*Rion*
“Co on, Rion. If you don’t try, you’ll never know if you can do it,” Eva urged.
I glared at her from my wheelchair. It wasn’t as easy as she was making it out to be.
After weeks of pins and needles all over my legs, sotis so excruciating, I could scream, the physical therapist told it was ti to stand.
My legs still felt like jelly, limp noodles that wouldn’t hold my weight.
“I don’t need you molly-coddling ,” I snapped, waving Eva off.
She scoffed and tipped my wheelchair forward, practically spilling onto the floor.
“Hey!” I caught myself on my feet. Stumbling forward, I caught myself on the wall, my legs trembling violently. “What the hell was that for!?”
“You’re standing.”
I looked down. She was right, I was standing. My legs wobbled unsteadily, but I was standing.
“It’s ti for you to get back to your life. You can’t hide out in this hospital forever, Rion.”
I nodded. Eva was right. It was ti to face my life, even if I couldn’t rember it.
“Send word to Daphne and Jasper. I’m coming back.”
A driver picked Eva and up at the hospital to take us back to Thorn Forest. I was grateful that Eva didn’t talk to much on the ride.
It was still hard for to wrap my head around the idea that I was married to the Crimson Princess. All I rembered of her was so preppy, proper, spoiled princess. How could I have married her and taken over a pack with her? She wasn’t a leader.
But everyone was adamant that I had a life with her. I couldn’t tell them all they were wrong or conspiring against .
Still, it was hard to believe.
The car pulled into a small village and all the house doors started to open. People ca out and smiled at , waving. There were so many families and happy looking people. I wished I could recognize them because they clearly recognized .
When we got to the town square, I saw Daphne. She was surrounded by many other mbers of Thorn Forest, and it looked like they put a whole welco ho lunch together for .
Daphne walked around with her chin high and such an air of authority. She looked just like the spoiled princess I always imagined her to be.
But the rest of Thorn Forest seed to adore her. Maybe there was more to her than t the eye.
“Welco ho, Alpha Rion,” soone said as I got out of the car.
The pack mber rushed toward .
“Stand back, everyone!” Eva ordered. She stood in front of and held her arms out protectively.
At least, I could count on my sister. She was the only one I felt like I knew and trusted.
I put my hand on Eva’s shoulder and stepped around her, ready to address the pack that saw as their Alpha.
“Thank you everyone, for coming out to greet . I’m very happy to be ho.” I nodded respectfully to all my pack mbers.
They seed satisfied with my statent and went back to the luncheon festivities. There were picnic tables around the town square and a lot of food had been brought out. Kids ran around happily, playing.
I eyed them and wondered if any of them were mine. Eva didn’t have any pictures of them for . All I had was their nas—Ayla and Selene.
“Let’s get you sothing to eat,” Eva suggested. She looped her arm through mine and tugged to one of the picnic tables. “That hospital food wasn’t the greatest. We have so great cooks here.”
We sat down together, and Eva got so lunch. My eyes kept drifting toward Daphne. I watched her with the other pack mbers. She was always smiling and showing kindness. They seed to really like and respect her.
That wasn’t sothing that could be faked.
As I looked around, I did see one familiar face. I creased my brow and waved her over.
“I know you, right?”
She blushed lightly and nodded, taking a seat across from . “You know everyone here, technically.”
“I an... I rember you.” Her na was Anais. The last ti I’d seen her, or rembered seeing her, she was untrustworthy and a total ss.
“Oh... well, I’m not that person anymore. I know you rember differently, but I’ve really been getting my life together.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Really?”
“Yeah. You know, if it wasn’t for Daphne, things might be very different, but she believed in and helped out a lot.”
“Hmm.” I glanced at Daphne again.
She was still attending to the needs of everyone else. Did she ever sit down and relax or was she always keeping herself busy?
For a mont, it looked like she was actually a true Luna, not so pampered princess.
“What have you been up to, then? I an, how has your life changed?” I asked Anais.
She shrugged. “I’ve been getting myself clean. It’s hard work, but I see a better future for myself and my son.”
“I’m glad things have turned around you.”
The back of my neck prickled, and I followed the sensation back to Daphne. She had a strange look on her face, her eyes fixed on and Anais. She clearly had a problem with talking to Anais.
She was the only person other than my sister that I recognized, and I felt like I could have a real conversation with her. I didn’t need to try so hard to make all the pieces fit like I did with the people I didn’t recognize at all.
“You don’t trust , do you?” Anais asked.
“Not particularly, given our history.”
Anais sighed. “Well, I’m working on that. I don’t expect you to trust right away, but I’m working it. Daphne’s helping apply for jobs and helping get established in a respectable allied pack.”
“That sounds good, Anais. I’m happy you’re making ends et.”
“Look, I know you’re going through a lot, Rion, but don’t push away the people who care about you. Daphne has done a lot for , so I’m not going to sit around and let you disrespect her just because you don’t rember the life you’ve built together.”
Anais stood up and walked away. I stared after her. It was such an unexpected end to the conversation and nothing like the Anais I rembered. I guessed she really had started to change.
Daphne was the one helping her do it.
For the rest of the lunch, I watched Daphne. She showed everyone kindness and compassion and my heart lifted a little. She was a lot different than I imagined her being.
As people started to return to their hos, Daphne approached with two little girls. They clung to her legs with nervous looks in their bright eyes.
The mont I saw them, I knew they were my daughters. All day, I’d been wondering if I’d recognize my own kids, but I felt it deep in my heart, right in my soul.
My wolf echoed the sentint, and I had the sudden urge to hug them.
Without thinking, I went down on my knee in front of them and held out my arms. “Hey you two. Don’t be shy. I’m ho now.”
The two girls broke away from Daphne and ran into my arms. I hugged them and kissed their round cheeks.
“It’s okay, I’m here now. You don’t have to miss anymore.”
I hugged them again, reluctant to let them go. I didn’t even know which one was which, but it didn’t matter. These were my daughters. There was no denying that, and I wasn’t going to turn away from them.
“It’s nice to see you on your feet again,” Daphne said, her voice soft. She started clearing up the food ss from lunch.
“You don’t need to do that, I’m guessing.” I stood up, holding one of each of my daughters’ hands. They stayed close to .
She sighed and set a plate down. “Welco ho, Rion. I know you don’t rember this as your ho but... it’s good to have you back and to see your health improving.”
“Th-thanks.” It sounded so la. I should have sothing more to say to my own wife.
She smiled lightly but I noticed it didn’t reach her eyes. Her delicate features were undeniably beautiful.
My stomach twisted and my wolf tugged at my mind. Sothing deeper connected to Daphne, even if I couldn’t rember it.
“Co on, girls. It’s ti to get back to your lessons with Aunt Eva.”
“I don’t want to leave Daddy,” the little blonde one said.
“He’ll be here when you’re done,” she assured.
They obediently followed Daphne into the pack mansion.
I stood alone in the town square and took a long, slow look around Thorn Forest. I could tell that there had been a lot of recent updates and wondered what the pack was like before that.
Just from watching Daphne at the luncheon, I understood that she was important to this community. She was the glue that kept them together.
My mind wandered to everything Eva had told about Daphne and the life we built together. She wasn’t just so spoiled princess. She had a strong heart, and she was holding this pack and our family together while I recovered.
Warmth flooded my veins, and I realized just how wrong I’d been about her. She was special and strong, and she deserved a chance.
I owed her that, given everything she’d done for and this place while I was in the hospital.
She still believed in and the life we shared.
When the cleaning crew arrived, I headed into the pack mansion and found the kitchens. The staff was still there cleaning up after lunch.
“Alpha Rion, what are you doing here?” one of the cooks asked. “Did you get enough to eat at lunch?
“Yes, I did, thank you.” I nodded to her and smiled. “Actually, I had a special request. I’d like you to prepare a special al for two. I want to have dinner with Daphne tonight.”
The cook giggled and blushed. “Oh, I know just what to do. It’s still nice enough to have a al out on the back patio. I have so many plans to make!” She laughed and pushed out of the kitchen.
I shook my head and smiled. It was nice to see how enthusiastic the pack mbers were to see back.
I found so stationery and wrote Daphne a note to et on the back patio for dinner. I wasn’t sure she’d accept it after everything that had happened, but after the sun set, I showed up on the patio.
There was a table for two set up in the middle with string lights hanging around for mood lighting.
The table was already set and a wheel cart with covered trays sat next to the table. I could already sll the al underneath.
When Daphne arrived, she paused at the back door. Her brow creased, and she slowly ca onto the patio.
“What’s all this?” she asked, her eyes sweeping over the cozy, romantic setting.
I pulled her chair out for her. “A thank you, for taking care of everything.”
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