Page 58 of Betrayed Alpha Bride

“Okay, kiddo,” I tell him, smiling. “Go and play, now. As soon as your dad’s finished at town hall, we can go home.”

Nico runs back to the game, and I sit down at a nearby picnic table with Winnie.

“So, you found something, then?” she asks.

I shake my head. “Not much, really. Someone who claimed to be my aunt, who told me my mother got mixed up in some crazy magic. Said that my dad probably died because of it. I’ll never have the powers of a wolf or a witch, and I don’t really know how to help Nico.”

“We’ll get through it,” Winnie says, rubbing my hand. “I promise. We’re in this together.”

“Thank you, Winnie,” I say, meaning it. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for us—including standing up for me just now.”

“Don’t mention it,” Winnie giggles. “I take every opportunity to ruffle old Ma Haggerty’s feathers. I was doing it for myself, really!”

Winnie’s mirth is infectious, as always, and I can feel my worries slide away as we laugh together. My carefree moment doesn’t last long, though, because I see Galen approaching from the street. My stomach lurches.

Maybe one day, I’ll be able to look at him without immediately getting slammed by equal parts lust and fear.

He doesn’t come towards us, but runs straight out onto the field with the kids. They are kicking a soccer ball up and down the field, having fun without bothering too much about rules. Galen joins in, kicking the ball between both goal posts, scoring points for each team.

After a bit of running up and down, with Galen continuously switching sides, all the kids are laughing so hard, they can’t play anymore. They fall down into an ungainly heap with Galen, tackling him. He disappears under a teeming wave of shouting, laughing children.

Watching Galen roar with mock fury as he gently tosses the kids around tugs at my heart. When Nico jumps out of the crowd and wraps his arms around his father’s neck, I watch Galen smile back at him. My heart feels so full, it could burst out of my chest.

They are so connected. It’s like they always knew each other, even though they never met.

My mind slips back to the night before, and I try to stay calm as I let the memories run through my head. I was drunk—really drunk—and I don’t remember everything, but I know I wanted it, and I begged Galen to fuck me.

It’s just sex, I remind myself. We always had chemistry—that’s no secret.

But as stubbornly as I try to hold on to this thought and tell myself it’s true, I know it’s not the whole truth.

I can’t give my heart to him again. There’s no way I can just turn back the clock and pretend the past never happened. I might never be able to trust again after what Galen did to me.

Besides, I don’t know if he truly loves me now or just wants to heal his own guilt.

Watching him play with Nico, I can’t ignore the absolute truth inside me.

My feelings for Galen never wavered. Not once. Even when I was crying over him, I knew that some part of me still loved him…

And that’s why I’m so afraid.

Chapter 18 - Galen

My rushed meeting with the council upon arriving at the town hall sets my nerves on edge. Sherman isn’t backing down on his bid to expand the council, and when the rest of the elders show up, it’s obvious to me that everyone has ulterior motives.

I just don’t know what they are. There is dissent here, and I have to figure it out.

I end the meeting quickly and leave, heading to the park to find Clara and Nico. I decide to ask Mother about pack politics later and follow up with Kit.

He’s always been someone I can rely on. He’s always eager to hear what’s going on in Quartz Key and lend advice. I couldn’t ask for a better friend.

Even though I know some elders—possibly even Mother—would be horrified at the idea of me asking advice from the alpha of another pack, I trust Kit. And I don’t think every wolf in Lycan Pass is out to take my territory.

My mood lifts the second I see Winnie and Clara standing by the field. They look pretty deep in conversation, so I jump straight into soccer practice, kicking goals all over the place to create utter chaos. The kids all tackle me, and I end up covered in dirt, buried under a pile of screaming wolf pups.

All the kids are laughing, but Nico’s smile hits me the hardest. Not just because he’s my son, but because there’s a sense of joy in him that seems hard-won.

He couldn’t be himself in the human world. Even though he still hasn’t found his place here, he knows he’s with his own kind… and with his family.

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