After Six Years The Alpha Begs For My Return Chapter 40
“The worst is over,” he murmured, his voice near my ear. “You’re the one who got her through this.”
That evening, my mother woke from the anesthesia.
She opened her eyes and saw me sitting outside the ICU glass. She blinked at me, and her lips moved.
I understood what she was saying.
*Don’t be afraid.*
At last, the tears fell.
On the third day after surgery, my mother was transferred out of intensive care and back to a regular room.
She could already sit up against the bed, drink a little soup, and speak a few words. Her voice was weak, but her face was no longer sallow. And when I held her hand, I could faintly feel the long-absent warmth of her wolf.
At dusk, Corrigan came.
He had changed into a clean dark gray suit, his hair combed neatly back. He stood at the door without coming in.
“I won’t disturb her.” He handed me a paper bag—chestnuts, still warm. “Give these to her for me. Just say… Ray Corrigan stopped by.”
He turned to leave, and I called after him.
“Your daughter’s case is being handled,” I said. “The attorney has verified my identity and contacted her current guardianship agency. If she agrees, I’ll meet with her first. I won’t use your will to force a stranger’s guardianship on her.”
He paused, but didn’t turn around. He just lifted a hand in a wave before disappearing into the elevator.
I carried the chestnuts into the room and set them by my mother’s bed.
She glanced at the bag, then toward the doorway. After a long silence, she sighed softly.
“Ray,” she said, “has spent his whole life repaying debts he believes he owes.”