Page 28 of Reclaiming His Lost Mate
“There is no problem. Merely another hiccup in my attempts to win back Selina’s graciousness,” I explained shortly, ignoring the bitter taste it left in my mouth.
Lyvia’s eyes softened, mirroring compassion toward me. “It is not an easy thing to let go of the greatest hurt of our lives,” Lyvia offered, and I had to agree with her. “But it doesn’t take away the fact that you have been trying for weeks, Alpha. I am sorry,” she murmured, and on that thought, my mind traveled back to my people back at Shadow Moon Pack, reminding me that they needed their Alpha, and not just that, inside pack matters were piling up, awaiting my attendance, and the longer I stayed here, the worse it became, but Selina was of too much importance to me to let go.
“I just have to try harder. I owe it to them.”
With a small nod of agreement, Lyvia fell quiet, her amber eyes swirling with a spark of conflict and something else that I couldn’t place, but that little gesture caused adrenaline to flush alertness through me.
Lifting the box she was holding a little higher up her chest, Lyvia spoke. “This is actually for Mia. She’s turning five in three days, so I got it for her. Maybe you could be present on that day to show Selina your remorse over past events and your intention to move forward.”
It sounded more like a question, but my brain immediately kicked into high gear, making a quick plan as well as a long list of things for the opportunity that just presented itself.
I wasn’t going to be just present. No. I was going to surprise ourdaughter and let Selina know that I yearned deeply for her and Mia and I wished to bring us together as a family.
The perfect opportunity.
With Lyvia’s help, I was assured that Selina and Mia would be present at the shop that morning, and I gained entry through the back door into the herbal shop two nights later. My hours of slumber were spent putting up signs and sparkles for my girl, along with the countless gifts I expressly shipped down from Silver Moon Pack and surrounding valley towns. With every balloon that I hung up and every flower I positioned around the shop for her, my heart blew out in my chest, filling me with warmth as I pictured the looks that would be on their faces when they walked in.
I hadn’t felt this excitement…ever.
Morning came by slowly, and as I stood, cracking my knuckles to take in my handiwork, my once resolute heart began to drum with uncertainty. The surprise looked good, but I couldn’t help but feel like I did too little. What if Mia wasn’t impressed, or it turned out that she didn’t like the strawberry flavor in her cake?
I only got a few more seconds of doubt trickling into my system before my ears picked up movement from the front of Selina’s herbal shop. I knew it was them from the memorized footsteps, but my feet remained glued to the ground, unmoving. Willing my racing heart to find some semblance of stability, I finally dragged myself to the side of the counter, leaving room for Mia to walk in and see her party.
Once they both did, an audibly shocked gasp was the first sound I heard from Mia. Saucer-green eyes scanned the shop, mouth agape, hands half-raised with fingers spread as Mia tried hard to contain her emotions.
“It’s my birthday today! Are…are these for me?” She asked uncertainly to no one in particular, bouncing on her feet, her usually soft tone more shrill than I’d ever heard it. “Mommy?” Mia’s eyes barely snapped from the gifts to question Selina, and it was then I took in her reaction.
Selina had paused mid-stride, confusion first contouring her features, but she quickly plastered a smile on. “I think they must be,darling,” she affirmed, her voice steady yet laced with a hint of reluctance.
If Mia hadn’t squealed in delight—her voice echoing off the shop’s wooden beams—my heart would have sunk entirely.
“Happy birthday, Mia!” I called out, forcing cheer into my voice as the child dove into the pile of gifts stacked beside the cake, her joy infectious.
She was too lost in her excitement to notice the tension hanging in the air between her mother and me. “Can I have a balloon?” she cried out, jumping up and reaching for the rafters, where I’d hung dozens of balloons.
“You can have as many as you like,” I smiled, bringing a few down that she instantly began to thwack around the room. With the delight of balloons floating around us—an explosion of color and laughter—Mia insisted we play a game of hitting them between us, and I noticed the corners of Selina's mouth twitch upwards, though her eyes remained shadowed with unspoken conflict.
I tried to read the emotions that danced just below the surface, but she met my gaze before shaking her head minutely. It was clear she was keeping whatever she was thinking at bay to spare Mia from any worries.
As the party progressed, with Mia eagerly unwrapping presents and giggles filling the room, I caught fleeting moments of genuine joy on Selina’s face—a glimmer of the light I once knew. When Mia unwrapped a storybook from an artist in my pack featuring beautifully drawn illustrations of Igaluk and the first wolves of the six Alaskan packs, I saw Selina's gaze soften, but almost immediately, she shored up the tenderness she’d shown as if it were an emotion she couldn’t afford.
Next, we lit the candles on Mia’s birthday cake, sang Happy Birthday in cheerful unison, and coaxed her to make a wish before devouring slices of strawberry cake. Mia's delight was evident as she cleared her plate with gusto.
Bursting with excitement to explore the nature kit I'd gotten her, Mia turned to her mom, asking if she could take it out to the gardenbehind the shop. “Please, Mommy?” she insisted, her little eyes sparkling with anticipation.
“Of course, baby,” Selina replied, her tone gentle as she watched Mia run off, fully absorbed in her new world of exploration.
With Mia happily occupied, Selina and I found ourselves alone amid the remnants of celebration—the scattered wrapping paper and half-eaten cake. The air shifted, thickening with unspoken words, and I could feel the weight of the moment as it loomed between us.
My attention turned to Selina, and I swallowed, feeling my organs shrinking under her merciless stare.
Hopelessness weighed my shoulders down because I knew that Selina was not only unimpressed by my actions but probably also mad.
“Selina,” I called warily and quietly, and as though my words being directed at her were a detonator to her explosive, she went off on me.
“I am not even going to bother with how you got into my shop to do this, but I am going to ask you what kind of elaborate joke this is, Alexis.” Her voice was low enough that Mia didn’t hear through her rampaging but laced with enough venom that caused me to still. “You haven’t done enough?”
“Selina…” I called with a frown, confused by her words, but she cut me off.
