Page 57 of Betrayed Alpha Bride

“Better get a move on,” Nathan suggests. “We wouldn’t want to keep Galen waiting.”

“We’ll be sure to tell him how kind it was of you to personally greet Clara on her arrival,” Delia says, blinking innocently. “Good deeds shouldn’t go unrewarded.”

The other three break up, going around us to hurry towards the Town Hall. Delia gives me a wave before following after them, and Winnie gives me a big hug.

“You’ve got plenty of us in your corner, Clara,” she says. “Don’t worry about that.”

“I never knew that,” I reply numbly, letting Winnie lead me over to the park, where I can see the kids playing in the distance.

“Hey, don’t get me wrong,” Winnie laughs. “I don’t think most of the pack is in a hurry to throw a party for you. But I, for one, missed you badly.”

“Thank you, Winnie,” I say, hugging her. “I was surprised to see Delia and Nathan standing up for me, though. I thought they were big supporters of Cliff.”

“They were, but now Mom is spreading it around that you’re good for the pack and have done a great job raising her grandson,” Winnie explains. “More people are coming out in your favor. There were plenty of people who were behind you before this, but now that Mom has accepted you, it’s made other pack members really stop and think about your reputation. Most of them have realized there is no basis for it.”

“It?” I repeat, feeling my heart sink a little.

We all know what “it” is.

“Hey.” Winnie gives me a quick hug. “Not having the shifter gene doesn’t mean you aren’t part of the family, okay? Your dad was one of us, and you are, too.”

I have nothing else to say as we cross the park towards where the kids are playing. I know now for sure that even if my dad was a wolf, I’ll never be one. And I can’t be a witch, either.

“Mom!” I hear Nico cry out. He runs off the field towards me. I bend down, and he barrels straight into me, almost knocking me off my feet.

“Hi, kiddo,” I say, laughing. “Have you had fun with Aunt Winnie?”

“I did!” he answers happily. “She let me have cake for breakfast!”

“That was supposed to be our little secret,” Winnie reminds him, giving him a look.

“It’s okay,” I say, smiling. “I condone sweets for breakfast on most occasions.”

“Excellent,” Winnie says, clapping her hands together. “Because it’s pretty much all I ever eat, and I plan to babysit quite a bit.”

“Oh, you do, do you?” I grin at her. “Did Nico charm you that much?”

“We had fun!” Nico exclaims. “It’s so nice to have family.”

His words hit me like shards of ice right in the chest. My smile falters, and all I can think about is what I never had—and how I almost took it from Nico by taking him away from his pack.

And maybe none of this had to happen. Galen didn’t mean for me to run away. And when my father died, I had support here. I just didn’t realize it.

What have I done?

“Hey, Mom,” Nico says quickly, noticing my expression. “It’s okay, I promise. I know that for a long time, we weren’t safe here, but we are now, aren’t we?”

“Yes, Nico,” I answer, hugging him. “We’re safe now.”

“Did you find out anything about my powers?” he asks.

“Not really, baby,” I reply sadly. “All I know is, you’re a witch as well as a wolf, and I can never be either one.”

“That’s harsh,” Winnie remarks. “Never?”

I shake my head, looking up at her. “Never.”

“That’s sad, Mom,” Nico agrees. “I promise to be extra good with my powers to make you proud, okay?”

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