunt Maeve is Mummy’s best friend and Tobias’ mom.”

I nodded, piecing together the names. Tobias, her best friend; Aunt Maeve, Tala’s best friend; and Mrs. Willow, her teacher. But there was no mention of her father.

“And your father?” I asked gently.

She shook her head. “I don’t know. Mummy never talks about him.” A trace of sadness flickered across her face.

“Hmm,” I hummed softly, her words lingering in the back of my mind. But I reached over and brushed a bit of dirt from her cheek, hoping to lighten the mood. “Hey, looks like you’re growing more dirt than flowers,” I teased.

Aria cackled, wiping her chin as we went back to planting the flowers.

By the time we returned to the pack quarters, it was already sundown. Aria skipped ahead of me, her flowerpot clenched tightly in her hands. Her light, joyful giggles echoed through the yard, filling me with a warmth that felt foreign, but I welcomed it. Seeing her happy made me happy, and I was glad I’d managed to bring back that spark in her.

When we reached the front door, I pushed it open, letting Aria dart inside.

“Mummy!” she squealed, her voice ringing through the room.

Tala stood by the sofas, her posture rigid. Our eyes met, and I saw the anger blazing in them.

“Mummy, look!” she beamed. “I’ve got my own personal flowerpot! I picked out all the flowers and planted them myself!”

Tala pressed her lips into a thin line, clearly trying to muster a smile, but displeasure still clung to her expression. “That’s great,” she said tightly, crouching in front of Aria and smoothing down her wild hair. “You must have gotten dirt all over your body in the process. Why don’t you go upstairs and freshen up? I’ll join you in a moment, okay?”

Aria’s grin stretched from ear to ear as she nodded. But instead of going upstairs, she darted toward me and hugged my waist. “Thank you, Uncle Damian. I promise to take very good care of the flowerpot.”

I smiled at her. “I trust you will.”

She hugged me again, then skidded up the stairs, leaving me and Tala alone with the elephant in the room.

Silence stretched between us. Tala’s stare was sharp enough to draw blood, but I met it head-on. “I don’t appreciate you taking my daughter out without my permission,” she finally said, her tone firm and biting.

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