The Alphas Daughter

What to do now

As I walked towards the pool I could hear Elliott’s screams of happiness reach my ears and suddenly the whole situation from this morning leaves my mind. As I walk out to the pool I can see Zak and Elliott splashing in the water having the best time.

“Mama” Elliott cheers

“Hey baby, you having fun?” I ask

“Yeah, I’m a shark” he replied as he shows me his teeth.

“Wow, you’re scary” I reply as I take a seat on the side of the pool and put my feet in

“Mummy, you coming” El asks pointing to the water

“Not today baby, mummy’s got a boo-boo as I show him my bandaged hand.

“El, go play at the table quick whilst I speak to mum” Zak says

Elliotts leaves the water, he’s a really weak swimmer so he can’t really be in the pool unless he’s clung to an adult like a baby monkey

“Broken then huh?” Zak asks looking at my huge bandage on my hand

“Yep, doctor says should be completely healed in 3 days- the joys of being a mutt I guess” I laugh at Zak

“Ri, you and James need to sort this stuff out” he looks at my deeply.

I sigh, I know he’s right, even if we agree to never be mates, we need to meet some sort of arrangement, this whole situation is a mess, I know I have to tell Zak about what James just told me, maybe he will give me an honest opinion. In fact I know he will.

“So, turns out, me and bastard beta are still mates” I say flatly as I kick my feet through the water

“Excuse me” Zak says with utter shock and disbelief

“Yep, turns out I didn’t except his rejection” I say deflated

“Isn’t that good news” Zak asks slightly confused

“No! It changes everything, how can I accept him and then carry on living in Goddings?” I ask Zak confused “And not forgetting the fact he broke my heart” I say

“Riley, I really do think he’s sorry, yes he seems like a tool at times, but I really do think he cares about you, and Elliott too” he says staring me straight in the face

“Maybe you should let him meet El properly and see how they get along, I think that would really help to influence your decision” Zak suggest

“But that’s the thing, shouldn’t it just be natural, I shouldn’t have to think about all of this stuff, if he’s truly my mate it should just flow” I ask.

After a few minuets of silence and just the sound of our feet floating in the water and the birds singing I hear a little voice behind me.

“Mummy, can I get back in now” Elliott asks

“Yes, but only if Zak wants to stay in the pool” I say

That’s when I hear a voice from the other side of the pool and I freeze.

“I’ll get in with you”

“What are you doing out here Mark?” I ask

He comes and takes a seat next to me and puts his feet in the water and a frightened Elliott automatically runs to Zak

“Do you realise he’s petrified of you” I ask sounding irritated

“I messed up Ri, with everything. I should never or treated you or Elliott like that, it’s inexcusable” he looks with his eyes full of sorrow

“You’ve always been a d**k, but these past few days you’ve been the biggest Alpha d**k there can be” I reply

“Yeah I know, dad would of punched me by now, Beth isn’t speaking to me and James can’t even look at me” he says

The mention of James’ name makes me go cold

“I know about you two, I know he’s Elliotts father, and he’s why you left” Mark announced quietly

“I’m sorry, Mark, I never meant for that to happen…we realised on his 18th birthday and it all happened so fast and then I found out I was pregnant and he had rejected me and I didn’t want to disappoint dad, or you… so I ran” I get it all out so fast it’s almost as if I’m singing it.

He’s just looking down at me and I can see in his eyes he has sympathy for me.

“If I had know James done all of that I would of skinned him alive and left him to dry in the trees” he says

“I know, and that’s why I left. He had no idea about Elliott. No one did” I say trying to defend him.

“He’s a cute kid Ri!” He says looking over his shoulder at Zak and Elliott playing

“Takes after me… lucky boy” I laugh

“I think we both know he’s the image of his father” mark chuckles, he pauses for a second

“He will make a good dad Riley, I know he will” Mark says softly.

“And I know he knows he f****d up”

“Massively” I reply.

“But he deserves to be a dad, he deserves to love Elliott too” he says to me

“I know that, truthfully I do, but I have a life 100’s of miles from here and letting James back in changes all of that”

“Is that such a bad thing, changing your life, coming home?” He asks

“I don’t know, I mean, I don’t belong here, and Elliott knows nothing about us being wolves” I explain

“I think he does now after my stupid act” Mark exhales

“True- but how do I explain to a toddler that we are all wolves when he’s lived in a town of only humans” I ask

“Riley, is this actually about Elliott finding out about us, and himself not forgetting, being wolves, or the fact that your running from James… again” He looks me dead in the eye

Oh s**t, Mark may be a tosser at times but he’s right.

“I don’t know” I say, looking down at my feet.

“Talk to him, get to know him. He’s grown up a lot since you left, and if you aren’t happy then go back to the human town and carry on where you left off” he says.

If only it was that easy!

After some gentle persuasion and Mark apologising lots and promising Elliott unlimited trips to the zoo, he finally allowed Mark to take him into the pool. It was nice seeing them together, it was an image I had imagined but thought I would never see. Mark was good with him, trying to teach him how to swim and throwing him in the air. I still don’t understand why him and Beth don’t have a football team of children yet. They would both make brilliant parents.

As the evening drew in closer we all sat outside and ate dinner, Beth come to join us too, and just as the cooks were bringing out the most amazing feast of pasta, salads and hot meats James walked past, he was staring at the ground but Zak had spotted him.

“Hey, James. Come join us” he shouts

James looks up and smiles

“Nah, I’m good thanks mate, not long eaten” he replied

“Yeah like that matters, you’re a bottomless pit” Mark shouts smiling

“Come, sit” Mark says again pointing to the empty chair opposite me.

And James obliges this time and walks towards the empty chair.

My stomachs in knots and I’m no longer hungry, this is a lot, and I realise it’s the first time that James and Elliott have properly met each other. James looks at me and smiles and I return the gesture and that’s when I realised he starting at Elliott, his eyes transfixed on my son… our son, they are filled with love. My brother is right, he’s going to make an amazing father. James spends most of the night talking to Elliott who right away loved James, by bed time Elliott was begging me that James puts him to bed. It was like he had a sixth sense and knew that with James he was safe. They had spoken about everything you can think of, animals, the sun, cars, everything. And I could see James was lingering on his every word.

“Mum, James put me in my bed” Elliott asks

“I’m sure James has things to be doing” I say kneeling down in-front of Elliott as I know he’s about to get upset

“No I’m free, I can put him to bed” James replied

I roll my eyes. “Fine, but no screen time tonight, straight to sleep, it’s very late”

I explain.

“Okayyyyyy” el shouts and he guides James to our apartment.

Oh good god. What am I doing. All these walls I built they are well and truly crumbling down.