“Look at the wonderful daughters we have created together. Am I forgiven for not telling you Nikka was outside the door?”
I chuckled as I nodded my head. I couldn’t remember the last time I was really angry with him because he always knew the right words to pacify my heart. He would always remind me how our lives took a full turn because we found each other.
And how could I oppose that? Because life has certainly been better since the night he and Hunter found me.
Epilogue
12 YEARS AFTER THE LUNA CEREMONY
RILEY.
“Zach, come here.” Myfirm voice echoed in the cemetery as Zach walked toward us with a solemn expression on his face. Just by the sound of my voice, he knew I was upset with him.
He sat down in front of Nadia and me, crossing his legs and sitting on them as he clasped his hands together before locking eyes with mine. That was one thing I taught my son—to look me in the eyes whenever I talked with him.
“Explain why you shouted at Amber earlier,” I asked him, my forehead creasing.
We just came from Caspian and Andrea’s twins’ 10th birthday party. The whole time, we saw Zach tease and taunt Amber, which was not his usual behavior. But we didn’t mind. Zach has always behaved, except whenever Amber was around.
And Caspian’s little princess never backed down and would always fight back whenever Zach attempted to annoy her. And all the time they would make a fuss. We just let it slide because, at the end of the day, they would make up and remain close friends.
But Zach crossed the line today. He didn’t calm down after Amber poured a bucket of water over his head. He began yelling at her. The little girl was taken aback before she ran away crying.
It was only then that my son realized what he had done, but it was too late. Amber refused to leave her bedroom until the moment we left.
Somehow, Zach reminded me of myself and my outburst. My son was the most behaved and responsible of the pups around us—a true mark of an Alpha. But he had the worst temper. He could snap in a moment, and anyone could be the victim.
“I’m sorry, Alpha. I just snapped. I didn’t have any extra clothes, and I was sopping wet.” He replied.
“Did it make you feel better after you shouted at her?”
He shook his head. His eyes shifted to his mom as if he was asking for help, but he didn’t convey anything. Zach had too much pride in himself to ask for help. Just like I was.
“Did you know you hurt her?”
He nodded his head. “Yes, Alpha.”
“Did it make you feel good to know you hurt her?”
“No. I already apologized. But she ignored me, Dad.”
“Do you think if you break a glass and whisper your apology to it, it will magically become whole again?”
He didn’t say anything, but he swallowed hard. I knew he wanted to drop his gaze away from me as his eyes watered, but he didn’t.
“Did you notice me yelling at your mother or disrespecting any females around us by shouting in their faces?”
“No, Dad.”
He was using ‘Dad’ instead of the usual ‘Alpha,’ and I knew he was more my son than the Alpha I was training him to be.
“Do you love your sisters, Zach?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“How would you feel if Cyrus shouted at them for being playful instead of talking to them nicely to behave?”
“I’m sorry, Dad. I disappoint you again.” Tears fell from his eyes, but he wasn’t dropping his gaze on me. I could feel Nadia’s emotions surging in. I knew she wanted to hug Zach and console him, but she knew my stand on disciplining our pups. Especially Zach.
