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

I’m still afraid of course, but

that as long as Sinclair is

on and my pup will have two loving parents to guide him through

world.

never Would have believed I could do it without her,

a quavering line. “but

by the knowledge that the wrong parent died… they would have

better off if Juliet had been here instead of

I beg, feeling tears in

hours.

shrugs, his dark eyes shining. “There’s no use denying

in the way. You’ll see that too

parent.”

mind scrambles for an argument, not because I want

that losing any

last conversation with Juliet?”

before everything

thinks for a moment, “No,

to get the details right, I

morning.

gave him permission to

at the end.”

the example you provided to guide him. He was

because they were

He is the Alpha he is

how to walk the

happened right here?” Henry inquires thoughtfully, his

he looks around the room. “I moved the boys to a new home after

his fortune, he rebuilt the original manor in

honor.”

admit, looking around the huge mansion. “Was it always

even grander in my day – Dominic isn’t

for himself,

up a distinctive puzzle piece belonging to my current

us

you have all day, diversions are a blessing, not a

of his wheelchair. “The first year I was in this chair,

young she-wolf to distract me from the

feel like you might be distracting me intentionally.” I remark slyly.

a man who knows the game is up.

for your own good,

tell me, Henry.” I request gently. “Whatever is worrying you can’t be as painful

reliving your mate’s death.”

he flashes his fangs in agreement. “It’s

before”

seen what happens when there’s

throne, and it never ends well for

like this?” I inquire, not caring that I might be showing my ignorance

shifter politics.

it isn’t.” Henry explains. “Normally the Alphas of each pack in the union are

it out on the campaign trail,

enough points return

extremely strong Alphas competing at the top, forcing

and form alliances rather than competing themselves.

on the

to win.”

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