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 once and left without another

around at the scattered papers, the cracked desk, the overturned coffee mug still dripping onto the

grabbed my jacket and

was chaos

bad chaos. The

“DADDY!”

hallway so fast she nearly tripped over her

waves.

with enough force to make me stumble. I caught her, sweeping her

girl,” I said, pressing my face into her hair. She smelled like baby shampoo and the lavender soap the

you.”

missed you more!” She pulled back to look at my face, her small hands cupping my cheeks. “You look tired, Daddy.

not

up like Christmas morning. “Really? Really

her down. “Go

took off running, then stopped and turned back. “The pink ones or

“Whichever ones are fastest.”

She disappeared around the corner, her

the kitchen, looking relieved. “Alpha. She’s been asking for you all

my gut. “I

was

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

She was perfect.

first,” I said,

arms obediently while I turned the dress around. “Nanny

my hair.”

18:24

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177 Chapter, 177

from the hall table and gently worked through

just like this. Long and dark and

tilted her head, curious. “Mama

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

have your eyes! A little bit different.” She pointed at her face. “But like a

on. Let’s go get those cupcakes before

minutes away, tucked into a strip mall between a dry

made fresh

the counter the moment we walked in. She was in her

little Miss Lily! What a wonderful

with her whole arm.

hands on her apron. “Well, lucky for you, I just

Chocolate, vanilla,

eyes went wide. “All

all of them,” I translated. “Before she picks

“Smart girl!” Betty laughed.

voice rang out from the display case. “Daddy!

her, grateful for

what

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

fell. “But it’s so