Chapter 48
Emily
The weekend creeped up on us. After a stressful first week of living together, I thought maybe it was time we got out of the house. Together.
It wasn’t going to be like the last date either, the one that Logan hal planned and filled with an expensive show and a taney dinner.
The day I had planned for Logan was nothing like the usual extravagance he was accustomed to. It was quiet, simple, and, hopefully, real. I didn’t know why I felt the need to shake things but I did. It was hard to explain, but something inside me said this was the right time.
“Where are we going?” Logan asked, leaning back in the car, clearly not used to this kind of detour.
“You’ll see,” I replied, trying to keep my smile contained.
We passed through the city’s busy streets, the usual chaos buzzing around tes, until I gave the driver directions to a quieter part of town. It was a place I had known for years, a place tlsat was dose to my heart. Before long, we arrived at the orphanage I had been supporting for many years,
Logan’s brows furrowed when he looked out of the window, probably wondering why we were so far from well–known dating hot spots.
“You know, I expected something more grand,” he said, almost to himself, but I heard it. His voice was a little too dry and a little too dismissive.
“It’s not about grand,” I replied, “It’s about what matters.
The car rolled to a stop in front of an unassuming building. The place was small, humble, but full of life. The orphanage wasn’t anything special in terms of appearance, but to me, it was everything. It represented everything I wanted to fight for, the most important being hope,
Every child here had a chance for a future they otherwise might not have
Logan stepped out of the car, his tall form looking out of place in this quiet setting. His crisp suit seemed too formal, almost like a uniform that didn’t belong with the warmth surrounding us
I knew this was far outside his comfort zone, but I also knew he was here because of me.
I led him toward the entrance, and he followed, still somewhat uncertain. As we walked in, the noise of children laughing and talking filled the space. A few of the older kids waved at me, and I smiled back, my heart swelling with pride.
This was my world, the world I had been working to build. It wasn’t about glittering ballrooms or political gatherings, but something far more real.
Logan looked around, and for the first time since I had met him, I saw him look out of place. He was used to power, to control, and to making the rules and having everyone listen.
Here, he wasn’t the Alpha. He wasn’t the one in charge. And it was showing
I guided him to one of the playrooms, where the younger children were drawing
“This is where I spend most of my time,” I explained. “Helping the kids, trying to give them a sense of stability.”
He stood still, taking in the room with an almost solemn expression. His arms were crossed, his posture stiff.
“You really like it here, don’t you?”
I laughed, though it wasn’t a humorous sound. “It’s more than just liking it. It’s about making a difference. This place… it saved me when I lost my mom. I want to make sure it can keep helping others.”
+25 BONUS
Although I wasn’t an orphan, being there for other kids who had their parents in the wake of my mother’s death had brought me back from a very dark place. It meant a lot to me to continue working with these children
Logan didn’t respond immediately, but he shifted his weight, as though the words were heavy for him. I knew he didn’t always understand the passion behind my causes. Maybe he wasn’t entirely convinced it mattered the same way it did to me. I was trying to show him why it was so important..
I caught him glancing over at a small group of children playing with blocks on the floor. One of them, a little girl, waved at him
shyly.
Logan hesitated for a moment, his usual reserve coming back into place, but then something changed. He stepped forward and crouched down to her level. It was a simple gesture, but I surprise me. As he started chatting with her–slowly at first, and then more naturally–I saw his walls crumbling.
2/2
+25 BONUS
Chapter 49
