Page 64 of Alpha's Redemption

“Are you sure?” he asks, looking worried.

“She has no choice. Besides, you should both talk. I’m sick of passing notes for you both,” I tell him, opening my door.

“I'll meet you at the school,” he says, and I nod. We drive over and pull up out front, and I quickly race in and get the kids from their classes. Valen's pack school is under heavy security at the moment—all children are required to be signed out. With the growing missing reports of the rogues, better to be safe than sorry.

Walking back out to the car, my phone rings and I pull it from my pocket and answer it. My father is on the other end.

“I’m just about to drop her home,” I tell him.

“No, don't. Investigators just showed up. I’m calling to see if you could hang onto her a bit longer. She doesn't do well with strangers in the house and I currently have seven with warrants,” he tells me.

Fuck! Could anything else go wrong today?

I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration. “That's fine. I’ll figure it out.”

“Why? What happened?”

“Nothing; I have the kids, is all,”

“She won't hurt them.”

Yet I can hear the worry in his voice.

“It's fine. Tatum will drop the girls off and I’ll ask Kalen to get Valarian. Valen doesn't want Valarian around her when it’s only Ava and me, since I can't shift,” I explain and Dad sighs.

“As soon as they leave, I’ll send someone to come get her.”

“Okay,” I tell him, hanging up. The kids look up at me, but I shake my head. Walking out of the school, Taylor spots Tatum and squeals, running ahead of me.

“Hey, Tay!” he says, scooping her up, and she wraps her arms around his neck before showing him her pasta necklace around her neck. She takes it off and wraps it around his neck.

“Aw, thanks,” he says, pecking her cheek.

“Are we coming back home soon?” she asks. I know she must be confused. Tatum has been part of her life for months now, only for her to wake up and not see him again.

“I'm working on it. And I’m hoping to see your mother this afternoon,” he says before looking at me. “I only have two car seats in the car. Her old one and my sister's daughter's one.”

“On it!” Ava calls out, pulling Valarian's car seat from out of Valen's car I’m driving. We spend a few minutes anchoring it before buckling the kids in.

“Change of plans,” I tell Tatum. “Mom is staying with me for a few more hours, so can you swing by my place before you drop the girls off? Ava texted Zoe on the way over to tell her you were dropping the kids off. She also assured me that Macey is still locked in the basement.” I chuckle, knowing it’s already been fixed and Zoe is just keeping her locked in there so Tatum can talk to her.

“I feel like a dick.” Tatum sighs heavily.

“Yeah, well, she thinks you left because she can't have kids.”

“Well, if she would let me explain, that wasn't the reason I left.”

“Then whydidyou leave?” Ava asks, her tone coming off as defensive. He looks back in the windows, ensuring the kids aren't listening.

“Macey said she never wanted kids. She made that clear. I thought I could change her mind. When she finally told me, I felt a little angry that she didn't tell me right away, but more because I had been bugging her about kids for weeks and hurting her the whole time!” He groans.

“I even went and bought baby stuff. I wondered why she got so angry and tossed it out. Then the next day, she told me, and I haven't heard from her since,” he says.

“It’ll work out,” I tell him.

“Yeah, but I feel like shit! My sister went through IVF for years before having Sam. Had I known, I wouldn't have pushed so hard, or at all. My sister hated when people mentioned anything baby-related or asked when she would have kids. I became one of those people. That's why I left,” Tatum growls, shaking his head.

“I was angry, but more embarrassed than anything. I’m happy just having Taylor; even though her toy collection takes up half our house!” he chuckles.

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