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

I looked around at the scattered papers, the cracked desk,

grabbed my jacket and walked

house was chaos when

bad chaos. The

“DADDY!”

fast she nearly tripped over her own feet.

waves.

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

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

you.”

She pulled back to look at my face, her small hands cupping

busy, sweetheart. But not too busy for

lit up like Christmas morning. “Really? Really

set her down.

and turned back. “The pink ones or the purple

“Whichever ones are fastest.”

She disappeared around the corner, her voice echoing

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

gut.

to me.” Her expression was gentle

that was on backward. Her hair stuck up in three different

She was perfect.

first,” I said,

while I turned the dress around. “Nanny says I

my hair.”

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177 Chapter, 177

very smart.” I grabbed the brush from the hall table and gently worked through

know what? Your mama used to have hair just like this. Long and dark

Lily just tilted her head, curious.

stood up. “You

bit different.” She pointed at her face. “But

a wolf.” I took her hand. “Come on. Let’s go get those cupcakes before the

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

business because everything was made fresh daily and the

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

Miss Lily! What a

Miss Betty!” Lily waved with

came around the counter, wiping flour–dusted hands on her

vanilla,

went wide.

to see all of them,” I translated. “Before

“Smart girl!” Betty laughed.

from the display case. “Daddy!

her, grateful for the interruption.

a massive cupcake with purple frosting and what looked like a mountain of sprinkles. “That

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

“But