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”

it. Then nodded

was gone. Too empty, I looked around at the scattered papers, the cracked desk, the overturned coffee mug still dripping

grabbed my jacket and walked

chaos

bad chaos. The

“DADDY!”

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

waves.

enough force to make me stumble. I caught her, sweeping her up into my arms like she

my face into her hair. She smelled like

you.”

her small hands cupping my

sweetheart. But not too

face lit up like Christmas

I set her down. “Go get your

running, then stopped and turned back. “The

“Whichever ones are fastest.”

She disappeared around the corner,

from the kitchen, looking relieved.

my gut. “I

expression was gentle but firm. “Apologize to

Lily reappeared wearing mismatched shoes–one pink, one purple–and a dress that was on

She was perfect.

I said, kneeling down.

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

my hair.”

18:24

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177 Chapter, 177

table and gently worked through the tangles. Lily winced

used to have hair just

Lily just tilted her head,

stood up. “You

different.” She pointed at

I took her hand. “Come on. Let’s

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

fresh daily and the owner remembered everyone’s

called out from behind the counter the moment we walked in. She was in

Miss Lily! What a wonderful

Betty!” Lily waved with

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

vanilla, and red

wide. “All of

all of them,” I

“Smart girl!” Betty laughed.

display case. “Daddy!

to join her, grateful for the interruption.

and what looked like a mountain of sprinkles. “That one! It’s

maybe we should get you a

fell. “But it’s so