Chapter 276 276
Damien POV
Leaving Aurélie at the hospital was harder than I expected. Every instinct in me wanted to stay, to guard her, but she was adamant we couldn’t afford to sit back. Not now. We had to move forward, to use this moment to strike first. The threat to our family, to our packs, had to be ended once and for all.
This was our chance to expose weaknesses in their network.
We were almost certain my father hadn’t known about Geneviève’s attack that she’d acted without his approval. Their alliance had fractured. Typical of him. Too greedy, too careless, always leaving loose ends untied.
And now that I knew Aurélie was carrying our child…
I couldn’t stop replaying it in my head how fucking stupid I’d been to leave her at the Lake House. To trust that Maurice would stay and protect them.
This baby would have me from the very first breath. I wouldn’t fail them the way I had failed Dominique and Delphine in the beginning.
This child was my redemption.
I didn’t leave the hospital until Aurélie finally drifted back to sleep and Fabrice promised he would stay with her that he’d oversee the vitamin infusions she needed, make sure her body had everything it required to recover… and to sustain the baby growing inside her.
The scan photo was clenched in my hand as I made my way back to Darkvale’s alpha house.
Already perfect.
I would tear the world apart to keep my family safe.
I’ve never been someone who smiles easily, but I couldn’t stop the grin threatening to split my face open. For the first time since the attack, I wasn’t running on rage alone.
I hadn’t seen Maurice since we returned to the pack lands.
The fury I felt toward him was white-hot he had left my mate and my children to defend themselves. Even after promising me he would guard them with his life.
Until Aurélie woke up, my anger had been so volatile that avoiding him was the only thing keeping our friendship intact.
As I stepped inside the house, I slid the scan picture into my back trouser pocket.
Aurélie had asked me to wait before telling the children to let us share that moment together. I wouldn’t steal that from her. Never.
I wanted to check on Dominique and Delphine, then contact my IT team back at Bloodnight and push them harder. My father could only hide for so long. There were only so many rocks left unturned.
I entered the front room to find Dominique watching television, Delphine asleep on the sofa frustratingly with Roland curled up beside her.
I step forward, intent on lifting Delphine and carrying her to her bed, when Dominique stops me.
“Leave them, Dad. She only just fell asleep when Roland got here.”
The nerve of him. I can only see the back of his head, but I know—know he rolled his eyes.
Kids today.
“I don’t think so. Not on my watch.”
“Well, they’re on my watch,” he counters easily. “And he hasn’t slept since he found out what happened to us. Just leave them. I’ll stay.”
I arch a brow. “I’m sorry are you telling me what to do?”
“No,” he replies, turning just in time to smirk at me. “Just advising.”
I can’t help the laugh that slips out.
Of course he would protect his sister like this. He always has. And one day soon, he’d be the same with this baby an older brother just as fierce and devoted.
What if it’s a girl?
Goddess help me. Two daughters to protect… and a lifetime of chasing boys away.
Leaving Dominique to his film, I head for my office, eager to contact my pack. Training had helped him training with Sabine too. It grounded him.
Now… he’d be training alone.
When I open the door, I stop short.
Maurice is sitting at Aurélie’s round meeting table, his head buried in his hands. Maps and photographs are scattered everywhere. He looks hollow like a ghost of the man he used to be.
It’s obvious he hasn’t slept. Or eaten.
Not since we returned.