Page 23 of Alpha Bully

I’m about to reply when Charlie steps forward, glaring at me before he turns toward Jake and the crowd. “Y’all are so busy deciding who gets to be accepted and how. Did you ever stop to think Ava didn’t tell him because she didn’t want your precious acceptance anymore? And no, I didn’t know, either.”

“Charlie, I—” I start, but he spins around and storms from the hall.

I let him go, knowing I’ll have to rebuild a bridge there. Charlie’s been a good friend and an excellent beta, and he just found out I not only got his sister pregnant but rejected her. I look back and see Jake’s fire has dimmed and several of the other pack members look more subdued.

“This is a private matter, and I will deal with it—for the good of Harper and Ava and the pack,” I say, my voice unwavering. “But you all need to consider how you treat a young child regardless of who you think she belongs to. We are better than that.”

I walk away from the hall, knowing we’renotbetter than that, not yet, but we’re sure as hell going to be.

Outside, the cool night air hits my face, and I take a deep breath. I need to find Ava, explain everything, and apologize. She deserves better than what I or this pack have so far given her. I walk toward the house and just pray it’s where they went. As soon as I step through the door, I hear the sound of Ava’s voice from upstairs, along with Harper’s muffled sobs. The sound is heartbreaking, and I’m about to go upstairs when I hear Ava’s voice soothing Harper with a story about what their new home will be like. How they’ll be happy, and no one will ever hurt them again. She’s promising Harper that she will always keep her safe and that they’ll live happily ever after, just like she promised.

Listening to the words, my heart clenches. I want to blame the pack for the way they treated Ava and her family or Charlie for not looking after his sister better…but the truth is, the heartbreaking cries coming from my daughter are all my fault.

My daughter.

The thought hits me like a ton of bricks all over again, and I lean against the wall. The crying has stopped, and Ava is singing a song I’ve heard before. I think it’s an old pack lullaby. Her voice sounds so perfect, and I just stand there like a fool, listening.

Eventually, the song slows to a whisper, and I assume Harper must be falling asleep as I hear Ava’s gentle footsteps retreat from the room. I stand in the shadows at the bottom of the stairs and watch as she pulls the bedroom door too, and rests her head on the solid wood, her shoulders sagging. I think back to the other night when I came home and saw her in the same spot, that thin nightgown highlighting every curve of her body. I took her right here on the stairs like an animal. My wolf demanded more and more. My wolf has always known the truth about Ava. So why have I fought it?

I know why. Pack expectations feel like a pretty pathetic excuse when I consider Ava and Harper. But what do I do now? Charlie was right—the only reason Ava didn’t tell me was because she didn’t want me to know. I’m the alpha; I could have improved their position, but instead, she would rather just get away from here. She didn’t want me to be Harper’s father. The truth stings, but can I blame her? Look how I treated her.

Am I any better than Ralph?

Ava turns and looks down the stairs at me. She doesn’t seem surprised to see me, but she does look hesitant. I gesture toward the kitchen. “I could do with some coffee.”

She nods and follows me wordlessly into the kitchen, lingering by the island while I put a fresh pot on. I keep my back to her longer than necessary because I’m struggling to find the damn words, but she beats me to it.

“I-I’m so sorry, Callum,” she starts, the emotion in her voice clear. “I-I shouldn’t have done that. I’m so sorry. We’ll go, in th—”

Her voice breaks, and I turn to see tears falling freely. I push away from the counter and pull her toward me. I can feel the tension in her body at first, but as the seconds tick on, she softens against me. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I didn’t think they’d turn like that against a child, especially in front of me,” I murmur. “Heads are going to fucking roll.”

She shakes her head. “No, that will only make things worse,” she says sadly. “It’s best we just go.”

Now, I’m the one shaking my head, “I don’t think you understand,” I say, tilting her chin. “Harper is my daughter. No one is going to treat her badly, and no one will treat her mother badly. It’s not safe to leave. Tristen and Aiden are reporting problems with the rogues, too; traveling anywhere beyond the town would be foolish. And besides, I don’t want you or Harper to go. I want you to stay. I want you both to stay.”

She eyes me warily, her tears slowing but not fully stopping, and I can see the conflict in her mind.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I finally ask, already knowing I won’t like the answer.

“The Collinses already had me before I even knew.” She sniffles, and my wolf rages at the thought. “They’d already threatened to leave Harper somewhere, take her from me. I wasn’t expecting to ever see you again, and when I did…I couldn’t risk you wanting to keep Harper.”

I’m confused. “Wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

She shakes her head, stepping back slightly. “I will never let anyone take her from me.”

For the first time since she returned, I see her wolf flash in her eyes, and my wolf responds, itching to pull her close again. “I would never take her from you, Ava.” I reassure her, “I’ve been an asshole, and I don’t deserve it, but I want to know her. I want to be her dad. She’s funny and clever, so sweet. This pack would be lucky if she wantedthem.”

Fresh tears begin to fall down Ava’s face, but I see her small smile too. She’s understandably proud of Harper, and I’m not sure she realizes how close her wolf actually is. I’m beginning to think Ava is stronger than she realizes. I reach for her and pull her back into my arms. “This pack would be lucky to have you, too. I’m sorry that I ever made you doubt that.”

She wipes her tears away and tries to steady her voice. “You don’t have to say that,” she says.

“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it. I haven’t gone soft, and I’m not lying,” I tell her seriously. “My wolf knows what he wants; he always has.”

Ava’s eyes go wide, but I don’t even wait for her to respond. I know she needs to feel my intentions, not just hear it. My lips crash onto hers, and I taste the saltiness from her tears, which give way to sweetness as she parts her lips. My hands run through her hair, cupping the back of her head and pulling her closer. I can feel her wolf responding to me, and I know it’s mutual. Our tongues dance while I push her against the kitchen counter.

I pull away briefly to look at her flushed face. She bites her lower lip, a small moan escaping her mouth as she looks up at me with desire in her eyes. “Fuck,” I whisper before pressing my lips to hers again, harder this time. Our breathing is heavy as I try to keep myself from just taking her again; she deserves so much more.

Ava rolls her hips tentatively at first but then with more certainty, making my already hard cock pulse almost painfully. I barely break contact as I trail kisses down her neck, lifting her dress as I continue to where her neckline dips tantalizingly close to her breasts. I bunch the fabric in my hands as I drop to my knees in front of her and begin to kiss my way up her thighs. I can feel her leg tremble as I lift it onto my shoulder, hook a finger under her panties, and rip them away.

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