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THE REPAIR

CONNOR

One thingI’ve learned in the last few days is how hard it is to admit you’ve failed. I thought I’d figured that out with Shelby, but my fuck up with Daphne is a whole different beast. I want to be better for her. To fix what I broke. That means owning up to what I did, creating a plan and rebuilding the relationships my actions put strain on.

So, three days after I apologize to Daphne, I text my brothers.

Me

Pack meeting tonight. Be home for dinner, please.

Nate

Daphne too?

Me

Not this time.

Let’s hope this is the last pack meeting without her.

I work from home, splitting my focus between clearing the stale scents out of our space and getting things in place for the future of our business. Things I should’ve done a long time ago.

By the time dinner rolls around, I’m anxious. What if Nate and Dez don’t want to repair the pack? What if they’re sick of my shit and leave? Daphne agreed to court us, but it doesn’t take a genius to see she isn’t set on me. They could whisk her away and there’s nothing I could do.

“I can hear you thinking from here.” I jerk away from rearranging the pizza boxes for the third time to find Dez leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, brows creased. “You okay?”

Not even remotely. “Where’s Nate?”

“Went to see Daph first.”

“You didn’t want to go?”

Something flickers across Dez’s face. “She needs space right now.”

Not a doubt in my mind that he’s the one who decided that. Daphne seemed perfectly happy with Nate when I stopped by. “Have you asked?—”

Nate slips past us, settling in one of the deck chairs. “What’s this about? I’m missing prime snuggle time.”

Jealousy rises almost as fast as I snuff it out. My instincts can calm the fuck down. I haven’t earned snuggles yet. “I need to apologize.”

“We’re not the ones you should say sorry to,” he says.

“I’ve already spoken to Daphne. She and I are finding our way, but she isn’t the only one I hurt that night. You all deserved better than the man you saw at dinner. You deserved an alpha who leads this pack with grace and kindness. I failed at that and I’m so fucking sorry for it.”

“How do we know you won’t fly off the handle again? We can’t risk Daph, Connor.”

“I know.” My breath rattles in my chest, fingers cold with nerves. “That’s why I’ve made an appointment with a therapist. She had a cancellation, so I’m starting this week.”

Pure silence.

After my divorce, my brothers begged me to go to therapy and I did…for all of two months before I decided it wasn’t working fast enough. Really,Iwas the one who never gave it a chance.

This time, I have a reason to stick it out. Our future is at risk if I let my past dictate my actions and the idea of losing Daph or my brothers is too terrifying to consider.

So, therapy.

My brothers wait, but when I don’t take my words back, they rush me. Arms pulling me into a massive group hug that breaks my back and heals my soul.