Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

177 Chapter 177

Damien’s POV 1

“Daddy!”

The word cut through my rage like sunlight through storm clouds.

My entire body went still. The fury that had been consuming me for the past hour–the anger at Marcus, at Henry, at the whole goddamn

world–it all just… stopped.

“Daddy, are you there?”

Lily’s voice was small and uncertain through the phone. Three years old and already she could sense when something was wrong.

I turned away from Henry, my shoulders dropping, my claws retracting. “Hey, baby girl. I’m here.”

“You sound mad.” A pause. “Are you mad at me?”

The words hit me like a physical blow. “What? No! No, sweetheart, I’m not mad at you. Never at you.”

“Okay.” She sounded relieved. Then, quieter: “I miss you.”

My chest tightened. “I miss you too, Lily. So much.”

“When are you coming home?” Her voice got smaller. “It’s been forever.”

I glanced at my watch. Four–thirty. I’d been at the office since six this morning. Had I even said goodbye to her when I left? Had I kissed

her forehead, told her I loved her?

I couldn’t remember.

“I can come home right now,” I said. “Do you want me to come home?”

“Yes!” Excitement flooded her voice. “And Daddy? Can we get cupcakes?”

Behind me, I heard Henry clear his throat. Probably about to say something about pack business, about responsibilities, about all the shit

that had consumed my life for three years.

I didn’t even look at him.

“Cupcakes sound perfect,” I told Lily. “I’ll be home in twenty minutes.”

“I’ll tell nanny to get ready!” She was bouncing now. I could hear it in her voice. “Love you, Daddy!”

“Love you more, baby girl.”

I hung up and finally turned to face Henry. The elder was still standing there, his expression caught between irritation and something

that might have been understanding.

“Get out,” I said quietly. No anger now. Just exhaustion. “And Henry? If you value your position on the council, you’ll never mention Luna

177 Chapter, 177

replacements again”

Closed it. Then nodded

looked around at the scattered papers, the cracked desk, the overturned coffee

jacket and

house was chaos

bad chaos.

“DADDY!”

the hallway so fast she nearly tripped over her own feet. Her dark

waves.

force to make me stumble. I caught her, sweeping her up into

face into her hair. She smelled like baby shampoo and the lavender

you.”

pulled back to look at my face, her small hands cupping my cheeks. “You

not too

like Christmas morning. “Really? Really

down.

off running, then stopped and turned back. “The

“Whichever ones are fastest.”

the corner, her voice

appeared from the kitchen, looking relieved. “Alpha.

in my gut.

was

one purple–and a dress that was on backward. Her hair stuck up

She was perfect.

first,” I said, kneeling down. “Arms

raised her arms obediently while I turned the dress around. “Nanny says I need to

my hair.”

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177 Chapter, 177

I grabbed the brush from the hall table and gently worked through the tangles. Lily

what? Your mama used to have hair just

her head, curious. “Mama

finished brushing and stood up. “You look just like

A little bit different.” She pointed at her face.

her hand. “Come on. Let’s go get those

bakery was twenty minutes away, tucked into a strip mall between a dry cleaner and a bookstore. It was the kind

business because everything was made fresh daily and the owner remembered everyone’s

we

“And little Miss Lily! What a wonderful

Betty!” Lily waved with her whole arm. “We’re

around the counter, wiping flour–dusted hands on

vanilla,

wide.

all of them,” I translated.

“Smart girl!” Betty laughed.

voice rang out from the display case.

join her, grateful for the

a massive cupcake with purple frosting and what looked like a mountain of

biggest,” I agreed. “But maybe we should get you a normal–sized one?

fell. “But it’s