Ella

When Sinclair and Hugo finally leave for the pack headquarters, Henry and I move

into our favorite sitting room, returning to the puzzle we began solving together earlier

this week. Seated across from the older wolf, I pretend to scan the scattered puzzle

pieces for matches, while really sneaking peeks up at him. “So what do you make of

all this?”

I ask curiously. “Lydia and the Prince?”

Henry grimaces, “I never liked that woman. But trying to argue with headstrong young

Alphas’ convinced they’ve found their mate is like beating your head against a wall.”

He offers me a tender smile. “You’ll see soon enough. You can do everything in your

power to try and teach your pups the important lessons and prepare them for the real

world – but at the end of the day you have to let them make their own mistakes – it’s

the only way they learn.”

“Does it ever hurt any less? Or get any easier to watch them go down the wrong

path?” I inquire softly.

“Not a damn bit.” Henry shares grimly. However despite his grim look, his eyes

sparkle when he looks over at me. “Luckily, that doesn’t seem to be despite his grim

look, his eyes sparkle when he looks over at me. “Luckily, that doesn’t seem to be a

problem for me anymore. Lydia is out of the picture, my boys are friends again for the

first time since losing their mother, and Dominic is on his way to being King.”

“Dominic just told me how his mother died this morning.” I confess, reaching for the

old wolf’s gnarled hand. “Im so sorry you went through that.

It must have been terrible for you to be left alone with a pack to rule and two young

boys to raise on your own, in the midst of all your grief.”

He nods, “looking back I don’t have the first idea how I survived it. The grief almost

destroyed me… and I’m ashamed to say I let it destroy Dominic and Roger’s

relationship.” Henry sighs. “I haven’t always been the best father, but I can tell you

right now that it was a hell of a lot easier to be one when I had my mate.”

I know what he means. When I thought I was going to be bringing this baby into the

world alone, I’d been terrified. Very few people who plan for children expect to end up

alone with the responsibility, and though Id been one of the rare few – it certainly

hadn’t been by choice. I was thrilled to finally succeed, but the stakes seemed a

higher without a partner. I’m still afraid of course, but

I know that as long as Sinclair

pup will have two loving parents to

world.

have believed I could do it without her,

mouth a quavering line. “but I will never stop

knowledge that the wrong parent died… they

off if Juliet had been

don’t say that.” I beg, feeling tears in my eyes for the second time

hours.

It’s true.” Henry shrugs, his dark

the way. You’ll see that too – nothing humbles you like being

parent.”

for an argument, not because I want

in my heart that losing any parent is never

you about his last conversation with Juliet?” I finally ask, “before

before everything

moment, “No, not that I can

I repeat the story Sinclair

morning.

mother gave him permission to ignore what society dictated,”

at the end.”

had the example you provided to guide him. He was

those words because they were her last, but he

Alpha he is today

day how to

know that all happened right here?” Henry inquires thoughtfully, his

around the room. “I moved

his fortune, he rebuilt the original manor in

honor.”

know,” I admit, looking around the

grander in my day – Dominic isn’t the

himself, you

a distinctive

got us distracted. I was

when you have all day, diversions

the arms of his wheelchair. “The first year I was

a lovely young she-wolf to distract

be distracting me intentionally.” I

again, but it’s the defeated laugh of a

too clever for your

“Whatever is worrying

reliving your mate’s death.”

arch and he flashes his fangs in agreement. “It’s just

before”

happens when there’s

it never ends

caring that I might be showing my

shifter politics.

isn’t.” Henry explains. “Normally the Alphas of each

matched. They battle it out on the campaign

return to their council duties.

strong Alphas competing

sides and form alliances rather than

and all the danger on the one or two men who

to win.”

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