FOUR

DAISY’S POV

I rushed toward the boy, but Aaron stepped between us, his lips trembling as he stuttered.

Aaron had never stuttered before.

“Wh… what are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in your room.”

“And you just pushed a child down!” I snapped, moving around him.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” I asked gently, reaching for the boy.

He slapped my hand away.

His little face twisted with a hatred far too intense for a child of three or four. He got up himself, dashed into the room, and slammed the door shut. A moment later, I heard the lock click.

I stared after him, stunned.

“That was…”

“You shouldn’t be out of bed, Daisy.” Aaron wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Come on. Let me take you back.”

I followed him, but the boy’s expression stayed with me. He’d looked at me as though he knew me and had every reason to hate me.

Most werewolves in North Carolina knew me. I was their Luna, after all. But this felt different.

Aaron helped me settle into bed before calling the nurse to bring me food.

Once he hung up, I turned to him.

“Weren’t you supposed to be at work?”

“Work?” He blinked before letting out an awkward laugh. “Oh, yes. The urgent meeting ended early, so I came back. I was looking for your room when that boy suddenly appeared.”

“And called you Daddy?”

He went still for a fraction of a second.

“I don’t know why he called me that. Maybe I look like his father.” He chuckled and kissed my lips. “You know the only person who’ll ever call me Daddy is our own child.”

He smoothed my hair, wearing the reassuring smile I’d known for years.

Usually, it worked.

This time, it didn’t.

The mysterious messages, the boy, and Aaron’s strange behavior had left too many questions unanswered.

I took his hand.

“Aaron, can I ask you something?”

“Anything, darling.”

“Would you ever cheat on me again?”

“No.”

He answered without hesitation, holding my gaze.

“I love you, Daisy.”

He kissed my forehead, then my nose and cheeks, before peppering my face with kisses until I burst into laughter.

For a moment, my doubts disappeared. This was the man I knew, the man who’d always made me feel loved.

We were still laughing when someone knocked.

“Sorry, Alpha. I’ve brought the food.”

“Come in.”

The nurse arranged the food on my table and left. I had barely started eating when Aaron’s phone rang.

He declined the call.

It rang again.

He declined it again.

By the third time, I sighed. “Just answer it. It must be important.”

“I’ll deal with it later.”

But as he ended the call, a message appeared on his screen. His expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he read it.

“Dais—”

“Go,” I interrupted with a small smile. “Is it the Lycans?”

“Y… yes. They’ve called an urgent meeting. I might not be back tonight.”

“Alright. I can manage.”

He kissed my forehead. “I’ll make it up to you.”

He was almost at the door when I remembered something.

“Love, did my friends give you my phone?”

He turned so quickly that I frowned.

“Y… your phone? No. They didn’t mention it.”

“I’ll have to ask Selene, then.”

“Don’t worry about it. They probably handed it to the doctors.” He waved off my concern. “I’ll have my Beta get you a new one. Yours could be damaged.”

“Why would it be damaged? You only bought it last week.”

“And I’ll buy you another one every week if you want.” He grinned. “Don’t worry about it.”

There was no point arguing.

“Fine. Drive safely.”

He blew me a kiss and left.

I returned to my food, but the unease in my stomach refused to settle.

Something was wrong.

I just didn’t know what.

⸻

Three days later, I was discharged, and Aaron took me home.

He’d stayed by my side throughout my recovery, bringing me food, watching movies with me, and having his Beta deliver his work to the hospital. He’d even bought me a new phone after Selene confirmed that my old one wasn’t at their house.

For three days, I’d almost managed to forget everything that happened.

Almost.

When I entered our house, I spotted a package on the table. It was wrapped in pink ribbon with a little note that read Open me.

My heart warmed.

“Aaron! What are you planning now?” I called, knowing he was still outside.

I opened the package and found a phone inside.

Another one?

I frowned, switched it on, and was immediately greeted by an incoming call from a private number.

I answered.

“Hello, Daisy. Finally, you’re home. We have a lot to talk about.”

A strange thrill ran through me, followed by a flicker of unease.

“Who is this?”

“The man who wants you and will have you. By any means necessary.”

I pulled the phone away, staring at the screen before returning it to my ear.

“Who are you?”

“Did you receive my last text?”

“Your last—”

The realization hit me, but I quickly pushed it away. Aaron and my friends had been behind those messages. They’d admitted it.

“Don’t tell me you actually believe what those idiots told you,” he interrupted.

My fingers tightened around the phone.

“What they told me?”

“How stupid do you think I am, Daisy? That half-decorated room was supposed to be your surprise baby shower? You don’t see the cracks in your marriage?”

His words dragged memories to the surface.

The unfinished decorations. The strange excuses. Aaron’s nervousness. The unfamiliar scent I’d noticed on him while crying. The message I’d received before collapsing.

Then there was the boy.

And Mia’s silent nod to the doctor.

No, Daisy. Don’t trust a stranger.

“Stop!” I snapped. “What do you want from me?”

“To play a game, sweetheart. One where I get you in the end.”

“You’ll never get me.”

“Confidence. I like that.” I could practically hear his smile. “We’ll discuss that later. For now, let’s talk about your husband.”

My fingers tightened around the phone.

“Your husband is cheating on you, Daisy. And before you waste your breath defending him, remember that I sent you those pictures for a reason.”

“Why would you help me?”

“Because you deserve better. And better is me.”

The certainty in his voice sent a strange thrill through me. He sounded powerful with the kind of voice that has never been rejected before. My wolf, Aria, stirred inside me, more alert than she’d been in ages.

I immediately crushed the feeling.

Don’t be ridiculous, Daisy. You’re married. Happily married.

“You’re insane,” I muttered.

“Perhaps. But I’m also a man who knows what he wants, and I don’t make a habit of walking away empty-handed.”

Who did he think he was?

“And what makes you think I would ever want you?”

“Nothing yet.” His voice dropped, smooth and unhurried. “But I’m a patient man, Daisy. I can afford to be for the right woman.”

Aria stirred again, and a part of me did too. I hated that he was getting to me.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“You’ll find out soon enough. But first, I have a question for you.”

I stopped pacing.

“Do you want to find out who Aaron is sleeping with?”

My breath caught.

“Your friends, perhaps? Or someone else entirely?”

Silence settled between us.

Then he chuckled softly.

“Let’s find out, shall we?”