Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 208

Chapter 208

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“Why don’t you stay tonight?” I heard myself say, and for a moment, the words didn’t sound like my own but rather like my wolf forcing them out. “Jane would love to see you, and you could check on Max later if you want.” Surprise flickered across his features. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. Besides, I think you’d spend the rest of the night worryir if you

A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You’re probably right.”

.

@ now.”

We found Jane and Damon in the kitchen, where Jane was perched on a stool at the counter while Danion chopped vegetables. She lit up when she saw Andrei.

“Daddy! Are you staying for dinner?”

“If that’s okay with everyone,” Andrei said, looking between Damon and me.

“More than okay,” Damon said without missing a beat. “We’re making pasta. Hope you’re hungry.”

What followed was one of the most natural evenings I could remember having in years. Andrei helped with the cooking while Jane chattered away about her day, telling him about the pictures she’d drawn and the games she’d played. Damon shared stories about pack business, and for the first time, his conversations with Andrei felt genuinely brotherly rather than just professional.

And most of all, I found myself laughing more than I had in years. At Andrei’s attempts to help Jane stir the sauce, which resulted in more sauce on the counter than in the pot. At Damon’s exasperation over Andrei not knowing where things were in the kitchen. At Jane repeatedly trying to sneak bites of food before it was ready.

After dinner, we all trooped down to the infirmary. Max was still sleeping peacefully, his fever completely broken

now.

By the time we headed upstairs, Jane was yawning.

“Bedtime, little girl,” I said, scooping her up.

“Can Daddy read to me tonight?” she asked, looking hopefully at Andrei.

I glanced at him. “You don’t have to-”

“I’d love to,” he said quickly.

Nodding I carried Jane to her room and helped her into her pajamas while Andrei waited in the hallway. Once she was tucked into bed, I kissed her goodnight and let Andrei take my place in the chair beside her bed.

“What would you like me to read?” he asked, studying the books on her nightstand.

“The one about the dragon princess,” Jane said, pointing to a worn picture book.

I lingered in the hallway as Andrei read, his deep voice rumbling through the door. Each sound made my heart ache, but in the best way possible. By the time he stepped out of her room, tears were streaming down my cheeks. Tears that I quickly wiped away, although I was certain he saw them before I did.

We walked to the guest room in comfortable silence. When we reached the door, I hesitated. The air between us felt charged. We’d had such a perfect evening, and after our conversation during the picnic about taking things slow, part of me wondered if maybe…

Andrei seemed to sense my thoughts. He stepped closer, close enough that I could smell his familiar scent, could

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Chapter 208

see the way his pupils had dilated slightly in the dim hallway light.

“Natalia.”

My name sounded like the chime of a soft angel’s bell on his lips.

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For a moment, I thought he might kiss me. Thought I might let him. But better of it, and said, “Goodnight, Natalia.”

pped back, as if thinking

Disappointment washed over me. I supposed I should have expected that “taking things slow” might also include sex, but for some reason, the absence of his warmth left me feeling more bereft than I thought it would. “Goodnight, Andrei.” I stepped back, then turned and walked down the hallway toward my own room.

I felt his eyes on me the entire time, but when I reached my door and glanced back, he was gone.

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