Twice Tempted: Between Two Alphas (Mia and Cameron) novel Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

When I enter the kitchen again, the kids are sitting at the counter.

The girl bounces in her seat. “I’m Jacelyn.”

She’s like a mini Mia. Eyes so big and sweet, joy radiating from her little body. And that name. It brings tears to my eyes.

Mia named my niece after me. I knew that from the information Jacob told me, but somehow seeing this little girl makes it suddenly real.

“Hello sweetheart,” I tell her. I lean down.

It’s awkward. I want to hug her.

But I’m a stranger.

I start to lean back, rethinking the impulse then her little arms sling around my neck and she squeezes tightly.

I breathe her scent. Committing it to memory. She is my family. And I will protect her until I take my last breath.

I hate that I missed her early years. Holding her as a baby. Seeing her take her first steps.

I position her on my hip and turn back to Aaron. He watches without saying much. But I can tell he’s assessing everything.

I don’t look at Morgan.

I can feel her eyes on me, but I don’t dare.

Now that my wolf has made his intentions known, it’s all I can think about. The…awareness of her is like a jolt of energy lingering in the air.

Of all the women in this world… a witch? Really.

And what would happen when we inevitably got into a fight? Her magic could smote my ass.

“Where is my mother?” Aaron asks.

Jacelyn rests her head on my shoulder.

“She’s gone back to our pack. I’d like for you both to come and see her. To meet your whole family.”

Aaron doesn’t say anything. He’s weighing my words, debating.

“Why should we come now?” he asks.

Morgan makes a sound, and my attention is drawn to her. I’m not sure what I see in her expression. Does she feel the tug between us too?

Maybe witches are immune to wolf magic or the concept of a true mating.

I focus on my nephew.

Aaron stares at me, his expression neutral, waiting.

Am I supposed to lie? I don’t know how much Mia has told them, and maybe it’d have been better to have discussed things with her–before knocking her unconscious with enough ketamine for an elephant.

I rake my one hand through my hair.

All three sets of eyes stare at me expectantly.

“Well, kids, the truth is….your dad–my brother–is sick. And he misses your mom so much. And he really wants to meet both of you.”

“He’s the Alpha,” Aaron says. It’s a statement more than a question.

“That’s right.”

“Then it’s important that he gets better.”

“Yes.”

“Because a pack without an alpha is vulnerable.”

“Yes, that’s true.” Maybe Mia is bringing them up with the intent of them one day belonging in our world. If she isn’t, I’m going to set her straight on that.

It’s one thing to go it alone. But it isn’t fair to force the life of a rogue on innocent children.

And I know that’s all kinds of fucked up and unfair, especially given her circumstances, but still.

The kids belong with their pack.

Looking at these beautiful children… Holding my little niece and her clinging to me like she’s trying to make up for all the years she missed, I feel something big and warm start to unfurl in my chest.

I’d die for them.

It’s like a whole other kind of love, and it reminds me that there is nothing more important than pack–than family.

“Jace,” Morgan says quietly. She knows my name.

When I meet her gaze, my wolf turns circles.

Damn it all.