10: She’s My Daughter After All

"Mama!!!"

Rachel jumped to her feet so fast that she knocked over half the wooden animals as she ran towards me.

I stooped down and opened my arms just in time for her little body to crash into mine. I lifted her and rubbed her back affectionately while she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Oh, my baby girl," I sighed before kissing her cheek and inhaling her scent, but all I smelt was cotton candy and jelly beans.

I pulled my face away from hers and narrowed my eyes.

"Have you been eating sweets?"

The nanny knew I hated when Rachel ate sweets before supper. She was already energetic enough without adding sugar to the little wolfling.

Rachel's eyes immediately shifted towards Alastor.

Hmm?

"Yeah," she admitted. "Papa Alastor snuck me some. I told him you would be mad if I ate sweets before dinner, but he said I'm an Alpha's daughter and I can eat sweets whenever I want."

Of course he did.

I looked across the room.

Alastor was still sitting on the floor, except his body was now turned towards us. His elbows rested casually on his knees as he watched me hold Rachel.

His face was completely stoic.

His eyes weren't.

There was anger in them.

A lot of it.

My stomach tightened.

He knew I'd been gone.

I didn't know how much he knew, but there was no fucking way that look was about a few pieces of candy.

"Are you mad at me, Mama?"

Rachel's little voice pulled my attention back to her.

"Oh, honey, of course not." I kissed her cheek again. "Don't you know you're the best daughter in the whole wide world?"

Her toothless smile made my heart melt.

She nodded happily before looking over my shoulder at Alastor.

"Are you mad at Papa Alastor? I don't want you to be mad at him."

My eyes met his.

He was still watching me.

Waiting.

Almost daring me to answer incorrectly.

I sighed and kissed Rachel's nose. "I'm not mad at him, sweetheart. I promise."

"Good."

"Why don't I take you to get washed up for supper? How does that sound?"

"That sounds great, but can Papa Alastor help get me washed up and ready for supper?"

My mouth almost fell open.

Even Alastor looked surprised.

For the first time since I'd entered the room, something other than anger passed through his eyes.

He hadn't expected that either.

"I'm sure your father has more important things to do," I answered.

Alastor abruptly rose to his feet.

"You don't speak for me, woman," he snarled.

Rachel turned towards him.

And just like that, the monster disappeared.

A smile spread across his face.

It made my fucking skin crawl.

"Does that mean you'll help get me cleaned up, Papa Alastor?" Rachel asked.

"Why, yes, Rach."

Her face brightened.

Alastor's eyes returned to mine over her shoulder.

"You remember what you and Papa were talking about earlier?"

"Yes!" Rachel exclaimed. "Tonight we're having dinner at Sharptooth Pack so I can meet your friends."

Everything inside me stopped. "Sharptooth Pack?"

Alastor smiled.

I didn't.

Sharptooth Pack had been one of Drexel Forest's enemies for as long as I could remember. The relationship between the two packs had been so bad that there were years when a Sharptooth wolf couldn't cross onto our territory without risking leaving it in pieces.

And their Alpha?

Roland.

I'd never met the man personally, but I'd heard enough.

Some said he was even worse than Alastor.

Considering the man standing in front of me ate the hearts of his enemies, that was a terrifying fucking accomplishment.

"Yes," Alastor answered casually. "Alpha Roland invited us to dinner. It's only a one-hour carriage ride. We leave in an hour. Dinner is at eight-thirty."

I stared at him.

Something wasn't right.

Alastor didn't suddenly make friends.

Especially not with enemies.

"What does Roland want?"

His smile disappeared.

"Did I say he wanted something?"

"You two have hated each other for years."

"And now we don't."

That simple?

Bullshit.

Before I could question him further, footsteps approached behind me.

Trenton entered the private dining room and looked between the three of us.

"Is everything alright?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Alastor asked. "Can't a man have some family time with his wife and daughter?"

Trenton's eyes landed on me for half a second before he lowered his head.

"Of course, Alpha."

There it was.

That obedience.

The same obedience I'd watched for thirteen fucking years.

"Uncle Trent!"

Rachel stretched her arms towards him.

Trenton instinctively stepped forward, but before touching her, his eyes went to Alastor.

I noticed.

Of course I noticed.

He needed his brother's permission.

Alastor stared at him.

Then something strange happened.

An amused expression crossed his face.

No growl.

No snarl.

No warning.

Nothing.

Trenton finally reached for Rachel, and I allowed him to take her from my arms.

She immediately nuzzled against his chest.

My heart squeezed.

"How's my superstar?" Trenton asked as he hugged her.

"Look, Uncle Trent. I have another loose tooth!"

She opened her mouth and pointed at it.

Trenton gasped dramatically. "No way."

"Yes way!"

"That's awesome, but you know if you don't brush regularly..."

"I know, I know. The tooth fairy won't come."

"Ah, that's my girl." He smiled, and Rachel giggled.

And for one stupid second, I forgot Alastor was standing there.

Because watching Trenton hold Rachel always did something to me.

There were moments when I wondered what our lives would have looked like if things had been different.

If I'd chosen differently.

If Trenton had been stronger.

If Alastor didn't exist.

If my daughter could call her real father Papa instead of Uncle Trent.

Then Rachel buried her nose against Trenton's neck.

"You always smell so nice, Uncle Trent."

My heart skipped.

Trenton smiled. "Do I?"

"Uh-huh."

She sniffed him again.

"You smell like cinnamon and something else."

Every drop of blood in my body turned to ice.

Trenton froze.

So did I.

The smile remained on Alastor's face.

That was what frightened me.

He was standing several feet away, watching the three of us, and his expression hadn't changed.

Not even slightly.

"OK, Rachel," I said quickly. "Let's go get you cleaned up."

I reached for her.

Alastor moved before I could touch her.

"I'll take her."

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

He stepped between Trenton and me and held out his arms.

"She's my daughter, after all."

My eyes snapped to his.

Something about the way he said my daughter made my stomach turn.

Trenton slowly handed Rachel over.

She wrapped her arms around Alastor's neck before leaning towards Trenton and kissing his cheek.

"See you later, Uncle Trent."

"I'll see you later, superstar."

Alastor turned and carried her towards the door.

Rachel rested her head comfortably against his shoulder while talking about what dress she wanted to wear to Sharptooth Pack.

He listened.

Actually listened.

Then he disappeared into the hallway with her.

Silence swallowed the room.

Trenton and I looked at each other.

Neither of us spoke.

We didn't have to.

He had heard it.

I had heard it.

And Alastor had definitely fucking heard it.

Cinnamon.

Rachel was beginning to recognize Trenton's scent.

My pulse pounded inside my ears.

Trenton opened his mouth.

"Ava, I..."

"Come along, Ava. Now!" Alastor's bark thundered through the hallway.

Both Trenton and I jerked on the spot.

"We don't have time to waste!"

I looked towards the door.

Then back at Trenton.

Whatever he had been about to say would have to wait.

I walked out of the dining room and followed the sound of my mate's footsteps upstairs.

Three days.

That was all I needed.

Three fucking days, and Rachel and I would be gone.

But as I climbed the stairs, one thought wouldn't leave my mind.

Alastor had heard her say cinnamon.

I knew he had.

And for some reason...

He hadn't reacted at all.