Chapter 13
“Cassandra, please…”
“Whatever happened between you and Melanie is in the past. I’ve moved on, and I suggest you do the same.”
Drake nodded, a look of understanding on his face. “I just wanted to be honest with you. I’m sorry for everything, truly.”
“Yeah, well, that doesn‘ t change anything between us,” I replied, my tone firm. “We’re happy here, and I want to keep it that way.”
He took a deep breath, and for a moment, it felt like he was really absorbing everything. “I get it. I’m just glad to see you both doing well. I’ll respect your
space.
With that, I watched as he said goodbye to Ember. She waved, still unsure about this strange man who was supposed to be her dad. I could see the longing in his eyes, but
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I felt resolved. We had built a new life
without him, and I wasn‘ t going to let the past creep back in.
After he left, Ember turned to me, her little face scrunched up in confusion. “Is he coming back, Mama?”
“No, sweetheart,” I said, kneeling to her level. “We’re just fine the way we are. You and me against the world, remember?”
She smiled, her innocence and trust warming my heart. “Okay! Let’s play with the blocks!”
As we went back to our game, I felt a sense of finality wash over me. The past was behind us, and now it was time to focus on our future–one filled with love, laughter, and a bond that was unbreakable.
With Drake out of the picture, I finally felt like I could breathe again. The weight of my past had lifted, and I was ready to embrace my new life as both a mother and
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an Alpha. It was time to return to my pack. They were my family, and I wanted Ember to know her roots.
As we drove into familiar territory, my heart raced. I hadn’t realized how much I missed this place–the trees, the scents, and the sense of community. Rachel was the first to spot us, and she came running up with a big grin.
“Cassandra! You‘ re back!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug.
“We missed you!”
“Missed you too, Rach,” I said, laughing. “It feels good to be home.”
John followed closely behind, his expression a mix of excitement and relief. “I knew you’d come back! We’ve held everything together, but it’s not the same. without you. Ember looks just like you!”
Ember peered shyly at them, clutching my leg. “Who are they, Mama?”
“This is Rachel and John. They‘ re
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hapter 13
etum amily,” I said, crouching down to her level. “They’re going to help us get
ettled back in.”
term “Hi, Ember!” Rachel said, waving alized enthusiastically. “Welcome to your es, ack!”
nity. By
le care
mber smiled, her little wolf ears perked p with curiosity. “Can you show me round?”
Absolutely!” Rachel replied, her
tranto al
xcitement infectious. “There’s so much > see!”
ch.” is
home
s they walked off, I felt a swell of pride. mber was already making connections, v behind I knew she would thrive here.
exciteme
ne back
but it
looks jus
er the next few weeks, I settled back into role as Alpha. I held meetings, listened ny pack‘ s concerns, and worked on uilding the bonds that had weakened at them ing my absence. Most importantly, I Mama icated time to raising Ember to be a
wolf. I wanted her to know that she
1 John. T
no
ng
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could one day lead our pack, just as I did.
I taught her about our history, our strengths, and how to embrace her wolf side. We practiced shifting together in the woods, and I watched her confidence grow each day. She was a natural, picking up the skills quickly, and I couldn’t help but feel proud.
One evening, as we sat by the fire outside, Ember turned to me, her expression serious for a two–year-old. “Mama, can I be the Alpha one day?”
I smiled, brushing her hair back.
“Absolutely, sweetheart. You can be anything you want to be. You just have to believe in yourself and work hard.”
“Like you?” she asked, her eyes sparkling.
“Exactly like me,” I replied, feeling at sense of determination in my heart. “But remember, being an Alpha isn’t just about power. It’s about protecting your pack
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and making sure everyone feels safe and loved. That’s the most important part.
Ember nodded, soaking in my words. “I want to be strong and help everyone!”
I pulled her into a hug, my heart swelling with love. “And you will be. Together, we’ll make this pack stronger than ever.
As the months went by, our bond deepened. I found joy in watching Ember grow, not just as my daughter but as a future leader of our pack. She was fierce, kind, and full of life, and I knew she would make a great Alpha one day.
Life in the pack felt right again. I had built a new foundation, one that was rooted in love, strength, and unity. We were a family, and together, we were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
With Ember by my side, I felt ready for anything. New beginnings were here, and I couldn’t wait to see where this journey
would take us.
–
