Chapter 142

Sarah's POV Aria's defensive posture faltered, confusion replacing jealousy. "Who's Uncle Alex?" she asked, looking between Thea and me. I felt my heart stutter in my chest as Thea's innocent observation hung in the air between us. Suddenly I was acutely aware of how much my daughter truly resembled her father—from the striking blue of her eyes to the determined set of her jaw when she was being stubborn. Thea looked equally confused now. "Uncle Alexander," she clarified, as if it should be obvious. "The big wolf who gives me piggyback rides. He's the Alpha." Panic flared in my chest. I needed to change the subject before Thea could say anything else that might unravel the careful life I'd built. "Thea, sweetie, you're quite tiny for your age," I said, gently touching her shoulder. "Are you a picky eater? Not finishing your meals?" The little girl barely had any meat on her bones—what little she had seemed to be all in her cherub-like cheeks. Thea's brow furrowed slightly. "I'm not pic