Chapter b86 /b

    Amber’s POV

    As expected of an Alpha, Julian was a fast learner and in no time at all, had learned to be a good assistant. He even befriended Ca, shadowing her for a while to learn the in’s and out’s of what she did.

    bFor /ba few days, he proved himself, as he imed, to be a dutiful assistant. Every night after work though,

    he would ask, “Can I see Alice tonight?”

    Every night, I would think up an excuse, still worried about getting the two of them together.

    “She has homework,” I said tonight, an excuse I had already used twice before this week.

    As his face darkened somewhat, I knew he was tired of hearing it.

    “I’ll only stay for a few minutes. Just to see her and say hi,” he said.

    Even that made me anxious. Knowing he nned on making her his heir, what if he snatched her when my back was turned and left for the capital. What if I was never able to get her back?

    Perhaps my worries were unjustified. Perhaps my fears were making me think of worst case scenarios.

    Julian had been nothing but kind to Alice since knowing her, even before learning she was his child. I

    knew he wouldn’t hurt her.

    But… I also knew he wanted to raise her in Thorn pack. When pushed, I didn’t know how far he would go

    to isee /ithat happen.

    “Maybe tomorrow,” I said, but was already thinking of ways to keep them apart.

    My ultimate n was to convince Julian Alice was better off with me in this rural little pack. I knew he had to spend time with her to see how well she was doing. But my fears were at war with my logical

    sense.

    I felt like I was holding onto sand, trying to keep control of everything. And with sand, the tighter you

    held it, the more you would lose.

    “Tomorrow,i” /ihe said. “She is my daughter, Amber.”

    “Tomorrowi,” /iI assured him.

    After he left, my heart was heavy. Maybe if I brought Alice to the clinic and let them interact here, that would put me more at ease. This felt like my home turf, and I was morefortable here. Especially if I

    ask Anna to cover the door.

    When I went home that night, Alice asked me about Julian again, just as she had every night since we

    went out.

    “You said I’d see him again,” she said. “When, Mommy? When?”

    “Soon,” I told her. “Maybe tomorrow at the clinic.”

    Alice pouted and dashed from the room. I knew she was upset, but considered the matter settled.

    Still, I didn’t like the thought of her being unhappy with me. I paced, trying ito /ithink of ways to make this up to her. At 6, she couldn’t possibly understand all the dynamics at y here. To her, the only thing I was doing was keeping her away from the man she thought of as her dad.

    Maybe I could make her favorite dinner as an offering of sorts?

    As I was debating, Alice remerged from her room.

    “Mom,i” /ishe said. “I want to go get ice cream.”

    I thought of saying no. After all, she should at least wait until after dinner. But I was so eager to make this up to her, so eager to fix this small rift between us, that I decided to spoil her.

    “Alright,” I said. “Let’s get some ice cream.”

    She beamed.

    In the car, she directed me, not to the ice cream shop that was closest to us, but to the one shaped like an ice cream cone that was nearer the shopping center… and the only hotel in town, where Julian had to be

    staying.

    Hopefully he wouldn’t isee /ius. Maybe if we ate in the car?

    Yet as I parked and we approached the cone–shaped building, my stomach twisted. Julian was already

    here.

    “Dad!” Alice shouted and ran ito /ihim for another hug.

    i2/2 /i