Alec’s

I was unable to think about anything else for the rest of the day. Nyx has shut herself from me, so there is no way I can reach her. I know what I felt. I know something big happened. Probably between Nyx, her former human, and Kaden, because why else would I have felt

hurt and betrayed? Kaden must have done something to hurt her and her human.

I still in my seat as a thought strikes me. What if he killed her? He is evil, right? And that would also explain why Nyx feels hurt and betrayed on top of the anger and bitterness coursing through us. Maybe they knew each other before, and when Kaden turned dark, he killed her human. But that would mean Nyx is hundreds of years old, something we have already established. What it doesn't answer is how the hell she even knows a demi-god.

I clutch my spoon and shake my head. The more I thought about things, the crazier I felt. It's like I was starting to slowly lose touch with reality because the unanswered questions were driving me to insanity.

There was so much mystery surrounding Nyx and none of my theories came even close to answering any of them. If I am being honest, it freaking frustrates me. I don't understand why she keeps saying I am not ready. Ready for what? How can I be ready if she doesn't tell me what to do? How can I be ready when I am preparing blindly? How can I be ready when she's keeping secrets from me?

Sighing. I am one of those kinds of people who can't eat properly when they are stressed or anxious. I have no appetite, so I put my spoon down.

"Mommy, you okway?" Aspen asks in her soft and soothing voice. Her brows are pulled down a bit, and she looks a bit worried.

"I'm okay, my love. I'm just not that hungry," I answer her. "Finish your dinner so we can go take a bath, then sleep."

She nods her head and goes back to eating. Leaning back against my chair, I watch my sweet daughter eat. She's making a mess, but I don't care. I smile as my worries wash away in her presence. There is just something about Aspen. Maybe it's the fact that she's my baby, but she is able to bring a kind of peace by just being near her.

Whenever I would stress about the pack or Beth or the rest of my family, hell even Alec, I would just cuddle next to her and all my worries fade away. Her scent, her presence, and her unconditional love are my strength and my tether when my mind wages war. "Done!" her cheerful scream pulls me from my thoughts.

She's staring at me with a

triumphant smile. Like she has just

solved the world's toughest

problem. Her dish is empty, and I swear most of her food is on her clothes and not in her belly

"Good girl,” I praise and then lean forward and kiss her cheek.

I stand up, pick up our dishes, and take them to the sink. When that's done, I come back, pick her up and leave the kitchen. Aspen usually eats earlier than others. That's why we are the only ones having dinner right now. After her dinner, she bathes, I read her a story, and then she's off to bed. I do this because like I said, she's an early riser. I want her to have enough rest. That's why her bedtime is early.

"Come on, baby girl" I tell her. She jumps down from her chair and takes my hand. We walk out of the kitchen and head towards my room.

Alec arranged a room for her, but she's still not comfortable sleeping in her room like she is back at home, so until she's more comfortable, she's still sleeping with me.

We get to our room and I head to the

bathroom while she strips. I fill the bathtub with water, add a lot of bubbles, some toys, and it's ready

for her I finish just as she opens the

door and walks in but naked V

AQUAS

"What happened to the towel, Ash?" I ask her, holding back my laugh.

She shrugs her shoulder. "No one's here, mommy."

"But someone could have walked in, baby."

I don't care what anyone says. We are werewolves, sure, and nudity is not that big of a deal, but she's a child. Until she's all grown, I'm going to protect her innocence.