Page 19

Chapter Eighteen

L ILA WINTER

“I can confirm that Lina is doing okay, Miss Winter.”

The healer smiles at me with assurance. Given his attire, his practiced smile, his warm eyes, you’d think I would trust the guy. That he knows how to do his job. But you would think wrong.

Saint Jude’s Hospital is the type of hospital that gives the others a bad rep. The nurses are kind and actually know how to do their job. The air itself around here might reek of medicine but it also reeks of sophistication and top-notch medical services.

And the healer in front of me looks like he has a good head on his shoulders, but for the life of me, my wolf and I can’t trust his words.

I want to believe his words.

I want to believe in his professional charm.

But this is the second time my little girl has been sick, and it’s driving me insane.

Last time it was an allergic reaction, this time it was a fever, what about…what about next time?

What’s happening to Lina, and why does it seem to happen every time I’m away from her? Is it the city? Is this place bad for her? Or maybe it’s me…I have been negligent.

“And the tests?” My voice comes out shaky as I cross my hands on my chest, “You said you would run more tests, so how can you give her the all clear yet?”

“We carried out a few tests, Miss Winter, just like I assured you, and they all came back with the same result. She had a fever that got out of hand. The results also showed a protein marker in her blood, but it’s not the cause of the fever.”

I swallow hard this time, my throat closing in on itself as I remember how the last doctor spoke of it.

“She had an allergic reaction back then, and the healer also said he noticed a protein marker in her blood, but it was dormant.”

The healer keeps his face impassive, not giving me too much to scare me into a heart attack before he speaks. “It is, and the presence of such a marker is rare, but fortunately for her and for you, like the last healer said, it’s dormant.”

And because I didn't pay attention to the last healer last time, my ears prick as I swallow saliva down my parched throat.

“What would happen if…if the marker wasn’t dormant?”

“Then we would diagnose Lina with Moonborne Syndrome. Personally, I'm not acquainted with treating the disease, because it happens to one in a million werewolves, but if the marker were active, Lina’s condition would be worse.”

The healer’s words ring like static in my ears.

It’s not his words about Lina worsening if her marker were active—it’s about the disease he mentions.

Moonborne Syndrome.

The two words ring in my ears like a horrific shriek.

I’ve heard of the disease. I remember the two words so clearly, because when I woke up as a kid in the streets, cold and shivering with no memories, no parents, nothing to my name, the only sentence that ran in my head was: she has Moonborne Syndrome.

I might have buried that sentence through years of stress and trying to fend for myself, but I remember it clearly now.

If Lina has it and the last doctor said it’s rare, that means I have it too. That means I gave my baby that marker, whether or not it’s fatal.

Did Moonborne syndrome have a possible hand in me losing my memories when I was young?

“Miss Winter? Miss Winter?”

Reality slams back into me as I stare at the healer and clear my throat apologetically.

“You have nothing to worry about. Lina is okay, and you can leave with her today. Tell you what though, if Lina has any symptoms or signs that she’s not doing okay, you can bring her back in. I’m available at all hours, Miss Winter.”

Regaining my composure, I give him a wan smile. “Thank you for everything.”

He shrugs, almost sheepishly. “No need to thank me. If anyone deserves the credit, it’s Mr. Hells. He...wasn’t exactly subtle about his expectations. Made it quite clear we were to keep her alive or he’d fire everyone from the top down.”

My eyes widen. “He said that?”

He chuckles. “Among other things. Let’s just say, your daughter has a very...determined guardian. He’s at the front desk now, handling the final bill. You might want to tell him the good news.”

Alaric paid the bills?

Between the days spent at Lina’s bedside, counting every breath she took, and the fog of fear that’s been wrapped around me like a second skin, I hadn’t noticed much else.

Yes, I leaned on Alaric. Let myself rest in his arms. Took comfort in his steady presence and the way he never once left my side. But I didn’t realize he’d been doing so much behind the scenes. I didn’t even realize he was still here.

I press my lips together, a rush of warmth crawling up my throat.

“I will,” I whisper. “Thank you again, doctor.”

He nods once, then disappears down the hallway.

The urge to walk down that hallway and find the man who’s done everything to ensure me and Lina are okay, without expecting a damn thing in return, almost wins.

Almost.

But I take a deep breath and turn back into my daughter’s hospital room.

Because right now, she needs me more than anything.

Lina is seated on her bed, her small fingers clutching a teddy bear I didn’t recognize at first until I remembered that Alaric bought it. The second she opened her eyes and realized Bear wasn’t there, I’d been too frozen in worry to go home and get him.

Alaric had gone instead. Or maybe he sent someone. Either way, she has the toy now. And the look on her face makes my throat tighten.

Her curls bounce with excitement the moment she spots me.

“Mommy! Mommy! Can we go now? Please? Pretty please?”

I sit on the edge of her bed, smoothing back her curls. The knot in my chest eases a little, but there’s still a heavy, invisible weight pressing on me. This was her second hospital scare. And every time, it gets harder to breathe.

“Yes, baby. The healer said you’re okay,” I tell her gently. “But you have to take it easy, all right? No jumping around until I’m sure you’re all better.”

Lina doesn’t fight me.

Instead, she wraps her arms around me and buries her face in my chest. I hold her tight, maybe too tight, and close my eyes just for a second.

“I’m sorry, Mommy,” she whispers. “I’ll be good. I promise I won’t scare you anymore.”

Goddess. My heart cracks open all over again.

“This wasn’t your fault,” I murmur, kissing the top of her head. “Mommy’s just glad you’re doing better. That’s all that matters.”

She pulls back slightly and places her tiny palms on my cheeks like she’s trying to hold me together.

Then comes the question I didn’t expect.

“Does this mean we get to live with Alaric, Mommy?”

What?

“You were sleeping,” she says, voice bright with excitement. “And Alaric said it was bad to wake you up ‘cause you were really tired. He told me we’ll live in his big mansion and I can have all the chocolate I want!”

I blink.

He said what now?

For a second, all I can do is stare at her.

Then, damn it, I smile. A full, lips-parting, chest-thawing kind of smile.

Of course, Alaric went ahead and told her.

Of course he did.

I should be annoyed. I should be the one to explain things to her, to make sure she understands this is temporary, that this is all just a protective arrangement. But seeing how excited she is? Seeing that light in her eyes?

Curse him and his big house.

Curse him and that damn charm.

“Can we stay with him, Mommy?” Lina asks again.

Even if I wanted to say no, I don’t think I could.

“Yes,” I say, brushing her cheek with my thumb. “But it’s only temporary, all right?”

“Thank you, Mommy!” she squeals, flinging her arms around my neck again.

Like he’s been summoned by the sound of her laughter, the man in question appears out of nowhere.

Alaric leans against the doorframe, arms folded, a grin on his face like he owns the world, and maybe he does. The look in his eyes as he watches us is quiet and full of something I don’t dare to name…

Then, in true Alaric fashion, he tilts his head and says, “Are my girls ready to go home?”

And it hits me.

He’s still pretending. This is all to keep Julian away. That’s the plan. That’s the lie we agreed to.

But the way he says my girls?

The way he says home?

I feel it in my toes. In my chest.

My wolf hears it too.

Because she howls back.

Calling Alaric’s house big is the understatement of the century.

He owns a damn mansion, complete with its own gazebo, indoor pool, and what feels like a small forest of trees and garden wrapping around it. On the outside, it resembles something out of a modern Victorian fantasy. But the inside?

It’s like stepping into Lina’s dream version of heaven. Or as she calls it, “The land of rainbows and candy.”

There are glass sliding doors, a state-of-the-art kitchen, floor-to-ceiling windows that bathe the place in light, and furniture so elegant it makes my thrift-store couch cry in shame.

Yes, what his money could buy wowed me. I won’t lie.

But what really impressed me was when Alaric turned to me and said,

“Lina’s room is next to yours. In case she gets scared or wants to sleep with you, your door will only be a step away.”

And then we went upstairs.

The squeal Lina let out when she saw her room was almost drowned out by my own gasp.

Her room…I didn’t even know what word I could use to describe it.

It was perfect.

Creamy soft walls. Pale pink bedding. Little wolf decals on the headboard. And glowing stars dotting the ceiling like someone hung the night sky just for her.

Alaric said, “I made sure it has stars and a wolf night-light. I couldn’t have my wild cub getting scared on her first day.”

And when Lina planted a big kiss on his cheek, calling him the best, I saw it.

The way his eyes softened. The way he seemed proud to impress her.

That was two days ago.

Now, in the middle of the day, Alaric is still in the house. Still hasn’t gone back to work. Not once. He’s postponed meetings, ignored calls, and every time I bring it up?

He just shrugs and says, “But I’m having fun spending time with my girls, wild one.”

My girls.

And right now, he’s shirtless in the kitchen with Lina sitting on his shoulders like she’s queen of the castle while they try (and fail) to make cupcakes.

They’ve been at it for nearly an hour. So far, they’ve only managed to burn flour and coat half the counter in sugar.

I should help. I really should.

But standing in the doorway, watching this scene unfold?

Watching Alaric grin up at Lina while she tugs on his hair and scolds him like he’s her little kitchen intern?

I don’t move a muscle.

“Like this, princess?” Alaric asks, pouring flour into the bowl with exaggerated focus.

“No!” Lina giggles. “You added too much. Mommy always adds butter first!”

“I thought you said it was sugar?”

“We put sugar in already,” she says proudly, her tiny fists still tangled in his hair.

“I’m sorry, princess. I’m still getting the hang of this.” He pretends to pout. “Tell me Mommy’s secret cupcake ingredient again—I keep forgetting.”

Liar.

Alaric Hells doesn’t forget anything.

But he plays dumb, just to make her laugh.

Lina leans down dramatically, her face near his. “It’s a secret, okay? Don’t tell Mommy.”

Raising his flour-coated hand, he crosses his heart. “Cross my heart and hope to die. Your mommy’s secret recipe stays between us. I won’t tell a living soul.”

She narrows her eyes. “Promise?”

“Promise, princess.”

And when she flicks her eyes around to make sure no one’s listening, I step back from the doorway, letting them have that moment. Because it’s theirs.

And because it’s…breathtaking.

I’ve seen men fake things before. I’ve seen charm and manipulation and shallow father-figure acts in movies and in real life.

But this?

This is real.

Alaric doesn’t just play with Lina, he sees her. He listens. He lets her lead.

And Goddess help me, I feel something crumble inside of me.

He might not be her biological father. We still don’t know the truth.

But he’s already making space for her.

And maybe...for me too.

Before Lina can spill the secret ingredient, I step into the kitchen like I haven’t been spying.

“Lila?” Alaric asks, voice tinged with surprise.

“Mommy!”

“Can I join you guys?” I smile softly. “I might be able to help save your cupcakes from total destruction.”

Lina squeals a yes.

Alaric nods a bit too fast.

And just like that, I find myself by his side, rolling up my sleeves while Lina tells us both what to do like the tiniest Alpha in the room.

His arm brushes mine. Once. Twice. I don’t pull away.

The bond hums and crackles between us. It’s not loud, just calm like this entire moment.

As I watch Alaric lean down so Lina can smear icing on his nose, something inside me whispers: he’s not just pretending anymore, and I might just be falling for him because of that.