Amber’s POV

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    The pizza delivery person arrived soon after I well, Alice invited Julian inside. Before long, we were

    sitting around the kitchen table, eating pizza and talking.

    Alice was telling Julian everything he missed since west saw him, seemingly in one big breath.

    Julian, to his credit, was paying rapt attention, nodding at the appropriate intervals, and even asking

    questions when there were brief openings, about Alice’s school and about her friends.

    I was d the two were enraptured in each other’s conversation and not looking for me for much input,

    because my mind was running a thousand miles a minute, still going over everything Julian revealed.

    I still didn’t have much proof that he was telling the truth… All of this could be some kind of ploy to get me to lower my defenses so that he could more easily steal Alice away.

    “You are looking for reasons to be fearful and angry,” my wolf said in my mind, scolding me. “He has

    given you no indication he intends to steal Alice…”

    “I trusted him in the past, and he made another woman pregnant,” I replied, also in my mind. My wolf

    wasn’t there then, she didn’t remember the hurt of those moments, or the ones that followed, when Julian

    pushed me away rather than exin things to me.

    Even now, I still didn’t fully understand what had happened. Our marriage hadn’t been perfect, certainly, but I thought, at least, that we had always tended to each other’s sexual needs. Our bedroom had often

    times been explosive, and always thoroughly enjoyable.

    Of all the things we failed at being married, our sex life was not one of them.

    At least, that had been what I thought. Yet it hadn’t been enough to keep him from running off and having a one–night stand with Olivia.

    A phantom hurt cut into me, a reminder of the pains of the past.

    My wolf fell silent. I still felt her disapproval, but it was somewhat muted now.

    Protecting myself and Alice was paramount in my life now. The time for love hade and gone. With Alice depending on me, I couldn’t afford to be foolish. I couldn’t let myself fall back under Julian’s charms.

    Julian said something then, that I didn’t really catch as I was so lost in my thoughts. Whatever it was, he said it with a grin, and it made Aliceugh andugh. Julian, watching her, seemed delighted at her reaction.

    My heart warmed, as much as I tried to keep it cool. And despite myself, a bit of longing welled up from the deepest parts of me.

    Like this, sitting around the table, eating andughing…

    This felt like family. A small, imperfect family, but a family nheless.

    And I hated how much it was everything I ever wanted, the life I had always wanted with Julian, when I cradled the small spark of hope during the harsher moments of our marriage.

    Someday, I had always thought back then.

    Now, I had it right in front of me. Or… no, I didn’t fully have this, did I? This was all still a shadow. Maybe,

    if Julian was being genuine, it could be real. Or maybe, if he wasn’t, this would all vanish and I would be

    heartbroken again. And Alice? Gods, if he wasn’t genuine, she would be devastated.

    Yet, before worry or misery could pull me under, Alice spoke up, mischievous eyes turning on me. “Don’t you think Mom is pretty, Dad?”

    I nched, my gaze drawn to Julian like it was out of my control.

    He seemed surprised by the question too. I didn’t hear what they had been talking about, but it likely wasn’t this. Alice must be up to something, changing the subject like this.

    Yet, rather than lightly scold her, or steer the conversation elsewhere, I was utterly enthralled with

    Julian, awaiting his response.

    His surprise cleared quickly, as he looked back at me. His features took on a warmth. His eyes softening, his lips straight yet giving the hint of a smile, like one was soon on the way.

    “She’s beautiful, Alice,” he said, though I barely heard him over the loud thumping of my heart.

    Though my cheeks had drained of color only a moment ago, I felt the heat returning to them now like a sh, so quickly I felt a little light–headed.

    Ch