9: Mama’s Home

AVA-ROSE'S POV

By the time I stumbled back onto Drexel Forest territory, it was a few minutes to five in the afternoon, and I knew I had fucked up.

Badly.

My little trip to Winifred's cabin should have taken no more than six hours there and back, plus whatever time I spent talking to her. I had done it enough times to know exactly how long I could be gone without anyone noticing.

What I hadn't planned on was stopping at a spring for water and somehow falling the fuck asleep.

I had only meant to rest for a few minutes.

The spring was one of my favourite spots in the forest, with cold water flowing between smooth rocks and a large willow tree providing enough shade to hide beneath. After running for hours, my legs were burning, my throat was dry, and every muscle in my body felt like it had been beaten with a stick.

So I drank.

Then I sat.

Then I rested my head against the tree.

The next thing I knew, the sun had moved across the fucking sky.

I nearly broke my neck getting up.

I had been running ever since.

Now, as I hurried through the woods with sweat running down my back and my heart beating hard against my ribs, I prayed Alastor was still asleep.

Usually, he wouldn't crawl out of bed until around five after one of his long nights of drinking, killing and fucking.

Usually.

Today was apparently the day I had decided to test my luck.

I was almost at the pack house when a familiar scent hit my nose.

Sandalwood and cinnamon.

Shit.

"Where the hell have you been?"

I stopped.

Trenton stepped from behind one of the trees with his arms folded across his chest.

Of course.

Of all the wolves I could have run into, it had to be him.

"Good evening to you too," I said as I continued walking.

He stepped directly into my path. "I asked you a question."

"And I heard you."

"Then answer me."

"I don't have to."

His jaw tightened. "Ava."

"Trenton."

"Where the hell have you been all day?"

I folded my arms and stared at him. "Last time I checked, I rejected you, which means where I go and what I do are none of your fucking business."

His eyes flashed.

"It becomes my business when you disappear before sunrise and come strolling back onto pack territory minutes before five."

My stomach tightened, but I refused to let it show on my face.

He knew when I left?

"Have you been watching me?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It does. I need my fucking privacy."

"Not when you are his wife and Luna."

I snarled, and then I stepped around him. I didn't need him to remind me that my life wasn't really mine anymore or that I was Alastor's prisoner.

His hand caught my arm.

Every muscle in my body immediately stiffened.

"Let me go."

"Ava, I'm not trying to fight with you."

"Then you're doing a terrible job."

He released me.

I continued towards the pack house, but Trenton followed.

"Your daughter has been asking for you all day."

I stopped so abruptly that he nearly walked into me.

Rachel.

I turned around.

"Where is she?"

Trenton's expression changed. "In the private dining area."

"With whom?"

He hesitated.

My wolf immediately became restless. "Trenton, answer my fucking question. Who is my daughter with?"

"She's with Alastor."

My heart dropped into my stomach. "No! I have to get to her now."

"Ava..."

I didn't wait for him to finish.

I ran.

"Ava!" Trenton shouted behind me.

I ignored him.

My feet pounded against the ground as I raced towards the pack house. Wolves moved out of my way as I stormed through the front doors and nearly collided with one of the servants.

"Move!"

She jumped aside. "Pardon me, Luna."

I ran down the hallway.

Why the fuck was Rachel alone with Alastor?

He barely spent time with her.

He acknowledged her when he felt like it, bought her expensive things she never asked for, occasionally demanded she sit beside him during our once-in-a-blue-moon family dinners, and reminded everyone that she was the Alpha's daughter.

But playing daddy?

That wasn't Alastor.

My mind immediately went to Rachel's scent.

No.

She wasn't seven yet.

There was still a month left until her birthday.

Her wolf couldn't have awakened early.

Could it?

My wolf pushed anxiously beneath my skin as I reached the private dining area.

The doors were partly open.

I slowed.

Then I heard something that stopped me completely.

Laughter.

Rachel's laughter.

And underneath it was something deeper.

A man's chuckle.

Alastor.

I pushed the door open farther.

Then I froze.

Alastor was sitting on the floor.

I actually blinked because, for a moment, I thought the lack of sleep had finally made me hallucinate.

The Alpha of Drexel Forest, the man who sat on a throne made from the bones of his enemies, was sitting cross-legged on the floor with his back towards me.

Rachel was sitting in front of him.

There were little wooden animals scattered between them, along with half-eaten slices of fruit and a glass of juice that Rachel had apparently forgotten existed.

"You cheated, Papa Alastor!" Rachel giggled.

"I am the Alpha. I don't cheat."

"You did!"

"Prove it."

Rachel laughed again.

Alastor chuckled.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't remember the last time I had heard that sound come from him without somebody else suffering.

For one tiny moment, he didn't look like the monster who had destroyed my life.

He looked like a father playing with his daughter.

Except she wasn't his daughter.

My stomach twisted.

Then Alastor's body stiffened.

The laughter stopped.

I knew immediately what had happened.

He smelled me.

Rachel hadn't noticed me yet, but Alastor slowly lifted his head.

He didn't turn around.

He simply picked up one of the wooden animals and placed it in front of Rachel.

"Rach, look," he said.

My daughter looked towards the door.

Alastor remained perfectly still. "Your mama's home."