Chapter 7 - Damien

I’m not usually one for regrets. Regrets are a waste of time—unproductive, useless. But as I sit here staring at the glow of my phone with Jade’s face flashing through my mind on a loop, I’m starting to think that maybe I’ve screwed things up worse than I realized.

She doesn’t trust me. I don’t blame her. I’m the one who turned her in to my father to save my own skin. Why should she believe a word I say?

I’m an alpha. I’ve spent my whole life making decisions that affect the people around me. Most of the time, those decisions have been pretty damn solid. But with Jade… hell, I’ve handled everything wrong. I threw her out when she needed me most, and now I’m just starting to see how much of an impact that had.

She’s guarded. Cold. Defensive. And it’s all because of me.

I run my hands through my hair and lean back in my office chair, trying to shake the heavy weight of guilt sitting on my chest. I’ve tried to convince myself that everything I’ve done has been for the good of the pack, but I’m not sure that excuse holds water anymore.

And now there’s Penny.

Our daughter.

I didn’t even know she existed, and now that I do, I feel like the world has shifted beneath my feet. The idea that Jade kept her from me… that burns. But I can’t sit here and pretend I didn’t give her every reason to do that.

I pull myself out of my head long enough to realize I need advice. And I know exactly who to talk to. Alec’s been the only one who’s ever given it to me straight, and I need him more than ever. Maybe this time, he won’t want to punch me in the face while doing it.

I shove my phone into my pocket and head out, pushing through the glass doors of the pack’s office building. The place is sleek and modern, like the tech company we run. Efficient and cutting-edge. The kind of place where even a shifter can feel at home amid the gadgets and data streams. Alec’s team is down a few floors, coding and working on all the systems that keep us ahead of the curve.

The office is buzzing as usual. Programmers are tapping away at their keyboards, their eyes glued to monitors filled with lines of code I can barely follow. For most of these guys, this is their territory: an air-conditioned, fluorescent-lit haven where they don’t have to worry about anything more threatening than a computer virus.

Alec’s desk is in the back, tucked away in a quiet corner. When I finally spot him, he’s hunched over his laptop. The glow of his computer screen lights up his face, and his fingers fly across the keyboard like he’s trying to break a record.

I clear my throat, but he doesn’t even look up.

“Alec,” I say, stepping closer. “Got a minute?”

He continues typing, keeping his eyes locked on the screen. “Busy,” he grunts.

Yeah, this is going well already.

“I’ll wait.” I cross my arms and lean against the wall, pretending not to notice the awkward tension hanging between us. I screwed things up with him, too. Not just Jade. It’s been a mess since I became alpha, and maybe it’s time I try to clean up at least one part of it.

A few more taps, and then he finally looks up, pushing his chair back slightly. His eyes narrow, sizing me up. “What do you want?”

Straight to the point. No bullshit. That’s one of the reasons I’ve always respected Alec. He doesn’t dance around the issue.

“We need to talk,” I start, stepping forward. “About Jade. About Penny. About… everything.”

Alec’s expression doesn’t change, but his tone sure as hell does. “Oh, now you want to talk?”

I hold my hands out in defense of myself. “Look, I know I’ve been a complete ass—”

He snorts. “Understatement of the year.”

“—and I get that you’re pissed,” I continue, ignoring the jab. If this was any other situation, I’d have him on the floor right now, but I’ll let that one slide. “But I’m trying to make things right. I want to fix this.”

Alec stares me down, leaning back in his chair. “Fix what, exactly? You can’t just go back in time and make everything better, Damien. You threw my sister out after you just knocked her up. You went running to your father, and the entire pack turned against her. Now, you suddenly care because she has your kid?”

The guilt hits me square in the chest, and for a second, I almost back down. But I can’t. Not now. Not with everything that’s on the line.

“I was wrong, okay?” I admit. “I made a mistake. But I’m trying to fix it. I’m trying to be there for Penny—and for Jade, too, if she’ll let me. I don’t want to lose them.”

Alec studies me for a long moment. Finally, he lets out a slow breath and shakes his head. “You really don’t get it, do you?”

I frown. “What don’t I get?”

“It’s not just about being there for them now,” Alec says, his voice low. “You missed three years of their lives, Damien. You missed everything. You can’t just show up and expect them to fall back into your arms.”

“I know that,” I snap, feeling the frustration rise again. “I’m not asking for miracles here. I just want a chance. A chance to be a father to my daughter.”

Alec’s eyes soften slightly, but there’s still a hard edge to his voice when he speaks. “She’s been through hell because of you. Penny might not know the difference, but Jade does. She remembers everything. You can’t erase that.”

“I’m not trying to,” I mutter. “I just… I don’t know, Alec. I don’t know how to fix it, okay? But I can’t stand the idea of losing them. I can’t stand the idea of Penny growing up thinking I didn’t care.”

“Are you worried about optics here, or do you really care about her?”

“Of course I care,” I say firmly. “She’s my daughter.”

“And Jade?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

The question hits harder than I expected, and for a moment, I don’t know how to answer. What about Jade? She’s always been there, always been in the back of my mind, even when I tried to forget her. Even when I tried to pretend I didn’t care.

“I care about her, too,” I admit, though the words come out slower. “More than I want to.”

Alec’s gaze sharpens, but he doesn’t say anything for a few moments. Finally, he nods. “You’ve got a lot of work to do, Damien. It’s not going to be easy.”

“I know. But I’m willing to try.”

He stands up and walks around the desk to stand in front of me. I’m tense, ready for a fight, but he just claps a hand on my shoulder. “Just don’t screw it up this time, man. Jade’s been through enough.”

I nod, feeling the weight of his words settle over me like a damn anvil. “I won’t. But listen, there’s something I need to ask you.”

Alec raises an eyebrow, but he doesn’t say anything. He just waits for me to go on.

“I want you to be my beta.”

There. It’s out. The words land between us, and I wait for the reaction. The thing is, Alec’s been my right-hand since we were kids. When I took over as alpha, he was the obvious choice to stand beside me. But after everything that happened with Jade, after the way I handled things… well, let’s just say our relationship hasn’t exactly been running smoothly. Now that she’s back, here’s hoping we can move forward.

“I don’t know, man,” he grumbles. “You really think I can just jump back into that after everything?”

I swallow hard. “Look, I know I screwed up. I know I made a lot of bad calls, especially with Jade. But things with the other packs are going to get worse before they get better, and I need someone I can count on beside me. I don’t trust anyone else the way I trust you.”

Alec watches me for a long moment, and his brown eyes search mine for something. Trust, maybe. Forgiveness. I don’t know. But whatever he’s looking for, I hope to God he finds it, because I’m not sure how much longer I can keep everything together on my own.

“I’ll think about it.”

It’s not a yes, but it’s not a no, either. I’ll take what I can get.

“Thanks,” I say. “That’s all I can ask for.”

For the first time in what feels like years, Alec gives me a small, almost reluctant smile. “Good. Now get out of here. Some of us have real work to do.”

I snort. “Yeah, sure. Sitting behind a screen all day? Real tough job, Alec.”

He flips me off, but there’s no venom in it. It feels like the ice between us has finally started to thaw.

But as I leave the office and head back to the cabin, one thought keeps nagging at the back of my mind.

Fixing things with Alec was the easy part.

Fixing things with Jade?

That’s going to be a whole different beast.

If I want to make things right with her, I need to do more than just offer empty words. I need to show her that I’m serious—about her, about Penny, about everything. And what better way to start than with a gesture that proves I’m paying attention?

Jade’s always been fiercely independent. She doesn’t need me swooping in and fixing things for her. But that doesn’t mean I can’t do something small. Something thoughtful to show her that I’m trying.

By the time I’m back in my truck, the plan’s already taking shape. A date, and not a “let’s talk about the pack” kind of thing. No, something more personal. Something for her and Penny. Something simple but meaningful.

I pull out my phone and start making a list of everything I need. Flowers, obviously. A nice dinner. Something Penny will enjoy, too. Maybe a picnic by the lake? Yeah, that’s more their speed. Jade’s never been one for fancy restaurants and candlelight, but she’s always loved the outdoors.

Hell, we used to sneak out to the lake all the time when we were younger, back when things were simpler. Back when I wasn’t an alpha with a million responsibilities weighing me down, and she wasn’t the witch everyone was scared of.

Maybe a little trip down memory lane is exactly what we need.

My mind is buzzing with the details. This is going to be perfect. Or at least as perfect as it can be under the circumstances.

As I drive back toward the cabin, I feel a sense of purpose settle over me. For the first time in a long time, I’m not just reacting to the chaos around me. I’m making a plan. I’m taking control.

Jade and Penny deserve better than what I’ve given them so far. And I’m going to make damn sure they get it.