Chapter 4 We're Being Replaced

BEATRICE

I’ve never wanted to scream at someone more in my life. And somehow, I’m still holding it in.

Enzo’s lucky our daughter is here to keep me from losing my shit.

I walk over and kneel beside Bailey. “Sweetie, why don’t you play in your room?”

She glances at Thalia and Celeste, then back at me. "Are you gonna be okay, Mommy?"

I nod and smile like everything’s fine. If she sees me fall apart, she might too. "I’m okay, baby. Don’t worry about me, alright?"

She briefly studies me, like she knows I’m not telling the whole truth. But she just nods and heads upstairs. 

I hate how used to this she’s become… being sent off every time things get tense between me and her daddy.

I turn to Enzo. “What is this?” I ask quietly. “What the hell are you doing?”

He doesn’t even bother looking at me. “Make sure they get settled,” he says before heading toward the front door. He’s really testing me.

I follow him out onto the porch. “Enzo,” I snap. “Are you serious right now? You're letting them stay here?”

He turns around, already looking like I’m wasting his time. “What’s there to talk about?” he asks.

“You want me to schedule a meeting next time I try to help someone?”

I glare at him. “You call this helping someone? You didn’t even show up for Bailey’s birthday, and now you bring your ex and her kid into our home like it’s no big deal?”

Enzo lets out a low, mocking laugh. “God, you’re so dramatic.”

My hands clench at my sides.

“They’re going through something, Beatrice,” he says, like I’m too selfish to get it. “But of course, you’d make it all about you.”

“You think I’m making this about me?”

“I’m the Alpha,” he cuts in. “It’s my job to take care of my people. Thalia lost her mate in the war. Celeste lost her father. Maybe try thinking about someone else for once.”

Think about someone else? What the hell have I been doing all this time?

“I do think about other people,” I shoot back. “I think about Bailey every second of every day while you’re out playing family with someone else.”

He rolls his eyes. “Here we go again.”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

“You know what this really is? You’re jealous.”

My mouth falls open. “Jealous?”

He shrugs like it’s obvious. “Yeah. You can’t stand that Thalia’s here ‘cause she’s my ex.”

I don’t even know what to say to that. I just stand there, stunned.

He sighs and turns to go. “I’m done talking about this. They’re staying. End of story.”

“But Enzo — ”

“Don’t,” he cuts me off without even looking back. “Just drop it. You’re the Luna. You should know that our duties come first.”

Well, now he admits I'm his Luna? He just leaves like that, busy with his work, leaving me to deal with this mess.

But as I gradually calm down, I realize that Enzo has a point.

Maybe I just can’t stand that Thalia’s here because she’s his ex. 

I mean, her husband died in the Lycan War. Our warriors gave everything to protect this pack. And as the Alpha and Luna, the least we can do is let her stay here. It’s part of the job, whether I like it or not.

Still, I hate how it feels.

Enzo makes it seem like Thalia belongs here more than I do. And that’s not fair.

I let out a quiet sigh. Maybe I’m just being sensitive. This is just a temporary arrangement.

One day soon, she and her daughter will pack up and go. Hopefully, this will get back to normal by then.

*******************

But Thalia’s true colors show the second I step back into the house.

She’s sipping tea from one of my favorite mugs. “Oh, there you are,” she says. “The guest room sheets need changing. And Celeste likes her pillows fluffed. Twice.”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

She finally looks up with a smug smile. “Enzo said you’d be taking care of us. Or did you already forget?”

I bite my tongue so hard it hurts. This woman is already acting like she’s queen of the damn house. MY house.

“I’ll get the room ready,” I say tightly, trying to calm down. I leave before I say something I’ll regret.

She calls after me. “And don’t forget… We’re allergic to lavender. Use the vanilla linen spray.”

I set up the guest room just like Enzo told me to. Fresh sheets, fluffed pillows, even lit a candle like I’m running a bed and breakfast.

Every second of it makes my skin crawl, especially knowing it’s for Thalia.

It makes my skin crawl, but I do it anyway.

Because that’s what a Luna does, right? She keeps the peace… even when it’s tearing her apart.

But it’s not enough.

Later, I hear crying from down the hall and rush over. Celeste is standing in Bailey’s doorway.

“I want this room!” she screams.

“No, Celeste,” I say firmly. “This is Bailey’s room. Yours is down the hall.”

“I don’t care! This one’s prettier!” She stomps her foot and starts wailing.

Thalia comes around the corner. “Come on,” she says. “It’s just a room. What’s the big deal?”

“It’s Bailey’s room,” I claim. “She shouldn’t have to give it up.”

“My daughter lost her father,” Thalia says coldly. “And your daughter still has hers. She’ll live.”

I freeze.

Then I feel Bailey slip her hand into mine. “It’s okay, Mommy,” she whispers. “She can have it. I don’t mind.”

My throat tightens as I crouch and pull her into a hug. She shouldn't have to be this selfless.

Bailey and I just stand there as Thalia and Celeste walk right into her room. Celeste’s got that bratty look on her face. She drags her little suitcase in like the room is hers now.

*******************

Later, when dinner comes, I’m completely drained. I ask the maid to handle the food while I head upstairs to wash up.

Then I hear yelling.

I rush to the living room. Bailey and Celeste are both gripping the wooden bow.

“That’s mine!” Bailey cries.

“No, it’s not! I want it!” Celeste claps back.

I step in fast. “Girls! What is going on?”

Bailey’s eyes are already glassy. “She can have my other presents,” she says in a whisper, “but not this one. Daddy gave it to me.”

My heart sinks.

No, sweetheart. I gave it to you. I picked it out because you wanted a bow so badly. I wrote that card, pretending it was from him, just to see you smile.

Celeste folds her arms and scowls. “I want it. Why do you get to keep everything?”

I feel angry. Before I can even respond, the front door opens.

Enzo walks in as the two girls are fighting. “What now?”

Bailey’s face lights up with hope. “Daddy, please tell her… it’s mine.”

He barely glances at her. “Bailey, stop being difficult. Just let her have it.”

I stare at him. “Are you serious right now?”

He doesn’t even blink. “She’s just a kid. Let her have the damn bow.”

Bailey’s hands slowly let it go. The bow slips from her grip, and Celeste snatches it like she’s won a prize.

Bailey lowers her head. Then, she starts crying.

It hits me all at once.

She still thinks Enzo gave that to her. She thought it meant something.

And now she’s realizing, in her little way, that her dad didn't buy her this gift. She meant nothing to her dad.

It kills me to know that the person breaking her heart is her own father.

I wrap my arms around her tiny frame, wishing I could take the pain for her.

She’s feeling it, too. The thing I’ve been trying so hard to ignore:

We’re being replaced.

It feels like everything that's ours is slowly being taken. 

But I can’t fix this.