The Alpha's Mate

Chapter 10

JENNY

I don’t know how long I had stayed looking at the photos, but it felt like hours, not minutes. I heard movement behind and decided I should look around. I moved away and locked eyes with Josh and Lucien. They were looking around the room, even had some of the stuff near them.

"I hurt her by leaving her behind," I whimpered, tears now falling freely. "I hurt her to be with you." My eyes locked on to Josh, who looked up at me. His face softened while I continued.

"I can't..." I said, looking around the house and closing my eyes. "This might hurt you," I said as I opened them and looked at Josh again; his eyes were fixated on me. "This was once my home, and knowing Larry, everything he owes will be in her name, especially with how it all ended between us.” Not taking my eyes off and letting my tears fall, I spoke again. “I won't get her to do anything she doesn't want. We leave the house alone. We can place it up for rent or something. But this house is Leah's," I said, then started to move toward Josh as a tear escaped my eyes and placed my hand in his. "We only have her for a year, and then she will be old enough to leave," I said, knowing exactly what Leah would do and let out a sigh. "She won't be able to stay in the pack, so she will need a place to stay when she is old enough."

Josh squeezed my hand and nodded. I knew he wouldn’t say anything. He would do whatever I wanted.

"That sounds more like a plan," he said and looked at Lucian. "You will have to ensure everything is above board, and it is up for rent for a year; this will be somewhere Leah can come back if she wants."

Lucian nodded, realization hitting him.

"I never thought about it like that," he said and looked at me. "Jen, it's a good idea. I will get the judge and the others to help."

After a few moments, there was a knock at the door, and Josh went to open it—the young girl from earlier, Leah’s friend.

I stared at her.

"Here," she said, holding out a bag. "These are all the things my mum collected for Leah the other night to stay at ours."

I nodded as Josh took the bag.

The young girl looked at me and bit her bottom lip. She wanted to say something; I knew that face all too well. I stepped closer and looked at her. Her eyes stayed on me till she sighed. "You need to know, Leah hasn't been sleeping really well since the accident; she has been screaming out and even had insomnia too," she said, stopping and then looking over her shoulder, then looking back at me. It was like she didn’t know she should tell me. "I thought you should now."

I nodded and smiled at her. "Thanks for telling me.”

The girl gave me a small smile. But she glanced inside the house. "We used to have so much fun here," she said as a tear slid down her cheek. "Leah loved being here." Her eyes came back to me. "I know you had your reasons for leaving," she said, sounding unsure. "Leah used to talk about you at the beginning, but as time passed, she never mentioned you. She told everyone that you died."

That cut deep, but I couldn't blame Leah for thinking that. I left her here without a word.

The girl sighed. "I know she has to go, but can she keep in touch? She was like a sister to me."

I nodded and smiled. "I will make sure she contacts you," I said with a smile.

She nodded and turned away.

Josh closed the door behind her.

"Nice girl," Lucian said, leaning against the wall by the kitchen door. "Shame her mother is a nut."

I turned around and glared at him. "Really!”

Lucian smirked; he went to speak, but his phone rang out. He took his phone from his pocket and answered.

After a few seconds, he closed it and looked at me. "The ambulance is on route to the pack house, and the pack doctor is on standby waiting for her. So, we can go home once we are done here."

I gave him a nod, knowing once we were back it would all change.

I looked around but noticed something out of the corner of my eye. I walked over and spotted a photo of Leah and the girl holding a trophy of some kind. I picked it up and looked back at Josh. "I want to collect more things for her. Can we leave in a few minutes?"

Josh nodded.

"Grab what you want. I will get the car, and then we can put whatever in a bag and place it all in the car."

I nodded.

Looking around, I knew roughly what to grab and started to walk around. Picking up photos and some stuff till I walked to the stairs and headed up. Just assuming she never changed rooms, I went straight to hers. I walked along the hallway till I got to her room and opened the door. Leah's room was still the same one she had when she was a baby.

I walked in, and her scent hit me. My wolf purrs in my head as she takes in what she can see.

"Pup was good," she said, noticing all the trophies and ribbons around the room.

I have to admit she must have done every sport she could think of and won every competition for subjects and sports.

Walking to her closet, I pulled out a bag and started to place some clothes in it which didn’t take me too long.

Once the clothes were packed, I noticed a photo of her and her father when she was nine on the bedside table. Picking it up, I smiled and looked at it. She seemed so happy. I placed it on top of the bag.

Her bed was made and had one teddy on it.

I picked it up and smiled. It was a teddy that I gave her when she was born; she still had it. Placing it on top of the other things I grabbed.

I could hear someone coming and knew it was Josh as his scent wafted into the room. I looked up as he walked in. He stood in the doorway looking, taking everything in like I did till his eyes landed on the bag on the bed. "Is this all you are grabbing for her?"

I said nothing while I watched his face move from the bag to the trophies around her room. His eyes scanned around, drinking everything in. "Wow, she has done well. The boys will love her, she can play sports, and it seems she was superb at it too."

I smiled. "I know," I said, then sighed. “The bag and the things on top are coming. Can we have someone here to place sheets over the furniture? And maybe place all her father’s things in storage?"

Josh nodded with a smile before he spoke. "Lucian said he is staying behind for a few days; he wants to sort out the house," he said as a slow smirk itched his face. "But I think he likes getting under that woman's skin more."

I groaned. My brother never found his mate, but he liked to play the field with anything that moved.

I hope he knows what he is doing.

Josh and I walked out of Leah's room, but as I was about to close the door, I couldn't help but take in one last look. Trying to make sure everything was to memory and then closed the door. We both headed downstairs where Lucian was waiting for us.

Lucian told me his plan of what he was going to do. He was going to stay at the house and ensure everything was ready. He was only staying for a few days but would be back as soon as he got everything sorted.

I nodded and hugged him goodbye.

Josh and I walked to the car and climbed in. I could feel eyes on me, but I never looked to see who. There was no doubt it was the woman from across the way with her daughter. I knew everyone here was judging me, but I kept my head down. I didn't want any more hassle; I didn't think my wolf could handle it anymore.

My wolf huffed in agreement.

Once I was inside the car, I leaned back in the seat and let out a breath.

Realization set in; Leah was coming home with me.

And that was when I knew what was going to happen. I needed to be her mother now.

I sighed as Josh drove away.

We left the street and headed toward where the ambulance had left a while ago—heading to the pack, our home.

Knowing this was going to be a long road back to having my daughter, I knew this was going to be a hit or miss or maybe hell, but I would be trying my damn hardest to make sure Leah knows she is loved, even if she hates me right now.

I knew there would be more drama, especially with other family members getting involved, but right now all I want is my family back, which includes my long-lost daughter. All I hope for Leah can forgive me for what I did, and we can slowly move forward with rebuilding what we can from something that is completely broken.