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His eyes glisten. “Damn… I hate getting emotional,” he mumbles, then pulls me to him in a tight embrace.
I let out a small sob, holding him as tight as I possibly can, when suddenly we’re impacted by Clover, who joins us in a group hug. I wrap my arm around my little sister while we stand together, a reunited family.
Alpha and Loki rise to their feet. “We’re gonna give you guys some time to catch up. Feel free to stay in the Chapel as long as you need,” Alpha states, and I slowly pull away from Mav and Clover.
My eyes meet his, and I exhale. “Are you going to be okay?” I ask Alpha because I know he is not.
He leans in, kissing my cheek. “Come find me when you’re done, but take your time. Family is fucking important, and you’ve just found yours. I’ll be here when you’re done. I’m not going anywhere.”
I look deeper into his eyes to ensure he is okay. He’s been through a lot today. We both need each other tonight. “I can come with you now if you need to talk about everything.”
“I need to sit with my thoughts for a while. Please, spend the time with your family. Get to know each other. I’m good because I know you are coming to spend the night with me.”
A smile instantly lights my face, and I lean in, pressing my lips to his. That spark ignites inside me like it always does with Alpha. We’ve been through so much today. Knowing we have each other at the end is all we can ask for. “Okay, but if you need me, you know where to find me.”
Alpha presses a tender kiss to my forehead, then turns to Maverick. “It’s a good thing you came across to LA. You might want to send Hurricane back in NOLA a thank you.” He taps Mav a couple times on his shoulder, then he and Loki walk out of the Chapel, leaving me with my younger siblings.
A bright smile lights my face as I turn and sit at the Chapel table, Mav on one side and Clover on the other, and I let out a long exhale. “Okay, so where do we want to start?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Haven
Later That Night
Spending hours with my brother and sister was exactly what my soul needed. I learned so much about what they went through growing up, and I told them everything I endured in The Nest. We grew up differently, but we are still very similar. And that bond I felt between us only grew the more and more I talked with them.
As night fell and the hours grew dark, I knew I needed to spend time with Alpha. He had a huge day. He lost a man who meant a great deal to him from his past and another who he thought was a trusted friend in his present.
Not only that, he got his daughter back, then lost her again.
That’s got to be a lot for any man to go through.
I make my way up to his bedroom, hoping he isn’t asleep. I gently knock when I reach his door and peek my head through.
“Come in,” he murmurs, and by the tone of his voice, I can already tell he’s drowning in misery.
Exhaling, I step in, close the door behind me, and walk over to where he’s standing in front of the memory wall, the picture of his Special Forces squad shattered on the floor. The half-empty tequila bottle he had in memory of his father now dangles, empty in his hand, and Poppy’s booties hang around his neck as he holds her pink pig toy to his chest.
I step up to him, gently grabbing the bottle of tequila so he doesn’t break it, and I place it back in its rightful spot on the shelf. Then I push him back to sit on the edge of his bed. His glistening eyes meet mine before he swallows hard. “She took Poppy.”
Kneeling in front of him, I gently cup his face. “Trust me, Alpha. Poppywillcome back to you.”
“I can’t even fight for her because I’m the president of a fucking outlaw motorcycle club. I have no fucking comeback in court. I can’t win against a model citizen, Haven.”
Standing, I gently slide Poppy’s booties from around his neck and then pop them back in her position on the wall. “Okay, I know it doesn’t feel like it, but you need to believe in Poppy. She’s strong. Shewillfind a way back to you.”
He places her stuffed pig on the bedside table. “She’s seven years old, Haven. You’re giving her far too much credit.”
Sliding his club cut off over his shoulders, I fold it neatly and place it next to Poppy’s stuffed pig. “And you’re not giving her enough.” Kneeling back down, I grab his boots and pull them off, dropping them to the floor. “Listen, I need you to take the night off from your merry-go-round brain and let me help you feel better.”
I stand again, moving to the hem of his shirt. His eyes slide down to watch me, and his hand comes out, gripping my wrist. “Not tonight, Haven,” he states, his hold firm, but I refuse to let him deter me.
He needs this, and so do I.
I grab his hand with my free one, wrenching it back so he has no choice but to let me go. He gasps as he glares at me, and I continue to undress him. “Yes, tonight. I need you to relax. Let me do this for you.” I yank his shirt off over his head, and when he lets me, I take the win, my hand shoving his chest. He falls back on the bed, giving me access to his jeans.
“Haven,” he mumbles, though he’s barely even resisting.
