Page 93 of Alpha's Redemption

“Yeah, why wouldn't I be?”

I let out a breath. “I'm talking about Tatum.”

“It is what it is,” she says, trying to deflect the conversation as she sets some papers on my legs.

“Last will and testament?” I ask, looking at her.

“I just– In case something happens to me, I want to ensure Taylor will have a place to go,” she says.

“And you want to do this now?” I ask her. She shrugs.

“Just, with all the rogue stuff, I just want to be sure. So I wanted to ask if you and Valen would be willing to take her. You know, cuz I can't leave her to Mom or my brother,” she says.

“That isn't even a question. I would move heaven and hell to keep her. You know that.”

She nods. “I know, and you and Zoe are the only ones I would trust my baby with. The only ones I know love her just as much as I do.”

I sign the document, and when Kalen comes in, I ask him to sign the witness part. He quickly does, though he gives Macey the same odd look I gave her.

“Planning on going somewhere?” he asks.

“What? No! Of course not! I just want to ensure Zoe's future, is all.”

He looks at me and I shrug. It’s the first time she’s ever brought anything like this up. But she does have a point; we all should have it. I’ll have to speak to Valen about it later. Though I have a will, and everything goes to Valarian, I never even thought of what would happen to him if something were to happen to Valen and me. It gives me much to think about.

We eat our dinner, and Macey goes to help Kalen shower and bathe the kids while I get ready for bed before we tuck them in. When Valen calls, I answer my phone quickly.

“Hey, when will you be home?”

“I am home. Where are the kids?”

“In their beds, why?”

“Make sure they don't come out of their rooms,” he says.

With a groan, I climb back out of bed, shuffling over to the door and up the hall. I stand between their doors, but they’re all asleep.

“Yeah, they’re fine,” I tell him when I hear the door click open. I glance toward it, hearing movement. When Valen appears down the hall, I gasp, glancing back at the kids’ rooms to ensure they’re asleep.

Valen is drenched in blood from head to toe. Not a patch of skin isn't coated in the coppery substance.

He rushes into our room and I hear the shower turn on in the ensuite. Following him slowly back to the room, I close and lock the door in time to see Valen step into the shower. I scoop up his clothes, tossing them in the hamper—they’re soaking wet. The shower water turns red as it swirls down the drain.

“Micah?” I whisper, recognizing the scent, and he nods, turning to face me and rinsing the blood off his face. He says nothing, just reaches for the soap.

“Marcus?”

“Wants the other two.”

“I thought you were leaving Micah to Marcus?”

“Marcus revived him and wanted my help. He’s my best friend. And Goddess help them when we get our hands on the other two,” he says, his eyes darkening, and a growl escapes him. I swallow before having to leave the bathroom from the pungent smell.

When he finally comes out, he’s clean and retrieves his pajamas. “My father?”

“Went to the bar. Don't worry, I sent Dad to get him. And… that would be them,” Valen says, and I nod, hearing the front door open and my father muttering down the hall. The smell of vodka reaches my nose from under the gap in the door and makes it wrinkle. Dad is drinking far too much, not that I expected anything else. His daughter is missing and his mate is dead. I wouldn't want to live either if our circumstances were reversed.

“Any news from Carter or any sight of them?”

---