lian’s POV

    “If you are truly Amber’s best friend, then I suspect that you already know,” I tell her.

    “This is about Alice,” Anna said.

    Alice was the biggest piece of why I was here, that much was true. But she wasn’t the only reason. Seeing Amber again, knowing she was safe, seeing her thrive… That pleased a bigger part of me than I cared to

    admit, even to myself.

    My wolf didn’t hide his thrill at it though. His pride for our sessful mate and healthy pup swelled so

    big, it amplified my own.

    Finally, there was the matter of the project itself. The project had always been one I intended to pursue, and one I knew Amber would be the perfect Healer for. Yes, I had used the project to get through the door to see Amber, but I still fully intended in seeing the project through.

    Looking at Anna, at her fury, I knew she didn’t reallye here to talk, so I didn’t really open the door for olliit. /li/ol

    Instead, I told her, b“/bIf it is?”

    Anna shook her head. “All that time, Amber was your dutiful housewife, chasing you around like a lovesick puppy while you kept her in the shadows. I was there. I saw the way she was treated back then. I saw every tears, I heard every worry.”

    I still wasn’t totally sure about all the dynamics at y between us. Knowing Amber as she was now, I could admit that maybe I was missing a few pieces of the truth of our past.

    But at the time. Had I really had any reason to think otherwise?

    Yet, even as I thought that, my chest ached with regret. Keeping her in the shadows hadn’t been the correct choice, no matter the reasoning. I’d kept her at arm’s distance, never letting her too close except for sex. Because of that, I had pushed her away so far that I’d nearly lost her and Alice.

    I wouldn’t make the same mistakes this time. Now that I had found them again, it only made sense that I

    keep close to them, even if only for Alice’s sake.

    “If you really cared about ether of them, you would pack up and go back to Thom Pack,” Anna continued. * All you have done is cause trouble for Amber.”

    “I’m not going anywhere,” I said firmly. “Alice is my daughter, and I will be a part of her life.”

    b“/bBut

    “I can thank byou /bfor being so protective of Amber and Aliceb,/bb” /bI said. b“/bThese are the markings of a good

    friend. But you are being protective of the wrong individual. Alice is my child, and I will be a good father to you. You, nor anyone else, will keep me from my child.”

    Near the end of my statement, more fervor entered my voice than I intended, but it was enough for Anna to fall silent for a long moment as she seemed to consider my words.

    I knew she hated me, and I supposed I had given her reason to, given that my negligence had driven Amber onto the ne that crashed. She almost died, and I had a piece of the me in that.

    But I was still Alpha. Amber was still my wife, as I hadn’t yet signed the divorce paperwork, and Alice

    was still our child.

    Anna was a well–meaning friend, but she was not a part of my family. And I would not be disrespected as Alpha, even if we were presently in a foreign pack.

    Anna slinked back slightly, further away from the door.

    “I assure you that I mean no harm to Amber or to Alice,” I said.

    She nodded but didn’t seem convinced. “I guess we’ll see about that,” she said, then turned and hurried

    down the hallway away from my door.

    I watched her until she was out of sight, and then closed the door.

    With that reaction, I could tell that my attempts to cate her had failed. She was a good friend to Amber,

    but a troublesome one too. I had to be careful to ensure that she wouldn’t meddle with things.

    The best way to do that was to win over Amber and Alice as best as I could.

    Checking my watch, it was almost time to meet them. It wouldn’t hurt to be at the restaurant early.

    I waited a few more minutes, to ensure that Anna had left, and then I went to the meeting ce.

    I went to the restaurant and got us a table for three. I asked the hostess for the table in the back that was

    somewhat secluded so we could talk without fear of being overheard. I didn’t know the kind of life Amber

    had made for herself here, or how much the locals knew.

    As far as I could tell, no one but Amber and Anna knew I was Alice’s father. I didn’t want to publicize that yet, without making sure Alice was properly protected. Being the Alpha’s daughter could be a burden, even I could acknowledge that, which might have been partly why Amber kept this from me.

    The other reason, I knew, was because I had pushed Amber away when she had needed me the most. I had made it seem like Olivia was more important. But I didn’t have all the facts at the time. But then, neither did Amber.

    Everything about my past with Amber was messy. This was why I couldn’t me her entirely for keeping Alice a secret from me. I knew I had driven her to it, and carried the guilt of that.

    But this here and now – was my chance to finally make things right.

    First though…

    Seated at the back table, I saw the moment Amber and Alicee through the door. Alice was a bundle of excitement and energy. Amber was more reserved, her face a hard shell.

    I would condemn her nervousness if I didn’t also feel my own.

    They stopped at the hostess table, likely to ask after me. They didn’t have to do that.

    I stood up from the table and waved.

    “Julian!” Alice said and rushed toward me, breaking from her mother’s hold.

    Immediately, I dropped to one knee and opened my arms. She ran into them. As I closed my arms around her, she circled her own smaller arms around my neck.

    “I missed you, Dad,i” /ishe said, and my heart lurched.

    Did she know the truth, or… no, this was probably the childish wonder she carried. Didn’t she say in the

    past that she wanted me to be her dad?

    Even so, hearing the title now did something to my heart.

    I had been so close to being a father in the past, twice, and mourned the children each time. To discover

    now that one of the children had lived, and that she was a healthy, excitable girl like Alice…

    In this one perfect moment, I couldn’t be happier.

    Alice was my child, to father and protect. And I would do what I had to do to keep her safe and happy.

    To do that, I needed to bring her back to my pack.