Page 106 of My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret 2

and then, God, I saw the tears.The alpha King, my Killian, the strongest man I knew...he cried.He wiped his eyes quickly, like he didn't want me to see, but I saw it.

He stood up, walked to Mrs.amanda, and said quietly, "I'll treat her like the daughter I never had.You have my word."

Mrs.amanda nodded with a trembling smile."That's all I needed to hear."

We signed the paperwork.Everything was official now.anna was ours.

The woman stood to leave, giving anna one last gentle pat."Be good, sweetheart," she whispered.

and then she left, and anna stayed.

When we got home, I was still holding little anna in my arms like she was a piece of me I never knew I'd been missing.She hadn't said much the whole ride back, just clung to me with her tiny hands, her head resting quietly against my shoulder like she already knew this was her new home.Killian was the one who opened the door and stepped aside for us to enter, his hand brushing my back in that protective way of his, like he was reminding me he was here.always here.

"Ryan," I called softly the moment we stepped inside, my voice just loud enough to carry through the house.

He came running down the stairs a few seconds later, his pajamas still rumpled and his hair sticking out in all directions.The moment his eyes landed on the little girl in my arms, he slowed down and blinked, his head tilting a little like he was trying to figure out what was going on.

"Who's that?"he asked, his voice curious and a little cautious.

Killian stepped forward and knelt beside him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder."This is anna," he said calmly."She's going to be your little sister from now on."

Ryan's brows pulled together."But...how?"he asked, looking from Killian to me."Your stomach wasn't big like other mommies' stomachs when they have babies."

I let out a small laugh, even though my throat still felt tight from everything that had happened today.Before I could even think of what to say, Killian reached for anna and took her from my arms.He cradled her so easily, like he'd done it a thousand times before.

"You're right," he told Ryan, nodding."She didn't grow in Mommy's tummy, but she's still your sister now.We're going to take care of her together, okay?"

Ryan looked at anna again, his face still unsure, like he wasn't quite convinced.But then something changed.He stepped forward, reached for anna's tiny hand, and held it gently between his fingers.

"Hi," he said shyly."I'm Ryan."

anna giggled, a soft, delicate little laugh that somehow filled the entire room, and her tiny teeth showed as she smiled up at him.And then, out of nowhere, Ryan said something I'd never heard him say before, not even about the girls at school who had a crush on him.

"She's really pretty."

Killian and I both turned to look at him, stunned.I couldn't help the small gasp that escaped me as I watched the way Ryan stared at her, like he already knew this little girl was going to be a part of his world now.

Killian blinked and then laughed under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief.

anna giggled softly at his words, her tiny teeth showing as she stared up at him with wide, shiny eyes.

and Ryan...he didn't take his eyes off her.

CHAPTER 110

Liana's POV

After everything that had happened, from the day Killian came back into my life, to the chaos of my father disowning me, to Cynthia being thrown in prison, to the heartbreak of losing Betty and taking in her beautiful daughter anna, after all the pain and healing and growing, it was finally our wedding day.

anna was already so deeply loved by everyone in our family.Mother spoiled her like she was her own granddaughter.Father adored her and always made her laugh.Even Ryan was protective over her like a big brother who took his role very seriously.She wasn't just someone we were taking care of anymore.She was our daughter now.She was our reality.

and now, so was this.Me.Killian.Standing in front of each other as bride and groom.

It was a royal wedding, and everything about it looked and felt like something out of a movie.Everyone was there.Logan.Steve.Richard, with his human girlfriend Olivia who was glowing beside him.Even Simon came, and he brought his new girl too.I wasn't even mad.In fact, it just felt good knowing we were all moving on with our lives.

Every member of the pack territories was present, the councils too.

and Killian...