Chapter 109 109
Aurélie POV
A week had passed, and there was still no sign of the Bloodnight pack preparing to leave. We had settled most of the warriors into various pack houses, yet Damien and Lucas had made it very clear they intended to remain in the Alpha house. Of course they had. Damien had never been one to make things easy for me why would he start now?
At least I didn’t have to worry about him hovering over me. He and Dominique were inseparable, rarely seen apart. I only crossed paths with him during meals or on the occasional walk through the pack grounds. Otherwise, I kept myself locked away in my office, buried in work and silence.
I’d barely seen Fabrice either.
He was still consumed by his duties at the hospital and had asked permission for Florence to assist him. He seemed to be making a genuine effort with her, and that warmed something deep in my chest. They were trying both of them and sometimes, trying was the hardest step of all.
Émilie and Roland had started coming by the house more often, especially at mealtimes. With Théo gone, I wanted to keep a close eye on her, make sure she was coping. The mate link didn’t recognize distance the way a pack link did, and I had warned Théo to be careful mindful of what he shared with her and the emotional state he was in when he reached out.
I would never forgive myself if anything happened to that baby because of stress caused by her mate being away. Away on a mission I had asked him to take.
Théo’s absence hadn’t gone unnoticed. He was well liked, respected his training methods had made him the first choice for younger warriors seeking guidance. Fabrice had asked me more than once where Théo was, what I was up to, and each time I’d simply shrugged him off.
There was no chance I’d admit what I had secretly tasked Théo with. Once he found her, I would act alone. I wouldn’t be stopped. I wouldn’t be deterred.
“Mummy!”
Delphine’s high-pitched scream echoes from upstairs. I lock my computer screen and rush out of the office, calling up from the bottom of the stairs.
“What’s the matter, darling?” I ask, already halfway there. I was used to Delphine’s dramatic moments; they weren’t always as dire as she believed.
“Mummy, there’s a spider.” Her voice trembles from the top of the stairs, thin and shaky.
“It won’t hurt you, sweetheart. Where is it?”
“It’s huge, and it’s scary. Dominique won’t get rid of it…” Her voice wobbles as she sniffs. “He said I was being a baby.”
Her eyes fill with tears, and my heart softens instantly. Delphine was such a gentle, innocent soul. Dominique my poor, brave boy needed to relearn kindness. Since his kidnapping, his patience had worn thin. He snapped more easily now, especially at the smallest things.
Should I mind-link Fabrice? He was officially in charge of spider duty. I’d never admit it to her, but I wasn’t exactly fond of creepy crawlies myself.
“Mummy…” she insists.
I start climbing the stairs, silently praying it’s something small that her imagination has simply run wild again.
At the top, she grabs my hand and pulls me straight into the bedroom she shares with Dominique. As I step inside, I find him sprawled across his bed, staring up at the ceiling. His hands are folded behind his head, his expression distant far away from the room, from us.
“It’s there, Mummy,” Delphine says, pointing.
I follow her finger and my stomach drops.
A massive woodland spider clings to the corner of the ceiling directly above Dominique’s bed.
“Just leave it, Delphine. It won’t hurt you,” Dominique says flatly, his tone sharp and unexpected. Even I’m caught off guard. I choose to ignore it for now he’s been through more than any child should.
“Erm… I need a glass or a box,” I mutter, already backing toward the door.
“Just pick it up with your hands,” Dominique scoffs, rolling his eyes.
Absolutely not. That thing wasn’t coming anywhere near my skin.