Page 32 of Alpha & Omega (Alpha's Rejects #4)

March - Five Months Later

I stared at the check in my trembling hands, struggling to process the amount of money I was looking at. A little part of me was guilty that this money would get me officially out of debt, but it was at the expense of someone’s life—two people’s lives.

“They finally settle?” Harley asked.

I handed him the check so he could see for himself. “Am I reading that correctly?” I asked, though I knew I had read it right. The insurance company had already reached out to inform me of the settlement, but four hundred and fifty-eight thousand dollars was still hard to process.

He took the check from me and whistled. “That’s a lot of money, baby. You deserve every penny of it.”

“Someone died for this money.”

Harley sat next to me at my small kitchen table. “And you suffered because of their mistake. You almost died yourself.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “You lost your leg, nearly lost your business. You couldn’t work, and you had massive medical bills.”

“I know. I’m grateful to have it and finally pay everything off, but still, it feels… wrong.”

He sighed and kissed my head. “I understand. It’s hard when someone has died, especially when you think about their family and their loss. But remember, it wasn’t your fault, and this is what insurance is for.”

“Yeah…”

“Put the money into the bank and breathe a little easier. Now you can even think about hiring more people.”

I looked at him and smiled. “And maybe get a new car.”

“Now you’re talking. Are you ready for that? I know you’ve done really well getting back into a car, but what about driving? You haven’t tried that yet.”

“I guess I should get practice before I buy a car, huh?”

“You can borrow mine.”

I swallowed and nodded. “Yeah…”

“Or you never have to drive at all. I can take you where you need to go.”

I leaned forward and kissed him. “You’re always taking care of me.”

He scoffed. “Well, I expect you to take care of me in return when I’m old and can barely walk.”

I chuckled. “That’s a given.”

“Yeah? Does that mean you’ve been dreaming of a life with me forever and ever?”

“If you think I’ll ever let you go, you’re nuts. You belong to me now… forever and ever. ”

Harley wrapped his arm that was already on me tighter around my neck and pulled me into another kiss full of tongue and ownership, his moustache tickling my nose.

“In that case,” he said when he pulled away and stood. “I’ll be right back. Wait right there.”

He returned a few minutes later, looking suddenly uncertain and nervous. What was going on with him?

“Since you want me forever and ever…”

Harley dropped to one knee in front of me and held out a wedding band.

Holy shit… he was holding a wedding band.

“It’s been only nine months,” he said, scoffing at himself. “Only? It feels like I’ve known you for years; like you’re a piece of me and have always been there. We started rocky, and I hope I’ve made up for my blunder. I’m forever grateful you’re a part of my life. You make every day more fulfilling than the next…”

“Harley…”

“P-please let me get this out.”

I nodded.

“I already know what you’re going to say, which is not a ‘ no .’ You’re going to fucking tell me you haven’t done shit for me or that you bring nothing to the table. I’ve learned a lot about you over the past months, you sacrificial bastard.”

I snorted a laugh because he wasn’t wrong. That was exactly what I’d planned to tell him.

“I had this proposal all planned out, but this spontaneous moment just feels right. You’re my everything, Kingston McLaren. You’ve completed my little world, and I want you to be in it forever and ever. Will you marry me?”

“You do know me. I would definitely never tell you ‘ no .’ I still feel like I haven’t offered you anything worthwhile, but I trust you in how you feel about me. You’ve gone above and beyond for me… You’re the one who’s made my life complete. Yes, I’ll marry you. How could I not?”

Harley slid the ring on my left ring finger and kissed it. “I was searching for really cool rings that fit your personality and found this one. The inside is made of wood from a whiskey barrel, and the outside is hammered titanium. It’s so rustic and beautiful… at least I think so.”

“It’s gorgeous, Chef. I love it.”

He grabbed my hand and pulled me to stand so he could kiss and hold me.

“I’m going to do everything I can to make you happy,” I promised.

“I’m the happiest man on the planet. Now, let’s go to the skatepark and show off that ring of yours.”

Summer - One Year After the Accident

It was the anniversary of my car accident and the day everything changed for me. I figured what better day than to push myself out of my comfort zone instead of wallowing in what I’d lost? Once in a while, those pangs of depression threatened, but then I’d remember all that I’d gained. Despite not having a leg, life was fucking good, especially with Harley in it.

I was still in physical therapy and seeing my psychologist, but each day got better and better.

After putting on my new prosthetic for athletic activity, I stood and picked up my board.

“Do you want me to stand by you in case you fall?” Harley asked.

I shook my head. “No, I need to do this on my own. I taught myself how to skate, and I can teach myself again.”

“I’ll be close by.”

“Thanks, Chef.”

I’d been watching videos of skaters who’d also lost their legs. They were brilliant. If they could do it, so could I. I even watched one man with no legs skating on his stumps. It was fucking impressive. He could do virtually all the skating tricks beautifully.

Reluctantly, I put on protective knee pads and elbow pads… Ugh, and a helmet, but I didn’t want to risk injuring myself again. I learned to skate without those things since foster care didn’t pay for shit other than the basic necessities. I paid for my own skateboard, saving money from mowing yards in the neighborhood.

I needed to start over again .

“You can do it, Alpha!” Stix yelled out when I stood and squared my shoulders.

Soon, my family clapped and whistled for encouragement. I would rather have done this with more privacy, but they insisted on coming to support me after I told them I wanted to get back on the board again.

Before I did any tricks, I had to learn to get on the board again. When I set my board on the ground, a distance away from people to give me space, my stomach strangely twisted. It had been a year since I skated, which made me a little scared—but scared of what? I didn’t know. I’d fallen hundreds of times, so that couldn’t have been it. Maybe because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to find my balance and never be able to skate again.

The day was hot, and I’d already started sweating, but at least there was a light breeze. My family stayed silent, like they were holding their breath, before I got on my board for the first time since my accident. The only noises were the skaters in the bowl and the screaming children in the playground, but I tuned them out.

With a deep breath, I put my right foot on the board and pushed off with my prosthetic. So far, so good. Once I had some speed, I hopped on and practiced turns. Muscle memory instantly came back to me, but my left leg needed to relearn and compensate for what it already knew.

Taking a risk, I did a kickflip, and when I landed back on my board, it rolled out from under me, and I landed hard on my ass. Everyone came rushing over, but I held out my hand.

“I’m fine! We fall all the time.”

Yeah, my butt bone hurt, but I stood back up and dusted myself off, determined to get it right and land without falling.

After three more tries and a bruised ass, I got it, landing back on two feet. If I could do a kickflip, I could do anything. The trick wasn’t difficult, but landing back on two feet with one foot I couldn’t even feel was a start.

My family clapped and cheered at my success, making me smile like a fool.

For the second time since my accident, I felt hope for my future. The first was getting engaged to Harley.

He rushed at me and lifted me in his arms, spinning me around. “I knew you could do it, Skaterboy. You’re fucking amazing. ”

I laughed as he set me down. “Sort of, but I feel strangely accomplished.”

“Next stop? Winning a championship with a prosthetic. If anyone can do it, you can.”

“Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I chuckled.

Although, that would be awesome.