Chapter 65

Chapter 65: Theo I had gotten to the lake house late in the afternoon. My mom said she would give Dad his surprise soon. In the meantime, she wanted me to help set up a new yard swing they just got. She wanted it out in the yard overlooking the lake so she and Dad could sit there in the evenings. I wondered if this was his surprise, but she insisted it wasn’t.

Within a couple of hours, I got the base of the swing put together and was checking the sturdiness of it when I heard a car coming up the drive. I didn’t think much of it at first. Despite moving out here for more privacy, they still got regular visitors. They were the Alpha and Luna. And well-loved ones at that. And they still enjoyed the company. It was manageable this far out of the city.

My attention went back to my task. I needed to anchor the base, but it required a couple more tools. When I went to the shed, I saw a deep red muscle car I didn’t recognize parked out front. I couldn’t think of who it could belong to. My curiosity took over and I headed for the back porch.

The scent hit me first.

I was frozen in the doorway as my heart raced. Kieran pushed forward, his desperation nearly knocking me over. Then the sweet, musical sound of her voice floated through the house, and my feet were moving on their own. I made it to the living room as my dad released Ayla from a big bear hug. She must have sensed me. Her body tensed and that beautiful smile wavered.

She wasn’t here to see me.

But what was she doing here?

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15:24 Quchers It didn’t matter. She was here. Standing a few short steps away. I almost couldn’t believe it. I felt elation and hope rising in my chest. Until she looked at me and I saw it.

Fear.

There was fear in her eyes.

‘She’s scared of you,’ Kieran whimpered.

She pushed it back as my mother spoke.

“Ayla, you’ve met our son, Theo,” she said.

Ayla forced a smile. “Yes, we’ve met.”

“It’s good to see you again, Ayla,” I said gently.

“You, too,” she forced out.

Seeing how she was working to maintain composure, Mom must not have told Ayla that she knew about us. I didn’t think Ayla was expecting to see me. This was an ambush. I was pis**d at my mother for doing it this way. But then I reminded myself that it was probably the only way this would have happened. It still didn’t sit well with me, but I would take whatever opportunity I could.

“Ayla has agreed to write your father’s memoir, Theo,” Mom said. “She’ll be staying with us while she gets all the information she needs.”

“You know,” Dad said to Ayla, “when Grace suggested it to me, I thought it was a ridiculous idea. But if it makes her happy, I won’t deny her. Besides, if anyone can make me look good, it’s you, Ayla.”

She smiled back at my parents. A genuine smile.

“I’ll do my best to do your story justice, Alpha,” she replied.

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15:24 288 Vouchers “Well, we don’t have to get into that right now,” my mother interjected. “Theo, why don’t you help Ayla take her luggage to the guest house? It’ s all ready for you. Once you get settled, come back over for dinner.”

“That’s okay,” Ayla said. “I can unload myself.”

“Nonsense,” Mom insisted. “Theo, go help her.”

I offered Ayla a soft smile, indicating I would follow her out. As soon as we were outside and away from my parents, her demeanor became stiff and closed off. She moved quickly to the car parked in the drive and opened the trunk, immediately pulling a suitcase out and throwing a bag over her shoulder.

She turned on me. “Look, I really can handle this myself, but thank you for the offer.’

”

I didn’t respond as I reached down and grabbed the suitcase. I started toward the guesthouse, and the corner of my lips twitched as I heard her huff behind me. She was so da*n cute. I knew I had one of the hardest challenges of my life in front of me, but every second with her made me more determined.

I pulled the screen door of the guest house and pushed the inner door open, stepping aside to allow Ayla to go first. She brushed against me as I held the doors open for her, and I thought I would explode out of my skin. Kieran was going crazy in my head. He wanted to shift. To take over so he could show her that he always wanted her.

I pushed him back. That was the worst thing we could do right now. This couldn’t be about getting our mate back. Not yet. I needed to show Ayla how sorry I was. I needed to focus on healing the damage İ had caused. If I could do that, I’d work on making her and Dasha ours again. But I could only do that if she could forgive me and move on from what I had done. I desperately hoped that was possible.

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15:24 I followed Ayla inside and set her suitcase next to the coffee table.

“Ayla ...”

“I’m not here for you,” she rushed. “I’m here for Mina and for your parents. I owe your father a lot, and being asked to do this is an honor. I wasn’t going to turn it down just because of you.”

“Okay,” I said.

“I’ll be here most of the time,” she continued. “So, avoiding each other shouldn’t be too hard.”

I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped. “You don’t know my mother that well if you believe that.”

“I’m not going to tell them if that’s what you mean,” she snapped, dropping her bag on the couch and crossing her arms over her chest. “There’s no reason they need to know.”

“That’s not what I meant, Ayla,” I said.

I took a step toward her and froze. There was a diamond ring on her finger. Bile rose in my throat. There was only one reason she would be wearing that ring. She had promised to become Kingston’s Luna.

She noticed what I was focused on and tucked her hand under her arm, looking uncomfortable. I stepped back, clearing my throat.

“I’m glad you took the job, Ayla,” I said honestly. “Despite their son being a complete as***le. I know it will mean a lot to my father.”

I turned to leave, stopping when Ayla spoke.

“Theo,” she said, “I’m sorry about you and Kylee.”

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15:24 Chapter 65: Theo “Don’t be,” I grunted, leaving the guest house before I lost it.