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Chapter 144: Ayla
I read Harry’s journal in the passenger seat as we drove to my childhood house. The house
that would never feel like home again, thanks to him. But I was determined to find
something that made sense in the pages of that da*n book. I know Theo, Harden, and
everyone else wanted to blame his actions on that st*pid bedtime story. But there was
more to it than that. I could feel it in my gut.
Too bad I had absolutely no idea where to start.
I sighed, leaning my head against the headrest and looking out the window.
“What’s up, babe?” Theo asked. “You’ve been quiet today.”
“I’m just not used to having so many questions without being able to find the answers,” I
replied.
“I know,” he agreed. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t find them.”
I smiled at his optimism. Taking a deep breath, I shook myself out of my funk.
“You’re right,” I stated. “We’ll get it all figured out.”
“That’s my girl,” Theo said.
I checked my phone to see if Ma had gotten back to me yet. Alpha Harden had gotten her
into one of the nicest rehab facilities in Blue Fang. But since she was new to the program,
she had limited outside contact. I had broken the news to her and Kylee that I was selling
the house, and they seemed to take it well. They agreed it didn’t feel right
to stay there anymore. But they needed to decide what they wanted me
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to do with their stuff.
“She still hasn’t gotten back to you?” Theo asked, noticing me checking,
I shook my head. “But I think her phone time isn’t for a few more hours. It’s no big deal.
It’s going to take a couple days to get it packed up. The realtor wants to come and take
pictures before we remove the furniture anyway.”
“She’s coming by tomorrow, right?”
“Yep.”
We pulled onto the street, and I saw a big moving truck already in the driveway. Theo had
it dropped off, so it was there when we needed it. I told Kylee we would store her stuff for
her until she figured out her living situation, but I was probably just going to donate my
things. I had no use for them anymore, and the sentimentality was gone.
I exited the car, taking in the brick façade that I thought I knew so well. I saw the
remnants of police tape in the front hedge and bent down to pick it up.
“They were supposed to clean all of that out.” Theo said with agitation.
I chuckled and raised an eyebrow at him. “Because it would bring up bad memories?” I
shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. I’m ready to do this.”
Theo rested a hand on the small of my back. “You’re sure you don’t want to hire someone
to come clean it out?”
Dasha paced in my head. She understood what was happening, but she was still happy to
be back. She didn’t feel the weight of Harry’s presence as I did. I was grateful for that. It
gave me something pleasant to cling to.
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“I’m sure. I need to do this. In a good way,” I assured him. “I’ve been angry about all of it.
First, Ma changed how I saw this place, then Kylee, then Harry. I was mad. But I don’t want
to be mad about it anymore. There were bad memories here, sure. But there were good
ones, too. Memories that none of them can change. I need to revisit those before I say
goodbye.”
“I’d like for that to happen, too,” Theo replied.
I sucked air between my teeth. “You say that now, but let’s see how you feel after a few
hours of finger paintings and photo albums.”
Theo laughed, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Baby, if it means I get to learn
everything about you, I could spend weeks looking at toothless grade-school photos and
class certificates.”
“That reminds me.” I pushed off him and rushed to the door to quickly
unlock it.
“What’s the rush?”
“I have to hide the baby pictures,” I said, pushing through the door.
I tried to close it before he made it in but caught his foot.
“Absolutely not,” he argued as he pushed against the door.
I laughed as I leaned into it, knowing he wasn’t trying that hard to get in.
“Nuh-uh,” I said. “I spent a month with your parents, and all I got was proud, picture-
perfect moments. No way am I giving you that kind of leverage.”
He chuckled as he stopped fighting but kept his foot firmly on the threshold.
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Chapter 144. Ayla
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“I’ll tell you what,” he said. “I swear to let my mother show you every embarrassing photo,
drawing, assignment, you name it, when we get back. We’ll make a whole night of it.”
I smiled as I thought about it momentarily before I turned and opened the door.
“Deal.”
Theo was on me in one stride, pulling me against him as he kissed me. It was wanton and
needy and had tingles shooting through me to my core. Oh, how I had missed that. I let
my body react, pressing into him for more as his hands roamed.
But he pulled away too soon.
“Where do you want to start?” he asked breathlessly.
I wanted to start with what we were just doing. He hadn’t touched me like that since he
rescued me. I tried not to read into it since we had both been through a lot, but this time,
it was hard not to feel a little worried. And even a bit hurt.
But I pushed it back. We both had been stressed, and I didn’t want to make something
over nothing.
“I guess we can start in my room,” I said, hiding my disappointment.
“Okay,” Theo said, kissing my nose. “I’ll grab the boxes from the truck and meet you
there.”
I watched him go back out the door before turning toward the hall. I leaned against the
doorjamb of my bedroom as I looked it over. I couldn’t help the quiet laugh that escaped
at the irony. I could have my pick of Alpha mates but still couldn’t get laid in my own bed.
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