Page 54
Story: Rejected By The Alpha Heir
“Oh my God,” I whisper, taking her pulse. “Oh my God, Cleo!”
Austin hurries to my side. “What’s happening? Is she okay?”
I shake my head and try to think. Do I call the doctor? Is she having a seizure of some kind?Is she having a vision? I tried to remember what happened when Callie had a vision. I don’t remember her looking quite so pale, but I have a vague recollection of her just drifting off into her prophecies sometimes. Could this be the same? Is this Cleo’s first vision?
As quickly as she went into her trance, she pops out. Her eyes slowly become more focused, and she looks at me. Her face looks stricken.
“May I be excused, mama?” she asks, quietly.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” I ask, running my hand over her hair.
She just nods. “Please? I just want to lay down.”
I bite my lip and then nod. “Okay. But I am going to come check on you in a few minutes.”
Cleo just nods and slips from her chair. Austin and I both watch as she makes her way down the hall. I exhale when I hear the door to her room click shut.
“That was a vision, wasn’t it?” Austin asks, helping me stand.
“I don’t know,” I answer, truthfully.
I’m suddenly not very hungry.
“You need to come home, Yelena. If she’s the next Seer, you know how much danger she’s in. Let me protect her, and you. Even if you never want to be with me again, let me protect her,” he says, passionately.
“I’ve protected her for the last five years just fine without you,” I tell him, gathering up my plates. “Don’t you think I know what’s best for her? I’m the one who has raised her all these years. If we move back to the pack, it will bemydecision, not yours,” I snap.
He looks at me for a long time, his expression hard to decipher. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he looks both heartbroken and intensely frustrated. I’ve never seen him look like this until recently.
“Is this because of me?” he asks, finally. “Are you staying away because of me?”
I don’t give him an answer, I just dig in the cupboard for a plastic container and start ladling soup into it.
“Yelena, please, just, think about it. Please don’t stay in danger just because you think it would be too awkward to share a pack with me. I wouldn’t do that to you. You’re in charge of our boundaries. If you say you don’t want me, I’ll respect that,” he adds, heavily.
I finish ladling the soup, and then put the lid on. I carefully wrap a roll in tin foil. I gather it up and hand it to him.
“Here’s dinner,” I say softly. “I think you should go.”
His face falls, but he nods and stands. “The cookies are for her. If she wants them,” he says, taking the food I offered.
“And Yelena?” he calls out as he puts on his jacket. “I really did buy the condo across from yours. Number fifty-seven. You can come visit me anytime. My card is here, in case you need to get a hold of me.” He places the card on the table, and I grit my teeth and nod, walking him to the door.
“Good night, Austin,” I whisper, shutting and locking the door behind him. I exhale and lean against the door, trying to get my thoughts in order.
Austin coming here was a shock. Seeing him at my doorway, watching him play with Cleo—it was a lot. I don’t have the mental energy to analyze it right now. I’m too worried about Cleo.
Please, Moon Goddess, watch over her.I pray as I pick up the sofa cushions from Cleo’s pillow fort and place them back on the sofa. That girl is the most important person in the world to me. I would do anything for her. The knowledge that she has this gift that could harm her, or others, makes me sick with worry.
Once the living room is put back together, I make my way to Cleo’s bedroom and peek in on her. She’s sleeping peacefully, curled up in a ball next to all her stuffed animals.
My heart aches looking at her. All I’ve ever wanted was for her to have a lovely, peaceful,normalchildhood.
If she’s a Seer, she won’t have that, and it breaks my heart.
With a sigh, I creep into her room and lean down, pulling a blanket over her. I kiss her cheek and brush her hair aside, smiling when she giggles in her sleep.
“Sleep well, sweetie,” I whisper as I turn out her light.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54 (Reading here)
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88