Alpha alec's redemption (Sadie) novel Chapter 241

Sadie

The next day came sooner than I had expected or prepared for. I was still on cloud nine after shifting into our other state. It felt so good. Like I had unlocked something fierce. Something divine. After Alec left, I practiced more and each time it became easier than the last.

My mind occasionally drifted to Alec and that moment when I hugged him. That moment kept playing in my head over and over again, no matter how many times I tried to block it. It's just there. When I am not thinking about the mess with Xena and Kaden, my pack, Alec’s pack or Aspen, I think of him.

Aspen’s squeal brought my attention back to the present and I forced those thoughts to the back of my mind.

She was practically bouncing on the bed, kicking her tiny feet in excitement as I tried to get her into a little pink dress she’d insisted on wearing for our outing.

“Are you excited for today, sweetheart?” I asked, tying her curly hair into two neat buns.

She nodded furiously. “So excited, Mommy! Mister Alec said there’ll be lions! And maybe even giraffes!”

I smiled, my heart clenching. She was glowing. Alec had told her about the zoo last night, and she hadn’t stopped talking about it since. I couldn’t help but feel a little flutter in my chest, knowing this day would mean something to her.

She was practically bouncing on the bed, kicking her tiny feet in excitement as I tried to get her into a little pink dress she’d insisted on wearing for our outing.

“Mommy!” she squealed, her curls flopping as she threw her hands up dramatically. “I need sparkles. All princesses have sparkles!”

I laughed, brushing her hair back and kissing her forehead. “You don’t need sparkles to be a princess. You already are one.”

She gave me a scrunched-up, suspicious look. “You sure?”

“Positive.” I reached for the tiny silver butterfly clip I’d hidden behind my back. “But... I might have something just in case.”

Aspen’s gasp nearly made me tear up. “You got me butterflies?!”

I nodded and watched her eyes widen as I clipped them into her hair. “Now you’re royalty.”

She twirled on the spot, arms stretched out, giggling in delight. “Mister Alec’s gonna say I’m pretty.”

My throat tightened. I wanted to turn away from the scene in front of me, but I couldn’t. I was completely enthralled by them and by the could-have-been’s.

The ache inside me grew. I didn’t know what to do with it even as the bond tugged softly as if it, too, was watching. The desire to hold on to this picture-perfect scene and never ever let go. This is all I’ve ever wanted since I was a kid. It’s finally happening, but not like I’d imagined it and that? That is causing my heart to ache in ways I can’t even begin to describe.

“Ready?” Alec asked, glancing up at me and pulling me from my thoughts.

I forced a smile and nodded. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

The animal park was nestled at the edge of the town. The whole drive there was filled with Aspen’s chatter. Alec was engaging, but I found it hard to join them. My head was spinning, my heart was aching, and my soul was torn in all kinds of ways as my past desires and dreams collided with my current reality.

It’s like Alec sensed I was troubled, so he made sure Aspen was engaged enough while I tried collecting my thoughts.

By the time we got there, Aspen could barely contain her excitement. She had never been to an animal park before, since we didn’t have any close to home.