Chapter 298
Tansy was covered in bandages everywhere. Her neck was completely wrapped, and there were yellow patches on her face. The blanket was pulled up to her chest, so I couldn’t see what the rest of her body looked like. An IV line extended from her hand.
Jericho must have had a shower. His hair was combed and tied in a bun at the back of his neck. They’d obviously given him a razor too, because his beard had been trimmed. There were some bruises, but overall, he looked good. He sat in a chair beside Tansy, gently holding her hand. When I entered, they both looked at me.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“They gave me something to restore my
olf. I’m still very weak, so she’s struggling right now. I want to thank you for saving me.” Tansy’s voice was weak, but she tried to smile.
Looking at them like this, my emotions were too complex to describe. This should have been a heartwarming reunion moment, but I knew what I had to say next would make the atmosphere heavy. I had to be realistic, even if it was cruel.
“You understand that since Wiley was killed, the Alpha title transferred to you.”
“I realized that. I’m guessing you want us to reject it.” Tansy spoke without showing any emotion.
Damn, she was stronger than I’d imagined. Nineteen years of torture hadn’t destroyed her sanity, but I could see the guardedness in her. She was assessing me, just like I was assessing her.
“It’s the right thing to do. Neither of you is capable of managing a pack, let alone making decisions for innocent lives. You’ve been locked in cells, abused and starved for nineteen years. The world has changed, and you’ve both been traumatized in different ways. Psychologically, you both need time to heal and adjust to life.”
“Child, we won’t argue. We don’t want it, but we also don’t want to hand it over to just anyone.” Tansy tried to smile.
Her words surprised me. No anger, no protest, just an almost numb acceptance.
“Actually, Penelope is here.” I said. They both suddenly looked at me.
“What?”
“Your daughter wants to meet you. I believe passing the title to her would be in your best intere door.”
he’s right outside the
“She wants to meet us?” Tansy looked scared.
“She does. She has no expectations of you Penelope was well cared for and wanted for nothing. She just wants to meet her parents. I’ve already told her the basic situation of your story. She knows she wasn’t abandoned because you didn’t love her, but to protect her. Penelope doesn’t need a mother or father. I shouldn’t need to tell you, she just wants to meet you and eventually build a relationship.”
Tansy looked at Jericho for a second,/then back at me. “Please bring her in.”
In that moment, I saw the real Tansy. Not the tortured prisoner, but a mother longing to see her daughter.
I nodded and looked at Ryder. He went to open the door. A trembling Penelope and Logan walked in. Tansy and Jericho
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Chapter 298
both gasped when they saw her.
“This is Penelope and her mate Logan. Logan is my twin brother, Alpha of Nightcedar Pack. If you haven’t guessed, this is Ryder, Alpha of Boneash Pack, my mate.” I made the introductions carefully, watching everyone’s reactions.
“She looks just like you.” Tansy said to Jericho, tears forming in her eyes.
The room fell into silence as parents and daughter saw each other for the first time in nineteen years. Penelope stood frozen in the doorway, her hands shaking as she took in the sight of her biological parents. Jericho’s eyes never left her face, as if he was memorizing every detail.
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