Page 17 of Alpha Bully

“That won’t happen,” I say, rubbing her back, “I won’t let it. Besides, Harper is strong. Magic is a gift. If anyone knows that, it’s me. She will have a good future.”

Ava straightens slightly and steps back, her eyes glistening with tears but a steely resolve etched onto her features. “She will. But not here.”

I open my mouth to say something, but Harper stirs, and I drop it. What would I say anyway? Beg her to stay? We both know how the pack feels about her; the venom in the messages I received earlier only highlights how little has changed. But I won’t let any of that affect Harper. Ava is right; Harper shouldn’t feel a moment of rejection over who she is. And, as alpha, that is something I actually can control.

***

The next day, I wake up early and am ready long before Ava and Harper appear for breakfast. I’m not sure what Ava has told Harper since yesterday, but first, I need to gauge how well she understands her own powers. I’m still not really used to talking to small kids, but Harper is such a sweet pup that I feel like I’ve already built a tentative bond with her these last couple of weeks. So, as she eats her pancakes, I ask her about what happened at the park and how Sam, the boy, made her feel.

“Scared,” she says seriously, even though her mouth is full of pancakes. “Like before.”

Before?

I look at Ava and see her tense, the lines of stress etched on her beautiful face, and I realize she means either when they were attacked or maybe where they were living. Ava busies herself by clearing some plates away, but I can tell she’s affected by hearing Harper talk about being scared. So am I.

“Well, I hear Sam is known for being a bit silly,” I tell her, “but really, it’s because he gets carried away and can’t control himself. That happens sometimes, like with your sparks? It happens to me, too.”

I lift my hand and let the tiniest flame flicker across my fingers. Harper’s eyes go wide, and she freezes for a second, only to burst into a huge smile. “Mama, look!” she beams, obviously thrilled to see someone else with magic.

Ava turns to walk toward us as Harper raises her hand. “I can do that too!” she says, reaching out and trying to conjure the same flame. Her hand starts to glow slightly, and a few sparks flicker, but it dies out quickly. “I’m not scared,” she mumbles.

“That’s a good thing. But we can work on your magic when you’re not scared, too.” I tell her, holding my hand out for hers. “Let’s take this outside, okay? We need some fresh air.”

Harper finishes her pancakes and I help her put her coat on before heading out of the house into the meadow. Ava stays behind on the deck, and I can’t help but notice how nervous she looks as she lets me lead Harper to a safe distance from the house just in case those sparks suddenly get a lot more impressive. I can tell Ava isn’t used to trusting anyone with her daughter, so I give her an encouraging nod as we come to a stop in the middle of the meadow.

First, I show her how to control her breathing and focus on the flame. I feel a bit awkward as I stoop down to her level and try to explain things as simply as possible; it’s much harder to explain things to such a young child. After a few attempts, misunderstandings, and false starts, we seem to be getting somewhere. She tries again, and this time, the flame grows steadily under my guidance until we have a small fire going between us.

“That’s it!” I say encouragingly, “Now let’s see if we can play with it.”

Working together, we bend the flames in different directions, making shapes and figures in the air. Harper’s eyes light up with wonder as she uses her magic for the first time without fear or hesitation.

Watching her delight in something I’ve always taken for granted is intoxicating. Suddenly, she spins around toward Ava and shouts, “Mama!” The sudden action causes the contained flame to shoot upward and sends us both flying backward.

“Harper!” Ava shouts, and begins running toward us. I sit up quickly and find a startled and disheveled-looking Harper staring back at me in the tall grass. For a split second, I think she’s going to burst into tears, but instead, she starts laughing. It’s such a joyful sound that I can’t help but laugh, too.

By the time Ava reaches us, we’re both in a fit of giggles. “Are you okay?” Ava asks Harper, panting and slowing as she takes in the scene.

“That was fun,” Harper giggles, standing. I assume she’s going to run to Ava, but instead, she throws herself into my arms, nearly knocking me over, and laughs, “Do it again!”

For a moment, I’m lost for words, but then I find myself hugging her back. The feeling of her tiny body wracked with giggles warms my heart. I look up at Ava and see something unreadable in her expression. It’s there, and then it’s gone. It's as if she’s schooled her expression just for Harper, and she smiles at her daughter, masking any of the turbulent emotions beneath. Not for the first time, I’m awed by Ava’s endless ability to love Harper in the best way possible despite her own situation. She’s an amazing mother, and I’m sure no one has ever told her. I resolve to do just that, but right now, Harper is demanding more fire.

“Okay, okay, as long as it’s okay with your mom,” I laugh, looking toward Ava for confirmation. She nods, her beautiful blonde hair practically glowing in the golden early morning light. I find myself transfixed for a second and wishing that even a fraction of the capacity for love Ava has for Harper was directed my way, too.

As the morning wears on, two things become apparent. Harper’s gift is far more impressive than I could have imagined, and so is her mother.

Chapter 11 - Ava

After spending all morning procrastinating about this decision, as I help Harper pull on her shoes, I’m still doubting myself. I don’t want her to see me wavering, though. She really wants to bake Callum a cake to say thank you for helping her with her magic, which means a trip to the store.

I know it’s pathetic to be scared of walking into a general store, but in truth, I always have been. Even when I lived here in the pack, something as simple as getting food supplies was always traumatic. I’d try to pick the quietest time to go, but comments and whispers would accompany me down the aisles, the staff would try to avoid assisting me, and I’d leave completely rattled.

I don’t want Harper to have the same experiences as me, particularly after what happened at the park with the little boy. Although Callum has made her feel much better about it, I still feel anxious about seeing any of the other pack members in case they say anything about her magic.

Or ask who her father is.

It’s getting harder and harder to watch Callum with Harper and deny the truth. He worked tirelessly with her yesterday on her magic, and as much as I didn’t want to acknowledge it, their bond flourished so naturally. Although Harper looks just like me with fair hair and skin compared to his darker tones, seeing them side by side so closely makes the resemblance so much harder to ignore.

I haven’t outright lied to Callum about being Harper’s father because he hasn’t directly asked me if he is. Everything I have said about her father not being around and my knowledge of his magic has been true. But I feel like the more pertinent questions are coming. It’s only a matter of time. And Harper, too; will she ask me who her father is? Will I admit that she played with him in that beautiful meadow, someone finally understanding her gift, and I kept it a secret from both of them?

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