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”

opened his mouth. Closed it. Then

office felt too quiet after he was gone. Too empty, I looked around at

jacket

house was chaos when I

chaos.

“DADDY!”

running down the hallway so fast she nearly tripped over her own feet. Her dark hair–so much like Sera’s–flew

waves.

into my legs with enough force to make me stumble. I

hair. She smelled like baby shampoo and the lavender soap the

you.”

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

not too busy for

face lit up like Christmas

down.

then stopped and turned back. “The

“Whichever ones are fastest.”

disappeared around the corner, her voice echoing

from the kitchen, looking relieved. “Alpha.

gut.

to me.” Her expression was gentle but

wearing mismatched shoes–one pink, one purple–and a dress that was on backward. Her hair stuck up

She was perfect.

dress first,” I said, kneeling

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

my hair.”

18:24

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177 Chapter, 177

grabbed the brush from the hall table and gently worked through

hair just like this. Long and dark

head, curious. “Mama had

prettiest.” I finished brushing and stood up. “You

eyes! A little bit different.” She pointed at

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

twenty minutes away, tucked into a strip mall between a dry cleaner and

made fresh daily and the owner

behind the counter the moment we walked in. She was in her sixties, round and

“And little Miss Lily! What a

with her whole arm. “We’re

Betty came around the counter, wiping flour–dusted hands on her apron. “Well, lucky for you, I

Chocolate, vanilla, and

eyes went wide. “All

of

“Smart girl!” Betty laughed.

case. “Daddy! DADDY!

moved to join her, grateful for the interruption. “Which one,

and what looked like a mountain of sprinkles. “That

agreed. “But maybe we should get you a normal–sized one? So you don’t get a tummy

“But it’s so