Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 1190 - 101 : Thank You

Chapter 1190: Chapter 101 : Thank You

*Rion*

“Come on, Rion. If you don’t try, you’ll never know if you can do it,” Eva urged.

I glared at her from my wheelchair. It wasn’t as easy as she was making it out to be.

After weeks of pins and needles all over my legs, sometimes so excruciating, I could scream, the physical therapist told me it was time to stand.

My legs still felt like jelly, limp noodles that wouldn’t hold my weight.

“I don’t need you molly-coddling me,” I snapped, waving Eva off.

She scoffed and tipped my wheelchair forward, practically spilling me onto the floor.

“Hey!” I caught myself on my feet. Stumbling forward, I caught myself on the wall, my legs trembling violently. “What the hell was that for!?”

“You’re standing.”

I looked down. She was right, I was standing. My legs wobbled unsteadily, but I was standing.

“It’s time for you to get back to your life. You can’t hide out in this hospital forever, Rion.”

I nodded. Eva was right. It was time to face my life, even if I couldn’t remember it.

“Send word to Daphne and Jasper. I’m coming back.”

A driver picked Eva and me up at the hospital to take us back to Thorn Forest. I was grateful that Eva didn’t talk to me much on the ride.

It was still hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that I was married to the Crimson Princess. All I remembered of her was some preppy, proper, spoiled princess. How could I have married her and taken over a pack with her? She wasn’t a leader.

But everyone was adamant that I had a life with her. I couldn’t tell them all they were wrong or conspiring against me.

Still, it was hard to believe.

The car pulled into a small village and all the house doors started to open. People came out and smiled at me, waving. There were so many families and happy looking people. I wished I could recognize them because they clearly recognized me.

When we got to the town square, I saw Daphne. She was surrounded by many other members of Thorn Forest, and it looked like they put a whole welcome home lunch together for me.

Daphne walked around with her chin high and such an air of authority. She looked just like the spoiled princess I always imagined her to be.

But the rest of Thorn Forest seemed to adore her. Maybe there was more to her than met the eye.

“Welcome home, Alpha Rion,” someone said as I got out of the car.

The pack member rushed toward me.

“Stand back, everyone!” Eva ordered. She stood in front of me and held her arms out protectively.

At least, I could count on my sister. She was the only one I felt like I knew and trusted.

I put my hand on Eva’s shoulder and stepped around her, ready to address the pack that saw me as their Alpha.

“Thank you everyone, for coming out to greet me. I’m very happy to be home.” I nodded respectfully to all my pack members.

They seemed satisfied with my statement and went back to the luncheon festivities. There were picnic tables around the town square and a lot of food had been brought out. Kids ran around happily, playing.

I eyed them and wondered if any of them were mine. Eva didn’t have any pictures of them for me. All I had was their names—Ayla and Selene.

“Let’s get you something to eat,” Eva suggested. She looped her arm through mine and tugged me to one of the picnic tables. “That hospital food wasn’t the greatest. We have some great cooks here.”

We sat down together, and Eva got me some lunch. My eyes kept drifting toward Daphne. I watched her with the other pack members. She was always smiling and showing kindness. They seemed to really like and respect her.

That wasn’t something that could be faked.

As I looked around, I did see one familiar face. I creased my brow and waved her over.

“I know you, right?”

She blushed lightly and nodded, taking a seat across from me. “You know everyone here, technically.”

“I mean... I remember you.” Her name was Anais. The last time I’d seen her, or remembered seeing her, she was untrustworthy and a total mess.

“Oh... well, I’m not that person anymore. I know you remember me differently, but I’ve really been getting my life together.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Really?”

“Yeah. You know, if it wasn’t for Daphne, things might be very different, but she believed in me and helped me out a lot.”

“Hmm.” I glanced at Daphne again.

She was still attending to the needs of everyone else. Did she ever sit down and relax or was she always keeping herself busy?

For a moment, it looked like she was actually a true Luna, not some pampered princess.

“What have you been up to, then? I mean, how has your life changed?” I asked Anais.

She shrugged. “I’ve been getting myself clean. It’s hard work, but I see a better future for myself and my son.”

“I’m glad things have turned around you.”

The back of my neck prickled, and I followed the sensation back to Daphne. She had a strange look on her face, her eyes fixed on me and Anais. She clearly had a problem with me talking to Anais.

She was the only person other than my sister that I recognized, and I felt like I could have a real conversation with her. I didn’t need to try so hard to make all the pieces fit like I did with the people I didn’t recognize at all.

“You don’t trust me, do you?” Anais asked.

“Not particularly, given our history.”

Anais sighed. “Well, I’m working on that. I don’t expect you to trust me right away, but I’m working it. Daphne’s helping me apply for jobs and helping me get established in a respectable allied pack.”

“That sounds good, Anais. I’m happy you’re making ends meet.”

“Look, I know you’re going through a lot, Rion, but don’t push away the people who care about you. Daphne has done a lot for me, so I’m not going to sit around and let you disrespect her just because you don’t remember the life you’ve built together.”

Anais stood up and walked away. I stared after her. It was such an unexpected end to the conversation and nothing like the Anais I remembered. I guessed she really had started to change.

Daphne was the one helping her do it.

For the rest of the lunch, I watched Daphne. She showed everyone kindness and compassion and my heart lifted a little. She was a lot different than I imagined her being.

As people started to return to their homes, Daphne approached me with two little girls. They clung to her legs with nervous looks in their bright eyes.

The moment I saw them, I knew they were my daughters. All day, I’d been wondering if I’d recognize my own kids, but I felt it deep in my heart, right in my soul.

My wolf echoed the sentiment, and I had the sudden urge to hug them.

Without thinking, I went down on my knee in front of them and held out my arms. “Hey you two. Don’t be shy. I’m home now.”

The two girls broke away from Daphne and ran into my arms. I hugged them and kissed their round cheeks.

“It’s okay, I’m here now. You don’t have to miss me anymore.”

I hugged them again, reluctant to let them go. I didn’t even know which one was which, but it didn’t matter. These were my daughters. There was no denying that, and I wasn’t going to turn away from them.

“It’s nice to see you on your feet again,” Daphne said, her voice soft. She started clearing up the food mess from lunch.

“You don’t need to do that, I’m guessing.” I stood up, holding one of each of my daughters’ hands. They stayed close to me.

She sighed and set a plate down. “Welcome home, Rion. I know you don’t remember this as your home but... it’s good to have you back and to see your health improving.”

“Th-thanks.” It sounded so lame. I should have something more to say to my own wife.

She smiled lightly but I noticed it didn’t reach her eyes. Her delicate features were undeniably beautiful.

My stomach twisted and my wolf tugged at my mind. Something deeper connected me to Daphne, even if I couldn’t remember it.

“Come on, girls. It’s time to get back to your lessons with Aunt Eva.”

“I don’t want to leave Daddy,” the little blonde one said.

“He’ll be here when you’re done,” she assured.

They obediently followed Daphne into the pack mansion.

I stood alone in the town square and took a long, slow look around Thorn Forest. I could tell that there had been a lot of recent updates and wondered what the pack was like before that.

Just from watching Daphne at the luncheon, I understood that she was important to this community. She was the glue that kept them together.

My mind wandered to everything Eva had told me about Daphne and the life we built together. She wasn’t just some spoiled princess. She had a strong heart, and she was holding this pack and our family together while I recovered.

Warmth flooded my veins, and I realized just how wrong I’d been about her. She was special and strong, and she deserved a chance.

I owed her that, given everything she’d done for me and this place while I was in the hospital.

She still believed in me and the life we shared.

When the cleaning crew arrived, I headed into the pack mansion and found the kitchens. The staff was still there cleaning up after lunch.

“Alpha Rion, what are you doing here?” one of the cooks asked. “Did you get enough to eat at lunch?

“Yes, I did, thank you.” I nodded to her and smiled. “Actually, I had a special request. I’d like you to prepare a special meal for two. I want to have dinner with Daphne tonight.”

The cook giggled and blushed. “Oh, I know just what to do. It’s still nice enough to have a meal out on the back patio. I have so many plans to make!” She laughed and pushed me out of the kitchen.

I shook my head and smiled. It was nice to see how enthusiastic the pack members were to see me back.

I found some stationery and wrote Daphne a note to meet me on the back patio for dinner. I wasn’t sure she’d accept it after everything that had happened, but after the sun set, I showed up on the patio.

There was a table for two set up in the middle with string lights hanging around for mood lighting.

The table was already set and a wheel cart with covered trays sat next to the table. I could already smell the meal underneath.

When Daphne arrived, she paused at the back door. Her brow creased, and she slowly came onto the patio.

“What’s all this?” she asked, her eyes sweeping over the cozy, romantic setting.

I pulled her chair out for her. “A thank you, for taking care of everything.”