#Chapter 10: The Tie

Elara To say that I was taken aback would be putting it lightly. Alaric, the lofty and unapproachable Alpha who couldn’t even bear to crack a genuine smile when a child was begging him to, was apologizing… to me? I didn’t know how to respond. This might very well have been the first apology of his life, if the redness to his ears and the way he stared at the floor was any indication. He cleared his throat, avoiding my gaze. “I was wrong,” he admitted. “I shouldn’t have assumed you were upset about the money.” I raised an eyebrow, folding my arms. “Go on.” He glanced toward Ella’s room. The door was shut, but the sound of her soft humming could be heard through the wood. The thought made my eyes prick with tears, but I kept them at bay. “Ella has always been extremely introverted,” Alaric explained quietly. “She rarely allows anyone to get close to her. Children’s eyes are sharp—they see the true intentions of those who approach them. Yet, somehow, you managed to co