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Jareth raises a brow. “Shouldn't it be their choice?"

I wrap my arms around my middle. “Why would they? I only met them a couple months ago."

Jareth huffs. “I’ve seen the way they look at you. I think they'd follow you anywhere."

I busy myself with cleaning up the studio a bit, anxiety and stress making me edgy.

"Hopefully it won't be an issue. Only a judge out of their minds would award Nicole and Brad anything. Once they're gone, we'll finally be free and we can see where things go." I have to believe it’ll all work out.

Especially today.

Jareth lets me get away with putting my head in the sand for now and smiles at me. “I can't wait."

I smile back at him. “Neither can I."

I check my watch, my stomach bursting with butterflies. "It's almost time. Are you ready to meet my daughter?"

Chapter Twenty-Six

Ryder

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LEXIE SKIPS BY MY SIDEas we leave the school and make our way to Moira's studio, telling me all about the book she's been reading, her hand tiny in mine. Affection warms me as I listen, this child has completely charmed me and won my heart these last months since she joined my class. I'm not supposed to have favorites, but when a kid like Lexie comes into your life, it's impossible not to. Especially when her mother is Moira, a woman I'm unable to get out of my head.

Even out of the members of the pack I'd planned to join, no one has tempted me like Moira does. None of them made me laugh like she does. None of them challenged me like she does. None of them brought out my protective and possessive side like she does.

I haven't spent much time with Jareth yet, but I want to. He intrigues me almost as much as Moira does. My prospective pack leaving me was the best thing that could've happened to me, no matter how much it hurt at the time. Even my friendship with Hendrix through our shared interest in Moira has grown, someone I've known most of my life and now he's my closest friend, something I’ve never had before.

My old pack just expected me to work and provide and cook and clean, basically act as their servant while the alphas got to enjoy their omega, a woman who barely tolerated me.

I have the chance to try again for something even better this time and I'm not going to let anything threaten it. Especially not two privileged alphas.

"Are you going to walk me home every day now?" Lexie asks.

I smile down at her. “I don't know. Would you like me to?"

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