49. Time to Heal

Afew days have passed since I had the phone call with Eric, and unlike usual, I don't spiral down into a depressive episode. It does take me a bit more effort to stay focused and not lose myself in my thoughts, but I'm getting better at it. I focus on Ella and Charlie and on my work.

The meeting Liam calls Ella and me to still catches me off-guard. Ella doesn't expect it either, which just made me feel more confused. I doubt anything serious happened. The last couple of days we spent upping our security again and making sure our schedules won't get leaked that easily anymore… and that rebellious teens won't be able to find them and use them to sneak off the pack grounds.

There is a weird combination of people waiting for us in the meeting room. Connor, Ty's dad, is here, so is Nicole. There is Levi, Livia with Richard, Raffy and Dave, and a few other pack members.

Charlie and her friends are here too, standing next to Liam, apparently well aware of what this meeting is about.

Everyone else looks more than a little confused. Connor looks almost a bit worried, gazing at his son sometimes, and probably worried that he got into trouble again. I don't think that's it though, because Liam seems to be in a particularly good mood. I can even see the hint of a smirk curling around his lips.

"Everyone is here," Liam says to Charlie and the other three kids. "Your turn."

Charlie nods, stepping forward. "Congratulations," she says while facing us with a big smile. "You were all chosen to participate in our fundraiser. It's a great honor." I turn towards Liam who nods at me encouragingly. I could swear that his smirk just grows bigger. "Alpha Liam volunteered to be treasurer and help with our funds."

The kids start presenting their ideas to us. A fashion show that will feature clothes from the shop Gisela's mom owns to collect money for Marius's shelter. It's a great project, and I full heartedly support it. I actually think the kids are putting together something great, and it makes me proud that Charlie voluntarily joined the project. I know Liam told her she doesn't need to, as she was new to the pack when her friends dragged her along and away from the pack grounds. I also know that Liam didn't want to add anymore trauma to her. She still has night terrors and has trouble sleeping. Ever since she started to plan this secret fundraiser though, it's obvious she is getting better.

Everything about this project is fantastic… just…

"You want us to participate in the runway show?" Ella asks after Charlie has told us the details and that she and her friends expect us to present the clothes to an audience.

"Not only that, it's actually an auction," Gisela says proudly. "You are presenting the clothes, and the audience can bid on it."

"You were all handpicked," Charlie explains. "Because you are truly attractive inside and out, and because you are honorable members of this pack. We can't entrust everyone with such a task, but we know that you will be able to deliver and have people donate to our cause."

I hope she never becomes a salesperson. I'm starting to believe she could sell anything to anyone.

"What… and I need to participate?" Connor says, completely shocked.

Ty shifts around awkwardly, clearly not sure how to even be in the same room with the man. Charlie, however, remains completely unfazed. "Ty and I talked to Ty's mom," she says. "She approved of the idea and thinks it's a fantastic opportunity."

"She approved!?" Connor exclaims.

"It was her idea to surprise you with it," Charlie says with a bright smile. Wow, I didn't know she could be that cunning. As her guardian and beta, I'm actually feeling proud of her.

"Well," Liam intervenes. "This project is for the good of the pack and our allies, and furthermore, for every person that needs a safe place in the shelter. I assume we all agree to support this cause?" When everyone nods, he smiles. I know him. I know when he smiles genuinely, or when he just wants to threaten everyone. It's the latter. "Then we are set."

Most of us look at him like potatoes, to quote Ella, but then Aryanna breaks the silence by chuckling slightly. "This is brilliant," she says. "You guys set up a punishment for the kids, and they rope you into it. The irony of it is amazing."

"I can't help but find it great," Jazz agrees. "My friend Marilou is involved too, and she deserves the attention so much."

"I find the idea pretty funny," Richie admits. "I'm new here, and I know I'm just allowed to stay because I'm Livia's mate. But this gives me the opportunity to learn more about the pack and to help." He turns to look at Livia like a lovesick pup. "I'm sure you will look stunning, as usual."

Dave grins. "I love it. Could have been my idea. Who can say no to so much eye candy?!" Next to him, Raffy grumbles. I can see Dave's eyes glossing over—still a weird view to me as he is human but being mated to a wolf opened the door for some new gifts for him. Raffy's cheeks flush slightly at whatever Dave tells him.

It's better I don't know what that is.

However, Liam looks incredibly smug.

You are having too much fun with this, Alpha, I link Liam.

Can you blame me? he retorts. Your niece is a force to be reckoned with. The whole fun part aside, I genuinely think this is a good idea. Marius's project will get some well-deserved attention. The kids plan on involving a few charitable companies and smaller businesses from our pack, such as Gisela's mom, but they have more plans. Marilou and some of her friends from the kitchen staff regularly bake their new creations and take them to the orphanage. Annalise told me about it. They will all have their moment to shine.

It's awesome, I say. I just wish I didn't have to rock the runway.

Are you worried? Liam smirks. Look at Connor.

I shift my gaze to Ty's father, noting how he's grown pale. He is such a tough warrior normally, but apparently the prospect of having to be part of the show is terrifying to him.

Meanwhile, Ty and Austen take over from Charlie and Gisela and present us with the timeline, the planned rehearsals, and the planned fitting. Then they show us who else will be involved in the preparations, explaining how Annie has helped them with finding the right people in the pack. It's not just Gisela's mom. As Liam mentioned, Marilou and her little group of volunteers are involved too. So is a group of omegas who did a graphic design class and help everyone in the pack who approaches them with designing cards and invites.

I don't even know half of the projects they mention.

By this point Livia and Ella are completely on board too, asking questions now about how they can help. One by one everyone seems to ease into this project. Nicole even suggests asking two of the nurses of her team to do hair and makeup, as that's a hobby for them.

The only one still on the fence seems to be Connor, but he doesn't complain. He also doesn't veto out of the project—not that it would have been possible with Liam and all ranked pack members being involved.

Once we wrap up the meeting, I catch up to Connor and walk to training with him.

"You know," I say. "Life is not just about being a warrior, Connor."

"I know, Beta Dante,"he says. "It's just…"

"Just look at your son. He is completely engaged in this project. It's the first time he is actually doing something for such a cause, and I know for a fact that the kids meet almost daily to work on this. Aren't you at least a bit proud of the effort he puts into it?"

"I am,"he mutters. "It's my fault you know."

"Excuse me?"

"The way Ty acted out, a lot of it is on me. For the last couple of years, I haven't made much time for him or my mate. I know he wanted to do things with me, but I always declined for reasons. Looking back now, I wonder what these reasons were. I can't even remember. I just know that Ty is sixteen now, and I don't have much of a relationship with him." He pauses.

I'm shocked to say the least. I knew that Ty and his father had a bit of a fallout during the last couple of weeks due to what happened with Charlie and how it happened, but I didn't know that it began long ago. "What happened?" I ask.

"Sylvia, my mate, she was furious when everything went down a couple of weeks ago. She was a bit angry at Ty but mostly at me. The difference is that she easily forgave Ty for being a dumb kid doing shit to get my attention—her words, not mine—but I know she holds resentment against me. A lot of resentment. She is barely talking to me," he says. "And the saddest thing is that she is right. I don't even know what Ty likes to do or anything about his friends. I didn't even know he was friends with Nicole's son, although I've known Nicole almost my entire life. I don't know how he is doing at school or what he likes there, just that his grades aren't the best. I don't know the last time I had an actual conversation with him."

"Well, then change that," I say bluntly.

"What?"

"Ty clearly wants to reconnect with you, or he wouldn't put his all into this project," I say. I can't help but think about my own mother for a moment and how we might never really reconcile. And being friends with Liam ever since he was a baby, I know a lot about the fallout his father and grandfather had… and that Elden grew up with a neglectful father. "Ty is your only child, Connor."

"Ty is my only child," he repeats. "Sylvia and I originally didn't want children. We had other plans with our lives, but Ty happened. It meant we needed to change everything about our lives. For Sylvia her priorities really changed. She decided to keep the baby and she became the best mother possible. But I had more difficulties adapting."

I feel dread settling inside me. "Please tell me, you never told that to Ty."

Connor stays silent.

"Goddess, you are lucky all he did was sneak off pack grounds," I say. "What were you thinking? That's a truth you never tell your child unless you want to break it, unless you want to sever your bonds to it! Now he knows you don't want him."

"But I do!" he exclaims. "It's not true that I don't want Ty. I love him. I sometimes just don't know how to show it. But the moment he was born, I was on board with being a family."

"But he doesn't know that," I point out. "To him it makes no difference. He thinks you never wanted him, and he believes you still don't want him now. Goddess, Connor!"

"I love Ty," he repeats once more. "I wish things wouldn't be so awkward. It's me. I know it. I just don't know… how I should be around him. At first, I just tried to make sure to work my butt off so that the old alpha wouldn't harass my family. I guess I got used to it in a way."

Man, I've been working with Connor for a while now. I know their former alpha was an asshole, but he has been gone for a couple of years. Connor just never moved past it, unlike his mate, Sylvia.

"I don't know much about having a child," I admit. "I'm not a father yet, and frankly Charlie is really easy to handle. I know it's not always a smooth ride, and I'm sure you love Ty. But I know that at one point you might miss the chance to be part of his life."

"I would hate for him to grow up into a man, find his mate and then move away and never contact me anymore," he admits. "I don't want to need to ask Sylvia if she heard from him or if they talked, because I know he won't be talking to me." He pauses. "It's just been so long that I don't know where to start. I don't know what to talk to him about or where to take him to."

That's the saddest thing I've ever heard, and also slightly enraging. "Ty likes sports," I tell him. "He is very active. He is the one who got half the kids here into the skateboard hype. Why don't you help him build that skate park here? The luna assigned this task to Levi, but why don't you join? You can take your son out for dinner. There are so many coffeeshops and burger places the teens frequent. You can even take him to training. He just wants you to show some interest in him and his life without getting lectured. Goddess, Connor, the kids always meet at ours or Nicole's place. Why can't they meet at yours? And when they do, be home! You could take Sylvia and Ty to a weekend trip, do something fun. I'm sure Sylvia would back you up on anything."

"I sound pathetic, don't I?"

I have to battle the urge to agree. I'm sure he doesn't need me to kick him. He already knows he fucked up. "There is still time to change things around," I say.

"Thank you," he says. "I'm not sure where to start, but I guess bonding with Ty over his hobbies might be a good idea. I will talk to Levi to let me help him and Ty."

I feel a bit relieved at his words, but also still worried. Well, at least he knows where he went wrong and is ready to work on his relationship with his son. Sad that it even came that far.

Later that afternoon, I take Charlie to Silverlake to visit Felix and Dario and see how they are doing. Elden awaits us in front of the packhouse in person and then leads us to the infirmary.

"The doctors still won't let him go back home?" I ask him.

"Unfortunately, not. He is still doing rehab, but we hope he can return soon," Elden says.

On our way Dario joins us. He's arriving home from his afternoon class at school, and his first stop is to see his brother. His arm is still in a cast, and he seems to clasp it protectively.

"Did you hurt your arm?" Elden asks in worry while we step into the infirmary.

One of the pack doctors instantly joins us the moment he sees their alpha. Elden turns to the man. "Please check on Dario's arm, doctor."

"It's okay," Dario mutters. "I just forgot—" He pauses, not sure how to continue.

"You forgot it was in a cast," the doctor concludes. "That can happen. You probably overstrained it a bit. I will take a look at it."

"Can I see Felix first?" he asks.

The doctor looks at Elden, who nods shortly. "Visit me before you leave, Dario," the doctor says with a smile.

Dario looks relieved, walking next to his father now. "I'm sorry for being so clumsy," he says. "If I had been more careful in the waterfall and then in how I attacked the guards who held Felix… and, I don't know, knew better how to fight them off."

"It's okay, Dario," Elden interrupts him. He sounds almost a bit sad. "I'm not angry. Why would you think I'd be angry? You did what you could in a stressful and dangerous situation. And I think you did well."

"I didn't think you were angry," Dario mutters. "But I am. I couldn't protect Charlie or Felix."

"I couldn't do anything either," Charlie says.

"But I'm training. I'm constantly training," Dario retorts.

One glance at Elden's face tells me that they probably had this discussion plenty of times already. Before he can say anything, Charlie does. "I was there," she says. "And I can say with certainty that without you and Felix, I wouldn't have made it mentally. You protected me all the time, even when the guards took you or when they gathered around me—" She pauses, and she and Dario exchange a gaze.

I have not heard about that part yet; Charlie hasn't mentioned it. Neither Elden nor I comment on it, though. Charlie goes to therapy, so do the boys. Some things probably aren't for us to hear yet.

We arrive in time for Felix to wrap up physiotherapy. He can sit already, although he can't walk yet. But the moment he sees Charlie and Dario his face lights up. Elden and I leave the kids alone to give them some privacy, going on about our own business.