The Alphas’ P**n Star Mate

"What do you mean by that? Is it because of the dark magic?" Beau asked.

"I'm not sure. I don't know if it's that, or something darker residing in him." I've watched that Alpha a few times now, and he seems different from what you would expect from a rational thinking Alpha. If I didn't know any better, I would think he had gone rogue. He had that kind of feral energy inside of him.

"If it was magic, I would have detected it," Kai said confidently.

"I would have too. That's why I think that it is something more. Something else."

We sat there, watching them slowly paint the large exterior of the building. I needed to get back to the pack soon. Lenny would be waiting for me, and I know the Alphas said they had their warrior friend coming today. If we're going to get a person on the inside, this will be our only chance. I was just hoping that we might catch a glimpse of Boyd just one more time before everything. I can get a message to him without seeing him directly, and I can't even detect him right now from the basement where they are keeping him. We only know he is alive because of the warriors discussing him occasionally as they work.

Right when I was about to get up and bid Beau and Kai bye, so I could return to Setting Sun, Beau asked me, "So, you're really Chloe's father?"

Both men were focused on me, which made it hard not to feel nervous under such scrutiny. Kai already knew the answer to this, long ago, and Beau discovered the truth recently like everyone else. I expect there to be questions. I guess I need to prepare to answer them because it is only a matter of time before Chloe finds out.

"I am," I nodded solemnly.

Beau nodded, picking little sticks off the ground and throwing them to the side. "So when you talked about your mate being taken and killed, and the story about your daughter, that was Chloe and her mother, huh?" He wasn't looking for an answer. Just thinking out loud. He sighed, "We all suspected. It's just weird to know for sure now."

"What do you mean you all suspected?" I furrowed my brows at him. "Lenny and Kai were the only ones who I told."

Beau sent Kai a look that had Kai squirming nervously. He then smiled slowly, before looking back at me. "We could just tell she was special to you. Not just because she was the only girl living with all of us horny, sexy men. You made it pretty obvious it was more than that. I figured you were either in love with her, or you loved her in different ways. I could see it was love. I just wasn't sure which kind."

"You thought I was lusting after my own daughter?" I grumbled, feeling disgusted. I feel sick just thinking about any of them being sexual with Chloe. I don't want to hear scenarios like what Beau was insinuating.

"Not after the first month or so," Beau shrugged. "We all knew your story, so knowing where she was from, I kinda pieced the rest together."

I nodded, figuring as much. Alpha Miles figured it out without most of the knowledge these boys had.

"You know," Beau said in a low voice, "Chloe's going to piece it together one day too. When are you going to tell her?"

"I don't know," I answered honestly. "I really don't deserve to say anything to her. I failed her. Repeatedly."

"Because of her mother? That wasn't your fault," Beau said.

"It's not just her mother. I failed her in more ways than I can count." I felt this heaviness come over me. "I'm still failing her now."

All I ever wanted was to have my baby girl back. I wanted the life that my mate and I created together, to love and protect her from everything. When she came back into my life, all those fairy tale reunions I had mapped out in my head came crashing down realizing she had suffered greatly at the hands of Fire Moon too. I thought if her magic was concealed, she would be able to have a normal full life in the pack, even if I never got her back. When she came walking into Broom StiXXX, with nothing but a borrowed outfit and petty cash from my sister's rainy day jar, I felt the heaviness of all my inadequacy crashing down on top of me.

"She will hate me. When she knows exactly who I am to her, and how my weakness made her life what it is today, she will hate me and never want to see me again." That was the harsh reality of my life, and the burden I am trying to ready myself to bear. It is what I fear most, and just like Beau said, I know that day will come.

"I don't think that's true," Beau rasped, reaching out to rub my shoulder. "She's been alone her whole life. If I were her, I would be happy to have my dad. I think she will understand."

I smiled sadly. "Thank you, Beauford."

"No problem," he lifted the corner of his mouth in his usual smirk. "You're like all of our dads. Not just hers. That's how I know she will be okay."

"I hope you're right." I really do hope, even though my fear is greater.

Kai was staring into space, and I could see the guilt lining his face. "What's wrong, Kai?"

He blinked, then looked up at me with a remorseful expression. "I.... I have something to tell you."

I blinked in question, wondering what could be causing him to make such an expression.

"I, uh, I accidentally yelled something during the fight with this pack when they invaded Setting Sun. I was yelling at Chloe to get to safety."

"So?" I was still confused. "That doesn't sound like something to be upset about. We were all trying to get her to safety."

"It's not about trying to make her go. It was about what I said in the moment."

"What did you say?" Beau asked, leaning in.

"I," Kai's eyes glanced up to mine. "I told her to go to her father. I told her to go to you, but called you her father."

My eyes went wide, and then I remembered that exchange with Chloe in the hospital. I have felt things have been tense with her too, but I thought it was just her nerves and the anxieties from being almost taken. "I.... I didn't mean to. It slipped out."

"Way to go, Mr. Fox." Beau huffed with amusement. "How did she take it?"

Kai was stealing apologetic glances towards me. "She, uh, was frantic from the battle too, so I don't know if she heard me right. It was a tense situation." I could tell that he felt so guilty, but I couldn't blame him at all. "It's not something you should feel guilty about," I said softly, trying to give him a reassuring smile.

"What are you going to do?" Beau asked me. "You have to talk to her now."

"Yeah," I sighed. "I think I should too." As soon as we get Boyd back where he belongs, I know I'll have to.