Chapter 236
BONUS
Chapter 237
That stirred some recognition within him. “Oh.” He frowned deeper. “Well, I hope for your mother’s sake that she can live up to her reputation p>
“She is,” I replied. I hesitated with the next part, but I thought it important to prepare my family for what was about to happen – as well as to let them know to expect any punishments for their rudeness to my daughter. “She is bringing Alice and I will watch my daughter here in the waiting room p>
Some of my family’s faces went grim.
“She is six,” I said. “So I am warning you all right here and now that any unkindness to my daughter will not be tolerated. I might be your cousin and nephew, but I am also your Alpha. I will take any rudeness to my daughter very personal. Personal enough that exile might be on the table p>
“That’s extreme, ” said Uncle Peter.
So I reminded him again, “She is six p>
This time, to my surprise, and clearly to the surprise of a few others in the group, my usually timid Aunt Kathy stepped forward. “I would love to meet the youngest member of our family p>
“Kathy,” Uncle Peter said, not quite scolding but not entirely friendly either.
Aunt Kathy ignored him, which was another strange event and truly spoke to how much Aunt Kathy loved kids. She had raised plenty of her own, so she must have known all about the bigness of a young
girl’s heart.
In that moment, I wasn’t sure if I could trust the rest of my family, but I knew Alice would be safe with Aunt Kathy. I was relieved to know that I had at least one ally in the group.
“Thank you, Aunt Kathy,” I said. “I’m sure she will love you p>
That made Aunt Kathy smile. This woman deserved so much better than my grumpy uncle, but we were all creatures of habit, I supposed. After forty years of marriage, she was probably used to the old grump.
About twenty minutes later, Amber arrived with Alice, the two holding hands. She didn’t spare much time for me or my family, other than to pass Alice’s hand to mine.
To my surprise, though, Amber leaned in and kissed me quickly on the cheek.
“I’ll do my best for your mom,” she said. Then, after a brief goodbye to Alice, Amber hurried down the hallway toward Mom’s room. As several of the Healers recognized her from her time here, she was immediately welcomed inside.
Alice, clinging to my hand, looked between our family members with wide eyes. My family also looked back at her. Alice nervously shifted closer to me.
1/2
Chapter 237
Aunt Kathy moved closer at once. She leaned down a little and gave Alice a warm smile.
“Hello, Alice,” she said. “I’m your Aunt Kathy. It’s very nice to meet you p>
Alice, even nervous, was still a polite little girl.
“Nice to meet you,” she said softly.
“Such a dignified little lady,” Aunt Kathy said.
+15 BONUS
I didn’t know if Alice understood what dignified meant, but she seemed to know it was a compliment, because she grew a little bolder, stepping out from my shadow.
“You think so?” she asked.
“I know so,” Aunt Kathy said kindly.
Behind her, even some of my other family members were softening then. I knew they would. It was
difficult not to be immediately taken with Alice and her cuteness.
Olivia’s POV
They might have sent ‘Becky‘ away but no one had made sure that I left.
So I didn’t.
And now, from around the lonely corners of empty hallways, I watched as Julian showed off his pup to
his family.
Seeing them again made the anger swell inside of me. I hadn’t been able to get this close in a long time.
Maybe there was something I could do with this closeness, to finally have my revenge…