Chapter 28
Twenty-Eight
Alpha Blake
Sitting outside with Ryley, watching the sunset, felt right. It felt natural. Like it’s always been us. Nothing was awkward as we sat in silence, sipping our coffees. The only thing that would make this better, is if she was sitting in my lap, wrapped in my arms. And our boys were here.
“How would you play with Ryley if the boys were here?” Gunner questioned.
‘Not everything is about sex, Gunner. Yes, I want that, but with the boys here it would feel like we are a family.” I explained.
“Family? That’s a nice idea, Blake. We were only a family for a few days after Aspen was born. And Aspen deserves to have a family. But how are you going to convince Ryley to join our pack? Whoever Channing’s father is, she is terrified to have him find them,” Gunner pointed out.
I knew all of this. I wish she would trust me enough to keep her safe. To keep them both safe. I don’t just want Ryley for a night. I would make her my Luna tomorrow if she would allow it. The thought of anything happening to either of them has my heart twisting painfully. And I can’t keep them safe if they leave at the end of the summer.
“Blake, can I ask you something?” Ryley’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I looked over at her, her eyes on the sky. The stars were slowly coming out.
“Sure,” I breathed out.
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“Can you tell me about Luna Mia? Aspen likes to tell me stories he has heard about her,” she asked. A small smile on her lips, when she turned to look at me.
“I met Mia when Luca and I went to a party one night. She had just turned eighteen. She wasn’t from an alpha family but I didn’t care. She was kind and loving. We were mated for almost three years when she finally conceived. I didn’t know about her blood disorder until she was almost due to give birth. If I had known, I never would have allowed her to become pregnant.” I stopped to take a deep breath. Replaying the day she told me was devastating. I was so excited to be a father until it could cost me, my mate. I jumped when Ryley placed her hand on mine.
“She wanted you to always have a piece of her. She knew how important it was for an alpha to have an heir. It wasn’t about the cost of her life, it was about making you happy.” She gave me a small smile.
“After she gave birth to Aspen. We thought she was in the clear. I was so thankful to have both of them alive,” my voice cracked, as emotions from that day came rushing back. I looked up at the sky.
“What I didn’t know was she was bleeding internally. It was slow and the doctors overlooked it until it was too late. Aspen was three days old,” I finished, taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart.
“I’m sorry, Blake. Truly.” She whispered. I looked over at her, her eyes were glossy with unshed tears.
“Aspen told me some of the wonderful things Mia did for the pack. She was an amazing Luna and you should be proud. She didn’t have to be a Luna wolf to be a great leader and mother.” She told me and I almost broke. Ryley cares about my mate and Aspen’s mother. It’s strange to me. Most women don’t want to hear about that part of my life. About me loving another woman.
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“Did your mate die?” I asked her and it was her turn to sigh.
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“No, he claimed another. Not that it matters. He never knew I was his mate. And I was s**pid enough to believe his lies. He doesn’t know about Channing and I’m sure he thinks I’m dead.” She shrugged.
“I don’t understand. Did you leave your pack because he claimed another?” I asked her.
“No. I was forced to leave-before-that. I was already pregnant with Channing but didn’t know. But I would have left anyways. There was no way I could stay after his betrayal.” She confessed.
“Is that why you won’t join a pack? You’re afraid he will find you and Channing?” I questioned.
“I’m not afraid of him. I could kill him. I do worry about Channing. No matter how much I think he is a complete waste of a wolf, he is still Channing’s father. I didn’t join a pack because I don’t want to be told what I can and cannot do with my life. My entire life was mapped out for me and then it was gone. I did everything almost all alone and I’m not willing to give up that freedom. I can’t afford to be weak and Channing will always come first.” Ryley said.
“For the record, Ryley, you aren’t weak. And this guy may have been your mate but he was an idiot to think he could replace a woman like you. I may not know the details, but I do know that. And you raising a child on your own at seventeen, makes you the strongest person I know.” I told her and every word I spoke was the truth. I could see in her stormy grey eyes, how much he broke her. Talking about him hurts.
I stood up from my chair and walked back into the cabin. I could hear Ryley mumbling under her breath. But I wasn’t leaving. I came back with a blanket over my arm and I held my hand out for hers. She
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furrowed her brow before placing her hand in mine.
“I think it’s dark enough for my first constellation lesson.”
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