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Not Julian’s. Not Alaric’s.

Mine.

Chapter Four

LILA WINTER

SIX YEARSLATER

The skyscrapers loom tall, a blend of glass and steel shimmering beneath the golden hues of the sun. I breathe in the crisp air, tinged with the scent of rain and concrete, and an eerie sense of familiarity wraps around me.

I lived here as a child once. That was before I lost every memory I had of my past, but I'm back in Phoenix, and this city—this is our fresh start.

I’m distracted by the hubbub outside the window to notice the small presence standing near my feet.

She tugs at my skirt, holding the same brown teddy bear she’s refused to part with since she was two years old.

“Mommy, do we live here now?” Lina’s voice is small and hesitant. Her bright green eyes, just like mine, flicker with curiosity.

Kneeling in front of her and brushing the soft, dark curls from her face, my heart swells with love as I kiss her forehead, “Yes, baby. This is our new home. Do you like it?”

“Mm-hmm.” She nods, giving me one of those adorable smiles that make me push on hard every day to provide for her.

Every time she smiles and looks at me like that, it makes me want to be better. My little girl saved me and gave my life more meaning than anyone ever could. Six years ago, I thought I needed a Fated Mate to make myself whole, but the Goddess gave me something better.

She brought me Lina Winter.

Holding her hand, my daughter and I look at our apartment, the one that’s almost five times bigger than the small house we were stuck in when we were in Fair Haven. Lina and I had made friends in that small town, even making a few people cry when we told them we were moving. There's no denying that Fair Haven had its charm, but it was mostly human territory.

That meant tiptoeing around my instincts, suppressing our scents, and dodging every suspicious eye that came our way.

Here in Phoenix, the city is big enough for werewolves to blend in, and the city is industrial enough to have werewolf-run businesses like H Industries operating in plain sight.

H Industries might look like just another firm, but the minute I saw the silver wolf crest in their company logo, I knew what it truly meant—the business was run by our kind.

We needed a change.

And this new city, this new job, might be the change we need.

The early morninglight filters through the curtains, casting a soft golden glow inside the apartment. I sit on the edge of Lina’s bed, making circles on her tiny hand with my fingers. She’s curled beneath the blankets, her thick, soft curls sprawled all over her pillows and the teddy in her arms.

My heart clenches from the sight alone.

I don’t want to wake her, but I can't bring myself to say goodbye either.

Nonetheless, I lean down and kiss her forehead. “I love you, baby.”

Unfortunately, that makes her stir, and a minute later, her lashes flutter open and her eyes land on me.

“Mommy?” Her voice is soft and still smothered with sleep.

“Good morning, sweetheart.” I smile and smooth down her curls.

It takes about a second for Lina’s gaze to drift down to my blue windowpane blouse and my dark, ironed skirt. I know what she’s thinking faster than she can ask it.

“Where are you going? I’m coming too, mommy!” she squeals.

My throat constricts. The thought of crushing her little heart breaks me down, but if I don’t do this, I won’t be able to give her everything she wants.