Filed to story: Claimed by My Ex’s Alpha Brother
Betty’s face was clammy, but some brightness returned to her eyes as she caught sight of me. “Mommy?” She asked, her face crumpling as she cried. “I missed you so much. I’m so glad you’s back.”
Every word seemed to wrap itself around my heart, squeezing tight until it felt full to bursting.
“It’s okay, sweetie. I’m here,” I soothed, climbing into bed with her.
“Mommy,” she sobbed, her tiny hands clutching at my shirt.
In a moment, Matt had given me the washcloth for her forehead. There were deep shadows under his eyes.
“Go get some rest,” I told him.
He nodded, leaving me with my daughter, who I relished just holding, her earthy scent giving me a peace I hadn’t known in weeks.
“I missed you, Mommy,” Betty murmured, sounding more relaxed despite her groggy voice.
“I missed you, too,” I said, smoothing back her hair and dabbing her brow and cheeks, my worry melting away as I saw that she was okay.
It was a typical shifter fever, the kind I had suffered from as a kid. Our temperatures always ran hotter than humans, and I could see the worry etched into Emily and Matthew’s exhausted faces. They were shifters like me, but the early shifter fevers were notoriously tough on both the young and their caregivers. The sleepless night had clearly worn them down, and I was grateful they’d done the sensible thing and called me.
It couldn’t have been more than twenty minutes after arriving back when I softly sang a lullaby to Betty, my voice a gentle murmur in the dimly lit room. The rhythm and melody coaxed her into sleep.
But just as I was lost in the comforting routine, Emily poked her head around the door, whispering, “Lina. You better come here.” Her voice was strained, and the weariness was evident in her eyes.
Reluctantly, I maneuvered myself away from Betty, hoping the lullaby would keep her sleeping while I was gone.
I tried not to disturb her. She stirred, but then her breathing settled back into its peaceful rhythm.
Hurrying downstairs, I found her peering out the living room window. My blood ran cold as I followed her gaze to Stephen’s car parked on the driveway.
“Fuck,” I whispered, panic coursing through my veins. “What if he sees Betty?” My gaze darted around, honing in on each of the toys in the room, evidence of the life that was about to be exposed. What the hell do we do, Emily?”
“Tell him she’s mine,” Em suggested, her tone serious.
“What?” I blinked, unsure I had heard correctly.
“Tell Stephen that Betty’s my child. You came to visit me when you heard she was ill. You are Auntie Lina, her favorite aunt, after all.”
It was a risky idea, yet hadn’t Betty just gotten into playing house these past few weeks at nursery? If I could get Betty on board, this might actually work.
I saw Stephen had caught sight of me and Emily through the window. “Stall him for a moment while I make sure Betty knows the game. Okay?”
“Yep, ahead in the game, Lina,” Emily agreed.
In a moment, I was back beside Betty, who was awake again. “Mommy?” She looked wide-eyed and asked. “You’re not going again, are you?”
My heart squeezed, and I settled onto the bed beside her. “No, I’m going to stay right here with you. In fact, I was hoping that when you feel better later, you’ll let me play house with you?”
Betty brightened instantly. “I love playing house.”
“Emily and Matthew have loved playing it, too. They’re not ready to stop pretending. Do you think you can keep calling them Mommy and Daddy for a bit longer?”
Just as I asked her, there was a knock at the front door downstairs. My heart raced; I needed to act fast.
“I’m the best at pretending, Mommy!” she chirped, her spirits rising.
I winced but forced a grin. “That’s perfect, my little actress. But shouldn’t you call me Auntie Lina if Emily is Mommy?”
“Right! Auntie Lina!” Betty laughed, momentarily distracted from her fever. “Can I have some juice, Auntie Lina?”
“Auntie Lina is on it!” I promised, grabbing the moment to fortify our play. With a racing heart, I hurried down the stairs to greet Stephen. The murmur of voices washed over me as I came down to see the last person I’d ever thought would be sitting on my couch in Philadelphia.
He looked concerned and apologetic.
“Stephen said you had a file he needed,” Em said as if she’d bought his reason for appearing. “I’m going to make us all some coffee-want one, Lina?”
“Stephen and I will make them,” I said, my voice steady despite the fluttering nerves in my chest. “Betty wants a glass of juice.” I spoke Betty’s name openly, offering Stephen knowledge of her existence so that it didn’t look as if I were trying to hide her.
I noticed Stephen looking around the house, his gaze lingering on the colorful toys scattered across the living room. It was obvious to anyone that a child lived here.
Em and Matt’s daughter, I reminded myself, trying to convince myself that if I repeated it enough, I’d be able to pull this cover story off with Stephen.
Emily nodded, retreating upstairs while I faced Stephen, anxiety twisting in my gut.
“A file?” I asked him as he joined me in the kitchen. He shrugged. “It was all I could think of.”
The unasked question lingered between us as he looked at me. What had compelled me to expose my friend’s location? What urgency had driven me here, prompting me to return to Philadelphia?
“I told you how important Em is to me,” I said, flushing as I thought of last night. But there wasn’t time to think about that right now. “She has a daughter, Betty. She’s not well. I came as soon as I heard.”
“I’m sorry,” Stephen said, his brow creasing as he listened to the murmur of soft voices above. “God, I feel even more of a jerk for needing to follow you now.”
“How did you know where I was?” I asked.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?