Bonnie The moment Nick told me what had happened or better still, what had been said my heart instantly doubled its pace. There's a chance that we may have found those baby boys and I couldn't be any happier. Of course, I know that there's a chance that there has been a mistake made somewhere or even a chance that someone thinks they have spotted them and it'll turn out not to be them but still, any little scrap of hope that I can grab onto I will. Nick took off running for his office and I promised to follow right behind him. I know that hell needs a few minutes alone with his men before I can join them. Not that he would stop me going right on in with him but I don't want to impose. Besides, right now I have something just as important that I need to see first. "Come sit with me, sweetheart." I guide Lottie over to the seat that I was sitting on with Rosie just a few minutes ago and take a deep breath. She may not think that I noticed the fact that she called me her stepmom but I did. Or maybe she thinks that I did hear her but that it didn't mean much to me or that I didn't care when in fact, that couldn't be further from the truth. I'm only three years older than her so I wouldn't say that I qualify to be her stepmom mom and if im being honest with myself, I didn't for one-second think that she would even consider me to be her stepmom, would even want to. Of course, she could have just been messing around but something deep inside tells me that it's more than joking and I want to address it with her. Yes, the timing isn't great. Finding Rosie's boys is of utmost importance but I don't want Lottie to feel that she's any less important because she's not. She is a 15-year-old girl who has recently lost her mom and regardless of the situation between them, it still has to have some effect on her, and the last thing I want is for her to feel like she's not important or doesn't matter because of the current situation because she does. Over the past month, we have spent quite a bit of time together and I have loved every minute of it but one thing I've noticed is how she has not mentioned her mom or her death once. Maybe she doesn't want to talk about her or maybe she's worried about talking about her to me. While I hope that it's not the latter there's a very big chance that it could be and I never want her to feel like that. I want her to know that she can talk about her whenever she wants. "How are you doing, sweetheart?" She shrugs her shoulder appearing to be fine but I see something more in her eyes, im not sure what it is but there's something there. "I'm sorry if I overstepped." Her words throw me and for a moment I feel speechless, that is until Lexi gives me the kick up the ass that I need to get my mouth moving again. "What do you mean?" I'm pretty sure it's about the stepmom comment but I don't want to assume anything in case I'm wrong and scare her off. "Earlier when I called you my stepmom... I'm... I'm sorry if I overstepped or made you feel awkward in any way. I just..." Her rambling is cute but I don't want her worrying herself over this when she doesn't need to. "Oh honey, you didn't overstep or make me feel awkward in any way. Why do you say that?" She shrugs her shoulders but it's clear that she has more to say. "It's ok, you can tell me." She looks out of the window seeming to think about her next words before finally turning her attention to me while taking a deep breath. "I dunno I guess I just... Look I know that you are only three years older than me and it's a somewhat weird situation and I'll be honest, when you first turned up and I discovered that you were my dad's mate I didn't even begin to think of seeing you as any more than just that, his mate but this past month you have been so amazing with me, Bonnie... You have been an incredible support and always there when I need you. You may only be three years older than me but you have acted more of a mom to me in this last month than the one who gave birth to me ever had." I feel tears start to form at the back of my eyes but they are happy tears and I think that the beaming smile on my face proves that. "Hearing you say that means more than you could ever know, Lottie. When I found out that I was mated to your dad and discovered all about you I never had any intention of inputting myself into your life in any way that you didn't want. Of course, at the very least I wanted us to be friends but I never had any intention of takeing any role with you." I watch as her shoulders sag and I can only imagine what she's thinking right now but I'd bet any money that she is wrong. "That being said it became apparent very quickly that you were starting to mean something to me and I found myself realising that I was ok with whatever role you wanted me to be, whether that be as your friend or as more." She gives me a beaming smile as she leans into me and hugs me and when she pulls back she has tears in her own eyes but is still smiling. "I'm not sure what role I want you to be yet, but I do know that it's more than a friend but if it's stepmom or mom... that I'm not sure about. I just know that I love you Bonnie and I love who you are and I wish... I wish that you could have been my mom because I have a feeling that things would have been completely different. I get if this is too weird to think about given our ages but it's just how I feel." I feel my breath lodge in my throat and my heart pound even harder at her words. That bitch Lola didn't deserve the title of mom and while im not her real mom or even at a sensible age to be her mom, if she wants me to fill that role then I will and happily. If meeting my mate has taught me one thing it is that age is just a number. He's ten years older than me and my potential daughter is three years younger than me but I couldn't care less and if anyone has a problem with it then they can come to me and I'll put them right back in their place. "I wish I could have been your mom too, Lottie. I don't care about the age factor, im here for you and I'll be whatever you need or want me to be. I will always be here for you." She smiles as she wipes several stray tears from her cheeks. "Can I ask, have you spoken to your dad about this?" This isn't a conversation that Nick and I have had yet and I honestly have no idea how he would feel about it. What if he's against this kind of relationship between us? I can't imagine he would be but there's always a small chance. "I have. I pretty much said the same to him as I have to you." "And how did he take it?" "He was ok. He told me that it was something that you and I had to figure out ourselves but that whatever we decide and whatever direction our relationship goes in he will support us." I'm not surprised to hear that, it sounds just like something that Nick would say but still, it feels nice to hear and im happy for Lottie that she got the blessing that she so clearly needed. "I'm glad we had this talk. You can always come to me, Lottie about anything. I'll never be too busy for you." "Thank you... Bonnie." Her little stutter makes me smile. She was torn about what to call me but that's ok, one step at a time and all that. "We should head back to Dad and find out what's going on." She's right while I've been more than happy to talk to her for as long as needed I can't deny that im eager to find out what Nick knows. I smile at her as I stand up. "Let's go." Alpha Nicholas We may have found the boys. That's all I keep saying in my head as I run with all I have back to my office. When Shane linked me letting me know I felt like my heart was going to explored it was pounding so hard. I know there is only a small chance of this being true but after a very long month of searching and waiting for news on them, I'm more than happy to have any kind of chance no matter how small it may be. I storm into my office to find Shane, Robbie, Will, Tony, my dad, and several of my top warriors including Ryan all waiting for me. Some of them are sitting but some are standing while Tony is pacing the room looking ready to tear his hair out. Usually, I would tell them off for being in here without me but right now I couldn't give a fuck."Tell me what you know!" I demand before I've even sat down. Tony finally stops pacing and comes to stand next to my desk. "Ryan thinks that he may have found them!" The words fly out of his mouth, his impatience clear to hear but I don't blame him. "I know, Tony and I promise that if they are there that we will find them. Where's Rosie?" I need to get him to calm down a little so that he can think a bit more clearly and right now, Rosie is our best shot at making that happen. "She's on her way." I do my best to keep him talking while we wait and thankfully it's not to long before there's a knock on the door before it opens to reveal my mate, Rosie and my daughter. Thank goddess for that. Rosie heads straight for Tony while Lottie takes a seat next to Robbie and my mate comes to stand next to me. I pull her into my lap needing her comfort and wait for Rosie and Tony to take a seat so that we can get started which thankfully doesn't take long. Thankfully, I was right and Rosie has managed to work her magic on Tony.