Chapter 117

Chapter 0222

And so I just curl up against mom at the head of the bed, listening to my dad and my brother fight about whether or not I should be at the school, and wh

“Come on, baby,” I hear mom murmur from my half daze. I blink into consciousness, realizing that dad and Rafe are still going at it, and then I look up at

I nod, following her to the second door in the room, yawning as we pass through it and a few more doors before we enter a pretty utilitarian private bathin

dyed her hair black, too, in a fit of rebellion.

I smirk, thinking fondly of my taciturn little sister, missing her with a sudden intensity that surprises me. But I dry off with a scratchy towel and then

pull on the supplied one–size–fits- all–Alpha pajamas –

which, obviously, swim on me. But mom laughs and helps me pull the drawstring of the pants tight before leading me out into the hospital room again an

Dad and Rafe, I’m interested to see, have fallen silent and aren’t looking at each other.

“So,” mom says, overly cheerful. “Did we men come to any decisions about Ariel’s fate in the world without consulting her?”

Rafe balks a little bit, staring at my mom, because he has been fighting for me for the past few hours. She just winks at him, because the critique was mo

“Enough, Ella,” dad murmurs, massaging his temple with his left hand. “We decided to pick it up again tomorrow, after we’ve all slept on it. We’re not get

“Wow, you’re kidding me, I thought you were making such progress,” mom murmurs with over–cheerful sarcasm as she

tucks me into bed. Dad just glares at her half–

heartedly before turning to me, leaning down to give me a k*ss on the cheek and then run his hand over my

hair.

“I love you, Ariel,” he says, and I look up at him, hoping he can see in my face all the love I

so much that it aches. His face falls a little then, and I smile, have for him in my heart because I think he sees it. “I just want what’s best for you.”

–

“I know, pops,” I murmur, reaching for him, wanting a hug. Dad obliges me, wrapping me up tight for a long, long moment. And then he lets me lay back

“We’ll see you for breakfast, baby,” mom whispers, also leaning down to give me a k*ss. ” You just sleep tight for now.”

I murmur my assent, and then I’m asleep, the last thing I hear three sets of footsteps leaving the room, my brother’s whispered goodnight as he switches