Chapter 61
Violet's POV:
When Daemon agreed to come home with me, I blinked in surprise. "I thought you had to go to Ironridge," I said.
"Afternoon works fine," he replied, his tone clipped as he focused on the road.
I turned to look out the window.
When we pulled up to my childhood home, Dad was waiting at the door. He strode forward and gripped Daemon's hand firmly, clapping his shoulder. "Daemon! Good to see you, son."
I watched them interact, noting how much warmer Dad had become toward Daemon since the scandal got buried.
Mom appeared in the doorway, smiling as she welcomed us inside. The house smelled like coffee and cinnamon rolls. "I'm checking on lunch," Mom said, squeezing my hand before heading toward the kitchen. "Marcus, keep them company."
Dad and Daemon settled into conversation about pack politics and business. I drifted toward the glass doors leading to the back garden. Winter sun made me squint as I pulled out my ringing phone.
"Luna!" Ruby's voice bubbled through the speaker. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."
"Not at all," I said carefully. "Is everything okay?"
"Oh yes! I have this cousin who's a doctor, and she has this family recipe for fertility issues. I heard that you and Alpha Blackwood have been trying for a while, and I thought maybe it could help?"
"That's very thoughtful, Ruby," I said. "Would you be able to pick up the medicine for me? I could come by your place to get it when you're free."
"Of course! Actually, Celeste has been home more often lately. You two young people could chat while you're here!"
"That sounds lovely. Just let me know when."
After we hung up, I stared at my reflection in the glass. Behind me, I could hear Dad's laughter mixing with Daemon's deeper chuckle, like everything was normal.
Lunch passed differently than our usual stiff, formal gatherings. Normally when we visited—which only happened on holidays or birthdays—Daemon maintained polite distance, his courtesy so perfect it felt rehearsed.
But today he was warmer, more present. He passed me dishes before I could reach for them, refilled my water glass without being asked, even laughed genuinely at Dad's stories. His hand occasionally brushed mine as we both reached for the bread basket, and he didn't immediately pull away like he usually did.
When lunch ended, Dad suggested winter swimming. "I appreciate the offer, Marcus," Daemon said. "But I need to get to Ironridge this afternoon."
Dad nodded. "Work comes first. We'll arrange another time."
We moved to the front door. Mom held my hand as we watched Daemon walk to his car. She didn't speak until his SUV disappeared around the curve of the street.
"He's different with you lately," she said softly, her eyes searching my face. "Isn't he?"
My throat tightened.
"Maybe," I managed.
Mom squeezed my hand. "I'm glad. You deserve to be happy, sweetheart."
"I'm going to stay here for a few days, if that's okay."
"Of course. Stay as long as you need."
The next few hours passed quietly. Dad left for fishing, leaving Mom and me alone. We settled in the living room, Mom watching a cooking show while I curled up on the other end with a blanket.
"You know," Mom said during a commercial, "if you and Daemon had a baby, I'd make soup for you every single day."
I kept my eyes closed. "Mmm," I hummed, not wanting to shatter her fantasy.
I drifted off at some point. When I woke, a blanket was draped over me and Mom was on the balcony tending her plants. When she noticed me stirring, she smiled.
The next few days fell into an easy rhythm. I stayed at my parents' house, running with Mom in the mornings, sometimes going with her to Wildfire Industrial. My body started responding to the regular schedule and rest. The exhaustion that had become my baseline began to lift.
On the fifth day, I told Mom I had an errand to run. She didn't ask where.
I came to the Morrison family's house.
Ruby answered my knock immediately. "Luna! Come in! I'm sorry the place is so small."
The apartment was modest but clean. Furniture was old but well-maintained, walls lined with framed photographs of Celeste. Ruby pressed tea into my hands, apologizing again.
Mason emerged from the bedroom with a newspaper. When he saw me, surprise flickered across his face. "Luna."
"Please, call me Violet."
He nodded, settling into an armchair. Then he glanced up. "Celeste is bringing her boyfriend home for dinner today. Should be here soon."
The teacup froze halfway to my lips. Celeste's boyfriend. She was bringing Daemon here.
Ruby noticed my reaction. "Violet? Are you alright?"
I set down the teacup carefully. "I'm fine. Just surprised."
"Oh yes!" Ruby's face brightened. "Ryan's wonderful. Works at a law firm, very stable. Mason and I couldn't be happier."
Ryan. Not Daemon. Ryan.
Before I could process this, I heard footsteps outside. The door opened and Celeste walked in with a man—tall, dressed in business casual, pleasant face. He greeted her parents warmly, holding up a box of pastries.
"Mom, Dad, this is Ryan Torres," Celeste said.
Ryan shook Mason's hand before turning to me. "Luna?"
"Violet. Pleasure to meet you."
Mason began interrogating Ryan about his job and family while Ryan answered with patient professionalism. Throughout it all, Celeste sat beside Ryan, her hand on his arm, expression carefully arranged.
After a few minutes, Celeste stood. "Violet, can I talk to you for a second? Privately?"
I followed her to her bedroom. She closed the door and the shy girlfriend act evaporated.
"I know what you're thinking," she said quietly.
I waited.
"I did have feelings for Daemon. But I don't want to destroy someone else's bond. So I'm choosing Ryan. He's stable. My parents like him." She paused. "It's the right thing to do."
"Does Daemon know?"
"I told him yesterday. He told me to think carefully about my choice. But it doesn't matter. I can't wait for someone who belongs to someone else."
"You really think he'll just let you go?" I asked softly.
She turned to the window. "That's his choice to make. Not mine."
"Be careful," I said. "You might get exactly what you're asking for."
We returned to find Mason and Ryan still talking. Ruby emerged from the kitchen with a brown paper bag.
"Violet! Here's the medicine. You take it twice a day, and she says if you're consistent for three months you'll see results."
Behind her, Celeste froze. "Medicine? What kind?"
Ruby turned to her. "Fertility medicine! To help Violet and Daemon have a baby."
I watched Celeste's face cycle through emotions—shock, betrayal, anger.
I smiled at Ruby. "Thank you so much. Daemon and I have wanted children for so long. With this medicine, maybe we'll finally succeed."
I looked directly at Celeste. She managed to maintain composure, barely. "That's... wonderful. I hope it works for you."
I made my excuses and headed out. The cold air hit me as I stepped into the parking lot. I was halfway to my car when I heard screeching tires. A black SUV slammed to a stop in front of me, blocking my path.
Daemon emerged.
"You went to her house?" His voice was low and deadly.
I kept my voice steady. "Ruby invited me to pick up medicine."
"What did you say to her?"
"Very little. But if you're concerned, you should know that Celeste is upstairs right now with her boyfriend. She brought him home to meet her parents today."
The words hit him hard. His expression shattered. Without warning, he turned toward the building.
My hand shot out, catching his arm. "Stop and think about what you're doing."
He rounded on me.
"If you go up there," I continued urgently, "this stops being private. It becomes a family issue. A pack issue. Mason and Ruby will know. Everyone will know. Is that what you want?"
His jaw worked as he fought with himself.
"If you've decided you want to be with her," I pressed on, "then do the right thing first. Let me go. Do the Rejection Ceremony. Then pursue her with a clear conscience."
We stared at each other in the cold parking lot. Then I released his arm and walked to my bike. I didn't look back as I drove away.
The drive back to Blackwood Manor felt endless. I moved mechanically. I couldn't eat, couldn't focus except on my silent phone.
I retreated to the study and opened the Rejection Ceremony agreement template. I began making modifications—striking property division, keeping the clause about dissolving the Alpha's mark. At the bottom, I typed: "If Daemon Blackwood refuses to participate, the applicant will immediately petition the Elder Council for forced dissolution."
The hours crawled past. Ten became eleven, then midnight. Still no word from Daemon. I kept telling myself I didn't care, but my body betrayed me, tensed in anticipation of footsteps.
At half past midnight, my phone lit up. But it was Zane.
"Hi Violet. The holidays are coming up, and I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner?"
"Sure," I typed back. "Tomorrow works."
His response came instantly. "Perfect! I made reservations at River's Edge for lunch. And then we could go hiking at Crescent Falls Park—the ice formations are supposed to be incredible!"
I sent back "Sounds good" and set my phone down.
But I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the house silent around me. Despite everything, I couldn't stop checking my phone, couldn't stop listening for Daemon's car.
He didn't come home.
As hours crawled toward dawn, I realized with bitter clarity that I was right back where I'd started—lying awake waiting for a man who'd chosen to be anywhere but with me, aching with anxiety I thought I'd left behind.
I didn't sleep at all. Every small sound made me tense, hoping it was him. But the house remained silent.
By morning, I looked terrible. My eyes were puffy, my skin pale, all the vitality I'd regained over the past week completely drained.
I forced myself to get ready for lunch with Zane. Makeup and a burgundy sweater dress made me look presentable enough, at least on the surface.