Alec’s

"This," I said, raising my voice over the murmurs, "is what we're facing. And you're going to learn how to fight it."

"Get into your stances," I commanded. "He's not here for show. He's here to help you train."

Some hesitated. I didn't give them time to dwell on it. "Now."

That snapped them into motion.

The first round of drills began. Brian was fast—inhumanly fast-faster than any vampire or werewolf I'd seen-switching forms mid-combat, exploiting blind spots, adapting to their attacks with chilling ease.

He was stronger than most of the warriors could comprehend. He held back, but he didn't go easy on them. I could tell. He wasn't here to maim. He was there to help.

It was almost mesmerizing. And terrifying.

Micah, Jason, and I stood back, just watching.

"Damn," Jason muttered. "He's efficient."

"Calculated," Micah added. "Doesn't waste energy."

I nodded, arms folded, eyes on every movement. "That's how the rest of them fight. They are ruthless."

We kept watching, analyzing every strike, every maneuver. Brian didn't brag, didn't showboat. He was quiet. Precise. Lethal.

It had been maybe thirty minutes when a giggle broke the tension. That's the only warning I got.

Something warm and small slammed into my chest.

A small blur ran across the field and something warm and small slammed into my chest before I could even register what was happening.

I instinctively caught her.

"Aspen?" I looked down in shock as her little arms wrapped around my neck, and she beamed up at me.

"I found you!" she announced proudly.

The training ground went completely silent.

She reached up and touched my cheek, her smile stretching wide. "I found you, Mister Alec."

I felt it—this massive, aching swell in my chest.

Goddess, this little girl... She had no idea what she did to me. How she cracked me open with nothing but a smile and those bright, trusting eyes. She didn't care that warriors were staring. That gasps echoed across the field. That I was the big, bad alpha.

To her, I was just me.

I smiled. "You found me, huh?"

She nodded and then, as if we weren't in the middle of a very intense training session, she started talking. "I told Mommy that I dream of you and that I will find you with my nose. I told her you smell like fire and trees. Did you know that? You do."

I laughed actually laughed. It caught me off guard.

“I missed you,” she whispered, brushing her tiny nose against mine.

"I missed you too, Pixie."

Her eyes widened before she smiled wide. "You called me Pixie, like Tinker Bell."

Having watched enough Disney shows with Piper when she was young, I am proud to say that I know who Tinker Bell is.

"Yes, you are my little Pixie."

The training ground stilled, a hush falling over the warriors as they took in the sight of me-Alpha

Alec cradling Aspen and havel.get

conversation with her.

"Back to work," I said, without looking away from Aspen. They scrambled to obey.

Aspen kept talking-about her dreams, about breakfast, about a butterfly, she'd seen outside the window-and I listened like it was the most important conversation I'd ever had.

Micah cleared his throat behind me.

Aspen peeked around my shoulder. "Hi," she said, a little more shyly now.

Micah smiled. "Hey there, little one."

"This is Micah," I said. "And that's Jason. Your uncles."

Jason gave her a wink. "Hey, princess. You can call me Uncle J."

Aspen giggled. "Are they my uncles like Uncle King?"

I shrugged. "Yes."

She looked at them, then back at me. Her next question was soft, uncertain.

"Are you my uncle too?"

It knocked the air out of my lungs.

I froze.

I didn't know what to say. The words hit me harder than they should have. She was so innocent, so unfiltered And I... didn't know how to answer. Not with everything between me and Sadie. Not with all the ways td failed her before. noveldrama

My mouth opened. Nothing came out.

Aspen frowned, sensing my hesitation.

I hated that.

So, I smiled, even though it felt like my chest was cracking open.

The word no hovered at the edge of my tongue, but I couldn't spit it out.

Before I could respond, Aspen laid her head against my chest and whispered, "It's okay. I don't mind. I still like you."

That..... undid me, but it also gave me peace knowing that she would accept me no matter what.