AUSTIN.After my conversation with Dad and after I fixed my office, I went back to the packhouse for breakfast. I still hadn’t made up my mind about where I should go after I was laid off. Either I moved to my parent’s home or I lived on my own.Or maybe I could move to Bernice City so I could be near Lexi and David. I guess anywhere, but not the packhouse anymore. Although I liked the possibility of being near Lexi and David if I moved to the city, my heart shattered at the idea that I had to leave the house that had been my only home throughout my entire life.I tried to look at the positive side of all this, but I couldn’t.All I wanted was to be a Gamma, but maybe without it, I could focus on being a good father and co-parenting with Lexi. But I had no idea how I would get out of the pain of losing my title and my responsibilities.I entered the packhouse, and I was not in the dining room yet when I bumped into two Omegas, each with a tray of food in their hands.“Where are you

AUSTIN. It had been a month since Lexi and David left the territory. As much as I wanted to follow or visit them more often, I was using the time to prepare everything before my suspension took place. Alpha Jace, together with Uncle Jake, Gavin, and Dad, decided to give me a suspension despite the case being trashed by the Elders. I requested it, as letting me off the hook didn’t seem right anymore after I realized all the emotional stress I had given Lexi. Especially because, despite that stress, she still stood up for me and saved me from being kicked out as a Gamma. So, any punishment for my act was welcomed wholeheartedly. I was given a six-month suspension with no pay. And once I get back, I will go back to my salary from when I started three years ago. I didn’t mind. I could start from scratch, and this was better than losing everything. I knew six months would be a long time, and I would surely miss doing my daily routine as well as managing my warriors, but a part of me

LEXI “I just wish you hadn’t left. All of this could have been avoided.” He said and I couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping at his words. “So it’s my fault? Can I also say I wish you didn't walk out on me? That I wish you answered my messages and my calls?” I retorted right away. At this point, my eyes should be watering, but I was tired of crying about the past already. “And don’t tell me you never received them because I called you for hours after you stormed out of my apartment. Your phone was open, but you decided to just let it ring.” “I got terrified.” “You did?” I handed him back the food box I was holding before I stood up, brushing my hands as I looked at him as he followed me. “You're lucky you’re allowed to do that, and I’m not. Don’t put the blame on me that I left after you walked out on me and after you ignored my plea for us to talk. Besides, that thing was nothing compared to what you did in Orleans. I could forgive you for abandoning me, but it’s hard to understand

AUSTIN. “I need to find a job, too,” Lexi said casually. “Why?” “I have expenses to pay and personal stuff to buy.” “I can add more to what I’m giving to David.” “Those are for David, and you’re giving enough. I’m not expecting you to pay for my personal expenses.” “I don’t want you to work while David is still this young. Who will be with him then if you go to work?” She swallowed. “If you insist, I can stay with him while you work.” “No.” She glared at me. “Then let me work for us. I know what I will get from work might not be enough for the three of us, but I have savings.” “You need your money for your expenses.” “What expenses? This apartment, food, and utilities? It’s not much.” “Your side expenses.” “And that means?” “Date nights. Bars. Hotel check-ins because you can’t take them here. The walls are too thin. Not that I care what you do with your life, but I don’t want to hear…” “I don’t have side expenses anymore.” “Really? Why? Did you realize that side expe

LEXI. “I’m almost done. Then I can clean up this mess here.” Austin said as he crouched under the sink. I finally had the willpower to let Austin into my apartment after a couple of days of contemplating whether I should. At first, I kept ignoring his question when he could work on it, but the water leaking was taking too much of my time and my sanity, from changing the water bowl I put under to catch the water to the sound of it dripping whenever the house was in complete silence. Plus, I was sure my water bill would skyrocket because of this. I didn’t need any more unnecessary expenses, so I finally let him in to fix this. So, I finally told him he could check it. He did check and proceeded to work on it right away. “I can clean after. You don’t need to worry about that.” I told him while I played with David while holding him in my arms. I was standing a few feet away from Austin in my small kitchen. He withdrew from under the sink and smiled at me, wiping the water or sweat