Chapter 97
Tristan’s POV
“Uncle Kieran takes us for ice cream sometimes,” she mentioned casually, swinging her legs. “But Mommy says too much makes our wolves festless at night.”
My jaw tightened at the mention of Kieran. “You’re close to him?”
“He’s nice,” she shrugged, focused on capturing a particularly stubborn drip. “He reads us stories and plays wolf chase in the garden.”
“Does he…” I hesitated, the question sticking in my throat. “Does he act like your father?”
Lyra looked up at me, head tilted in a gesture that seemed oddly familiar. “Uncle Kieran once told us to call him daddy. But Mommy stopped us right away.”
Something inside me went still. “She did?”
“Mommy said we shouldn’t call him that,” Lyra nodded, her expression serious beyond her years. “She told us he just loves us a lot, that’s why he said it, but we shouldn’t take it seriously.”
I leaned forward, trying to keep my voice casual despite the sudden pounding of my heart. “Then who is your father, Lyra?”
Her small shoulders hunched slightly, the happiness dimming in her eyes. “He’s not with us. He’s gone.”
“Gone?” The word fell between us, heavy with possibilities. “What do you mean?”
“Mommy says our daddy is gone,” she whispered, staring down at her ice cream. “She says we shouldn’t talk about him in our lives. So Orion and I never do.”
The way she said it–resigned, practiced–suggested this was a well–established rule in their household. Something loosened in my chest, a knot I hadn’t recognized was there. If Kieran wasn’t their father, then who was? And why this secrecy?
“Does your mom talk about him at all?” I pressed gently.
Lyra shook her head, curls bouncing. “Never. But I heard Grandma telling Grandpa that Mommy is all alone. That she needs an Alpha to protect her.”
My wolf perked up at this information, ears forward with interest. “Your grandmother said that?”
“She didn’t know I was listening,” Lyra confessed, looking slightly guilty. “She said Mommy cries alone a lot. But she never looks sad around us.”
The image of Lysandra crying alone twisted something inside me. How many times had I seen her eyes red–rimmed during our marriage and assumed it was manipulation? Had she cried after I left her? After the rejection ceremony?
“Is Kieran your mom’s mate?” The question came out rougher than intended.
Lyra looked genuinely confused. Is he?”
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Chapter 97
I’m asking you
Uncle Kieran is Uncle Alaric’s friend,” she explained, as if talking to someone particularly slow. He takes care of us. Orion and I like him a lot.
She finished her ice cream and wiped her hands on a napkin, leaving purple smudges around her mouth that I carefully wiped away. As I did, 1 studied her features more closely.
“You look a bit like your mother,” I observed cautiously.
“Mhmm. Orion doesn’t look like Mommy at all. Uncle says he looks more like our daddy’s side.
My thoughts began spiraling in chaotic patterns, possibilities flashing through my mind like lightning. If not Kieran, then who had Lysandra been with? Someone from Silverblood Pack who’d dared touch my Luna? Impossible–no wolf would have risked my wrath.
I found myself mentally retracing Lysandra’s life at Silverblood–her isolation, her rare outings. Where was the opportunity? With whom?
Against my will, memories surfaced of the times I’d taken her to my bed. Infuriatingly vivid recollections of her beneath me, around me, the sounds she made when I-
I pushed the thoughts away, disturbed by how easily they came, how clearly I remembered the taste of her skin. Despite claiming to despise her, I’d enjoyed her body, enjoyed our intimate moments.
An unsettling idea began forming: what if these children were actually mine? No, impossible. She would have told me. And besides, the timing was…
I stared at the little girl beside me, suddenly seeing her with new eyes. The familiar tilt of her head when considering something. The way her brow furrowed in concentration. The shape of her eyes, though green like her mother’s instead of blue like-
My phone rang, snapping me from my spiraling thoughts. The screen showed an unknown number. I answered mechanically, still staring at Lyra.
“Alpha Tristan.” My voice sounded distant even to my own ears.
There was silence on the other end, then a sharp intake of breath. “Where is my daughter?”
Lysandra’s voice hit me through the phone, carrying equal parts fury and fear. My wolf reacted instantly, pacing restlessly
beneath my skin at the sound of her.
“She’s with me. I kept my tone deliberately calm.
“Give me back my daughter,” she hissed, each word dripping with maternal rage. “Why would you kidnap her? She’s just a child. How could you stoop so low, Tristan? Do you have any shame at all?”
“I didn’t kidnap her. She was lost. I found her wandering alone.” I glanced at Lyra, who was watching me with curious eyes.
“What do you want?” Lysandra’s voice cracked slightly. “Do you want me to return your projects? Tell me, Tristan. What do
you want?”
“The truth.” The word fell from my lips before I could consider it.
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Chapter 97
“What truth? Her response came too quickly, too defensively.
I hesitated, aware of Lyra beside me. Lowering my voice, I switched to our old mate bond mind–link–a connection I hada 1. used in years but found still functioning.
I want to know the truth about your children’s father.
The silence stretched so long I thought she’d broken the connection. Then I felt her heart rate spike through our link–a jolt of pure panic.
I’ve sent you our location. Come get your daughter. But today, you don’t leave until you give me the truth.
Don’t you dare threaten me, her voice trembled across our link. I’ll bring Alaric. I’ll-
Bring whoever you want, I interrupted. But until I know, neither of you leaves.
I ended the call, feeling Lyra’s small hand slip into mine. She looked up at me, eyes wide with childish perception.
“Is Mommy coming now?” she asked, squeezing my fingers.
“Yes,” I nodded, my mind racing. “She’s coming to get you.”
“Will you stay with us? Mommy might be mad you took me for ice cream.”
A laugh escaped me despite everything. “I think your mother will be mad about more than just the ice cream.”
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