Chapter 110:Odd CoincidencesISABELLAI couldn't help but smile at his simple enthusiasm, at the way he could move from complex adult tensions to immediate childhood needs without missing a beat. "Chocolate chip pancakes sound perfect," I agreed.The kitchen was mercifully empty when we arrived, the morning chaos having subsided as the staff dealt with the various emergencies that had disrupted the household routine. I settled Lucas at the small breakfast table and set about gathering the ingredients I needed, falling into the familiar rhythm of cooking that always helped calm my racing thoughts.As I mixed batter and heated the griddle, my mind kept circling back to everything that had happened this morning. The wolf in the garden that had transformed into Janice—or had it? Elena's careful dismissal of what I thought I had seen. Damon's obvious distress over Janice's injuries. The easy familiarity between Janice and Lucas. The secrets that everyone seemed to share except me.And now
Chapter 109: The ClaimISABELLAI stood in the hallway outside Janice's room, pressing my palms against my eyes as I tried to force the tears to stop. The cool glass of water I held trembled slightly in my hand, condensation dripping onto my fingers like the tears I refused to let fall anymore.I would not let that woman see me as weak. I would not give anyone in this house more reason to dismiss me or treat me like I didn't belong here.Taking a deep, steadying breath, I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin. Whatever complicated history existed between Damon and Janice in the past, whatever secrets this household kept from me, I was still Lucas's mother. I was still Damon's fiancée. And I would not be treated like a servant in what was supposed to be my own home.The sound of Lucas's animated chatter drifted through the partially open door as I approached. His voice carried that particular breathless quality it got when he was excited about something, words tumbling over each
Chapter 108: Fractured Trust DAMONI turned to follow Isabella, but Janice's voice stopped me."Damon, wait. What I found out there—it's important. There are rogues in these woods. Not just one or two, but an organized group. And they're specifically targeting anything connected to this estate."The words made me freeze, the implications immediately clear. Rogues. Organized rogues. That was more dangerous than a random attack or even revenge from Webb's associates."How many?" I demanded."At least six that I could scent," Janice replied, with a frown on her face as she added, looking at me. "Maybe more. They were coordinated, Damon. This wasn't a random encounter. They were waiting for me, like they knew I would be tracking them.""We'll discuss this in detail once you've rested," I said, my mind already racing with the implications of her words. "For now, focus on healing. Thorne will post guards outside your room."I left before she could protest, my thoughts divided between the
Chapter 107: Hired HelpDAMONAnd I thought about whoever had done this to her, about the satisfaction I would feel when I finally tracked them down and made them pay for touching someone under my protection.Before either of us could speak again, there was a soft knock at the door. I recognized the pattern—one of the household staff seeking permission to enter."Come in," I called out, forcing my voice back to something resembling normal.The door opened to reveal Isabella, and the sight of her made my chest tighten with a complicated mixture of love, guilt, and frustration. She looked tired, her face still pale from the shock of this morning's events, but her eyes were clear and determined as they met mine."I wanted to check on you," she said softly, stepping into the office. "And to tell you not to worry about the wedding dress shopping. I understand that now isn't the right time. We can reschedule."The wedding. In the chaos of everything else, I had completely forgotten that we
Chapter 106: An Alpha's FuryDAMONI managed to settle Lucas in his playroom after what felt like an eternity of reassurances and promises. His tear-streaked face and trembling hands had torn at something deep in my chest, the primal need to protect him warring with the equally strong need to ensure Janice received proper care."She's really going to be okay?" Lucas had asked for the tenth time, clutching his favorite stuffed wolf against his chest."I promise, little wolf," I had replied, ruffling his dark hair. "Janice is strong. She just needs to rest and heal. You can see her as soon as she wakes up."That promise had finally been enough to calm him, though I could see the worry still lingering in his eyes as he reluctantly turned his attention to the elaborate castle set I had built for him last month. I left him there with one of the staff members keeping watch, my mind already racing ahead to the conversation I needed to have with Thorne.Now, standing in my office with the doo
Chapter 105: Questions Without AnswersISABELLA"I don't know all the details," Elena replied, which might have been the first fully honest thing she had said since we sat down. "But it looks like she ran into trouble in the woods. Sometimes there are… dangerous situations that arise. Janice was probably investigating or trying to prevent something when she got injured."Investigating what? Preventing what? Every answer just led to more questions, more pieces of a puzzle I didn't even know existed until this morning.I took a long sip of my coffee, using the moment to try to calm myself down. Getting angry at Elena wasn't going to help. She was clearly bound by some kind of loyalty or promise that prevented her from telling me more. If I wanted real answers, I needed to talk to Damon directly.But the thought of confronting him, especially when he was so obviously worried about Janice, made my stomach twist with anxiety. What if he got defensive? What if he accused me of being jealou