Chapter 192

Sarah POV

Telling Zane I suspected Ella of making Grace feel bad about herself was one of the harder conversations I’d ever had, but it was nothing compared to the task ahead of us: talking to Grace herself.

Zane hadn’t wanted to believe me at first, and I kept qualifying things, saying Ella might have no idea what she was doing and was just so extroverted and strong in her personality that Grace has just been overwhelmed. He talked about how Ella loved to bring Grace and now both girls presents and was always so friendly to them. He said Ella and Olivia had been so close, and now Ella loved her nieces.

Finally, I did get him to admit that this love for her nieces might not be Ella’s best way of interacting with the girls. And then I played the “It can’t hurt to talk to her” card.

So, once the girls were at school, Zane and I Zoomed with Dr. Palmi Allison, a specialist in child psychology. I wanted to go to her office, but Zane was concerned both with security and that the “online hoard” would see us going to see a doctor specializing in troubled children.

“It’s good to see you, Dr. Allison,” Zane said as she appeared on the large monitor on his desk. His tone was a little stiff but not hostile.

“I doubt you feel the same, Alpha Zane,” she said back. Her blue eyes looked both concerned and amused, which I thought was quite the feat. “I do want you to be assured you are both now my patients, and everything you say to me will be kept in the strictest confidence.”

Zane looked at me to let me know he wanted me to take the lead here, and I nodded before explaining the general outline of the problem: a sickly child who became a very shy child, a domineering and glamorous aunt, a child who had been away from that aunt and blossomed, and now a child who didn’t want to be in the same room with that aunt.

She nodded and made a few notes.

“Where do you keep your records?” Zane asked.

“Under lock and key, but if you prefer, you may take charge of any of my notes and keep them safe. I would prefer that you not destroy them.”

“Under lock and key is fine.”

“All right, first, let me say I applaud you both for planning to talk to Grace about this and for talking to me first. We are all programmed to go a little mental at the thought of child abuse, but please understand that ‘abuse’ takes a wide variety of forms, including when the abuser does not even realize the damage they may be doing.”

Nailed Zane in ten seconds, I thought. How many parents did she have to talk to like this to get so good at it?

“So, if you do not mind, let’s put all consideration of Aunt Ella to the side for now and think only of Grace. The fact that she is avoiding her aunt means something is wrong. Is it a misunderstanding? Is it something more? It’s our job to find out.

“So, you both need to talk with Grace and believe whatever she says to you. Pups do not tend to lie about things like this, especially pups at Grace’s age. Choose somewhere to talk where she knows she’s speaking to you privately.

“I would not include her sister in this conversation, not yet. Select a familiar, comfortable environment with just the three of you. Normally, I might suggest she talk only to her father, but she went to you, Miss Sarah, so you need to be there.”

Zane and I nodded. I could feel him responding to the doctor even as his face grew more concerned and serious.

“Next, and this will be particularly difficult for you, Alpha Zane, react to what she says calmly and with love. No matter what she says, don’t get angry and don’t be disgusted. And whatever you do, do not blame her.

“Abused children almost always feel at fault. If their abuser doesn’t overtly blame them, which in this case may be likely, they will feel weak, like they should have been able to handle it themselves, and they often feel they have done something to bring it on themselves. Grace may well resent her own early illness and feel it’s made her vulnerable.

“Now, don’t expect what I say here to be what happens. Don’t expect anything except that, given time, she will tell you at least part of what’s wrong.”

“And if it really is the case that simply being around Ella is causing Grace to feel overshadowed?” Zane asked.

Dr. Allison shook her head. “You’re still not thinking about this constructively. This isn’t about finding Ella innocent of wrongdoing; it’s about finding out why Grace feels bad.

“If just being around Ella because her niece is so glamorous and beautiful—yes, I’ve seen many pictures of your sister-in-law, and I might be intimidated myself—then you still need to address what’s going on with Grace that she feels that way. Grace and Chloe both are a little young to be that worried about physical appearances, even for alphas. If, for example, Grace feels she’s invisible when Ella is in the room, we need to find out what Grace is reacting to, how she’s interpreting things, and how she’s making herself feel about it.”

“I see.”

“And if it turns out Ella is doing it on purpose?” I asked.

Dr. Allison thought for a moment. “What was the last interaction you saw between Grace and Ella?”

“It was months ago,” Zane said.

“It was three days ago. Ella heard Grace singing, and it made her angry.”

“What?” Zane looked at me.

“You couldn’t see her face at the time,” I told him. “But she was furious, though only for a second, then she was her usual all smiles again.”

Zane frowned but didn’t try to contradict me.

“It may well be that Ella feels some jealousy toward Grace,” the doctor offered. “Women that beautiful tend to get used to being the center of attention 24/7. She may be quashing Grace’s self-expression consciously or unconsciously.”

She made a few more notes. “Now, let’s talk about the conversation itself. I know she’s an intelligent and advanced child, but use words she’ll know well, even when you’re reacting. And wait for her to talk. Don’t pepper her with questions or make her feel like she’s on trial. Don’t ask for proof or for someone who can back up what she’s saying.

“Now, she did let you know she’s unhappy about Ella, Sarah, so she wants something. Is it only to be away from Ella? Does she have something she needs to share? Some concern? Some weight on her shoulders?

“And love her. Just let her know whatever she says, you love her and you will always love her.”

Zane and I looked at each other, then I looked back at Dr. Allison. “That part will be easy.”