Page 53 of Reclaiming His Lost Mate
Mia’s eyes darted to Alexis, searching for confirmation. “Really?” she whispered, hope blossoming in her expression.
“Really, Sweetheart,” Alexis said, his voice steady with unwavering affection. “I’m your daddy, and I love you so much.”
Mia’s small face lit up, and the moment felt as if the universe had aligned perfectly, stitching together lost pieces of our lives.
Finally, Alexis turned back to me, eyes shining with both gratitude and determination. “Selina… this, us—it’s everything I’ve ever wanted.”
Tears stung my eyes as I nodded, unable to find the words to express what surged within my heart. I drew closer, joining them, wrapping my arms around both Alexis and Mia. The bond between us pulsed with life, blooming with every heartbeat, rising like the sun to greet the new day ahead.
Chapter 25
Selina
“What about wormweed—it’s been known to aid in digestion, hasn’t it?” Seraphina piped up from my laptop screen, where she was staring out from one of the boxes on my video call. We were crafting a set of teas designed to aid in digestion for after the shift. It was a well-known fact that a lot of shifters suffered a bit after their wolves binged on caribou and other such rich gamey meats that our packs hunted in our Alaskan wilds.
“Wormweed’s perfect,” I enthused. “And there are tons of it in the Silver Moon and Moonlight Pack lands. What do you think, Lyv?”
Lyvia blinked out from the other box on my screen and said, “It’s a brilliant idea. I’ll ask Leah to sell us some and get it sent out to the two of you so we can all brew a batch and see how a prototype sells.”
I knew for a fact the kind Moonlight Luna, who had tried to pay for the herbal treatments Lyvia and I had provided her over the years in Matsuna, would provide us with the herbs for free, but I appreciated Lyvia would try to give her something for their resources.
“Brilliant,” I said, checking the clock and surprised that it was almost five o’clock. But Fridays were my favorite day of the week, my afternoons spent on video calls with my two best friends and businesspartners, Lyvia and Seraphina, during which we concocted new recipes and products.
It turned out that what Marissa had done by infecting my customers had turned out to be a blessing in disguise, but not in the way she’d intended. By meeting and teaming up with Seraphina and with Lyvia’s continued assistance, I’d been able to expand my business.
When I’d left Matsuna, I’d hired an assistant herbalist to oversee my business there. Selina’s boutique in Matsuna had been my first shop and would always have a special place in my heart, but with Seraphina and Lyvia’s drive and vision, they’d helped me open up another store here in Shadow Moon three months ago. Then, a month ago, we’d opened branches in the Moonlight and the Silver Moon Pack, which Seraphina and Lyvia were currently managing until they were more established.
Sireen, once one of the royal maids of my father’s household, popped her head through to my office. “Beta Rhys is here asking for you, Selina.”
After we’d defeated the Black Moons, like clockwork, Lucien had offered to reform the alliance with Alexis and the Shadow Moon Pack. It had been with relish that I and Alexis had rejected Lucien's alliance.
But to my surprise, our rejection of the proposal hadn’t been the end of our dealings with the Nightwing Pack. Many Nightwings, disgusted by Lucien’s actions, chose to join Shadow Moon Pack when they heard I now ruled beside Alexis. I couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride as I watched Sireen assist me in the shop, knowing that she and so many other Nightwings were now valued members of our pack, with an Alpha who treated them with the respect they deserved.
“Send him in,” I said before saying to Lyvia and Seraphina, “I better go. Rhys is here. I must be needed at home.”
Seraphina and Lyvia said goodbye, and just as I ended the call, Rhys came into my office.
As Rhys settled comfortably into the armchair, a relaxed smile crossed his face. I shot to my feet and went to the kettle, putting in a couple of tea bags of the Moonlight Mist tea Rhys preferred. Soon, the air wafted with hints of fennel and pomenta. I poured us each a cup and handed him one.
“How’s your day been?” he asked, leaning back slightly.
“Good, thanks! We’ve nailed down the new digestion tea blend,” I replied.
“Can’t wait to try it.” He lifted his cup in a friendly toast before taking a sip. “Alexis sent me to let you know he’s gone out with a unit for the night. They picked up a Black Moon scent near the borders.”
Anxiety prickled through me as it always did when news of the Black Moons slithered in. Alpha Torin's death and Marissa’s may be behind us, but rumors of a new Alpha—Alpha Marcus—were on the rise. He was a brutal force who was only intensifying conflict with neighboring packs. We’d heard from the Moonlight and Silver Moon Packs of ambushes in the forests from rogue Black Moons, and we leaders were still on edge about what their next move would be when the Black Moons had regrouped.
“Thanks for the heads-up,” I said, taking a sip of the calming tea I felt I needed suddenly. “I’ll be back soon to check on Mia.”
Rhys waved a hand airily. “No rush. Becca’s got her and the other little ones entertained in the kitchen.”
Becca, the cook at Shadow Moon Castle, often had the younger kids baking after school. If she was busy, Abbie or Caroline, a couple of pack herbalists, took them harvesting in the nearby woods. Everyone in the pack had embraced Mia.
“She’s in danger of becoming spoiled,” I said with a laugh.
Rhys smiled. “She deserves it. You both do.” His tone was warm and reassuring—a testament to the bond we’d already forged in these last few months.
“Thanks, Rhys.” I paused, frowning as I mused on the worry that was niggling me. “Do you… Do you think Alexis is really worried about the Black Moons invading again?”
