Damian
“I-I’m sorry, mister. I didn’t mean to hurt your daughter,” the boy stammered, tears streaming down his face, causing guilt to tug at my heart a little. Just a little.
My anger subsided as I noticed the genuine remorse in his eyes. I sighed, realising that assumptions had clouded my judgement.
“Apologise to Anna and be more careful next time,” I instructed the boy.
“I’m sorry, Anna,” he said respectfully. I could feel the tension lifting, and the children cautiously resumed their play, leaving me to reflect on the importance of empathy in handling delicate situations.
Anna clung to me, her tear-streaked face buried against my chest. “Daddy, please, I want to go home.” She whimpered, her small arms wrapping around my neck. My heart ached at the sight of her pain, making the guilt that I had once felt for the boy disappear and anger return.
I couldn’t deny her plea, and I held her tighter, hoping to bring her comfort and reassurance.
With Anna in my arms, I turned away from the bewildered boy, Alex. However, before I could step further away from the scene, I couldn’t let the matter rest, hoping it wouldn’t repeat itself, so I slowly turned back and pointed at Alex with an icy glare.
“Bring your parents to school tomorrow. We need to have a serious discussion, and if you fail to do this, consider your admission into this school over.” I commended him sternly before walking away.
I knew I was harsh, but I need to confirm my suspicion that the little boy had nothing to do with Liam or Ruby and everything was just a bloody coincidence.
He weirdly had her scent around him.
I walked away from the playing field, taking the other end of the hallway for easy access out of the academy, and away from preying eyes. The thought of the little boy was still in my mind, and the werewolf academy felt heavy with tension.
I held my daughter safely in my arms. Her innocent eyes held a mix of confusion and fear, remnants of the playground incident still haunting her. I could feel the weight of her small body against mine, a precious burden I swore to protect.
John, my trusted warrior, followed behind, his eyes reflecting concern for the pack and me. We exchanged glances, understanding the responsibilities that came with leading a pack and being a father.
I paused on my track, remembering the task I had assigned to him earlier. “Have you fixed the door?”
“Yes, Alpha,” John responded, his posture straightening with a mix of pride and diligence.
“It’s as good as new.”
I broke into Ruby’s home, driven by the desperate need to find something of hers to soothe my restless wolf. His constant nagging about missing his mate and the urgency to claim her led me to reluctantly agree to his suggestion of sneaking into her house. Curiosity about my mate also fueled my decision, despite the risk.
However, the bastard had forcefully broken down the door while sniffing her scent and, in the process, scattered the whole place, causing chaos and scattering items throughout her place.
Amidst the disarray, I stumbled upon a book hidden in a box I had spent a lifetime searching for-and I was fucking surprised to find it in my mates house-the last place I expected.
Swiftly, I seized the book and returned to my pack, instructing John, one of my warriors, to create a copy and send it to my hybrid sister. I had planned to go back and restore Ruby’s room to its normal state, hoping to avoid her discovery and the inevitable consequences, but as I made my way back, I felt the undeniable pull of her distress through the mate bond.
Sensing she was in danger, I had to prioritise her safety over the initial plan of restoring order to her room to focus on saving her, and just like I had felt in the past, I sent out a wave of my power through the bond to strengthen her before I went there.
And I arrived just in the nick of time to thwart the impending danger posed by the evil spirit. I was curious to know why that evil spirit was after her life, as it seemed to have a grudge against her. To ease her concerns and protect her from the truth, I fabricated a story, suggesting that the evil spirit originated from the depths of her own mind, but that wasn’t true.
Nothing I told her was true. She didn’t have any special power as the power was mine, but she would have it if she accepted my bond and we completed the mating process.
I don’t know what had happened in the past to make Ruby and her wolf weak, but I had to do all I could to protect her from harm, and I know that if she found out that I was the person who had broken into her home and also that I made a copy of her book, then she would never trust me or accept to be my mate, and I hope she never finds out because that would drive my wolf mad.
As I stepped out of the academy, the air outside was cool, a stark contrast to the heated thoughts swimming inside of me. The sound of crickets chirping and leaves rustling filled my ears, and a sense of protectiveness swelled within me, fueled by the need to shield my daughter from the harsh realities of our world.
I took a deep breath, attempting to dispel the lingering frustration. Breaking the silence, Anna’s soft voice reached my ears.
“Daddy, when do I get to see my angel again? I missed her so much.” I turned to her, meeting her innocent gaze.
“Soon, baby, soon,” I reassured her, my hand gently patting her head.
“And what about Mom? You said you would bring her back to me.”
A pang of sadness echoed in my voice as I replied, “I will bring her to you, baby, just like I have always promised.” I murmured sadly, feeling her small hand reaching for mine, seeking reassurance.
This was the reason I needed that powerful book. My sister had mentioned it held the solution I sought. I was willing to move heaven and earth just to obtain it, and indeed, I did.
Seeing that it had helped Ruby cure the children, I believed it held the key to fulfilling both my and my daughter’s deepest wishes.
As we approached the outskirts of the academy territory, I shifted into my wolf form, carrying Anna gently in my jaws alongside John. Upon returning to my pack, I transitioned back to human form, bathed in the soft moonlight. Making my way to her room, I carefully tucked Anna into bed, planting a tender goodnight kiss on her forehead. Her eyes closed, finding comfort in the security of our home.
As I entered my office, expecting a pile of work, I was greeted by an unexpected scene. My half-witch, half-wolf sister lounged on my spacious couch, engrossed in a book, as if the room belonged to her. Her piercing gaze met mine, silently acknowledging the complexities of our relationship as step -siblings.
“Did you receive the copy of the book I sent?” I inquired, settling into my chair.
“Duh, that’s why I rushed over. I must admit, I was both shocked and impressed.” She grinned, shutting the book.
“How did you obtain it? We’ve searched everywhere, and seeing John deliver it to me felt like receiving some cheap groceries.”
“That’s none of your business. Your business should be focused on the project. I have given you what you asked for, so can you proceed with it now? Can you bring her back?” I questioned, a hint of irritation in my tone.
“Let’s just say the chances of reviving your dead mate are higher now. However, the conditions for that to happen come with risks.”
“What are the conditions?” I questioned, leaning back in my chair, my fingers drumming on the desk.
My sister eyes bore into mine, a challenging glint in her gaze as she continued, “Are you ready to pay the price, Damian?”