Chapter 0346

"Daddy?" Lottie dropped her spoon into her cereal bowl. She stared at me with wide, bright green eyes. Her bottom lip stuck out in a pout.

"You need to finish your breakfast. Today is a big day for you."

She scrunched up her nose. "I can't eat."

"Why not?"

"You're sad." She muttered the words with a tiny frown. "If I go to school, I can't watch over you."

"Is that so?"

"Uh huh!"

"Well, I have a very busy day planned. You really don't need to worry about me. I'm taking my oath later to officially join Obsidian Howl. It's also very important that you start school."

"Why?"

"Because you are an incredibly smart little girl. Besides, the school is right here within the pack grounds. I won't be far away at all. You'll also get to spend time with other children your age."

"If I'm so smart, I don't need school. Auntie Athena didn't go, and she's an Alpha!" She pouted fiercely and hugged her arms around herself.

I sighed. Lottie had a rebuttal for everything lately.

"But I really wish I had gotten to go to school." Athena's voice carried into the kitchen. She entered with her boys toddling alongside her. "Learning to read and write as an adult isn't nearly as fun as you might think."

Lottie hiked her small shoulders up around her ears. "Fine. I'll go!"

We had been preparing for this moment over the past week. Many Lycans had brought young children with them, pulling them from their previous schools. They were concerned about their education falling behind. Alpha Alexander had agreed to establish a small schoolhouse. I suspected Lottie's nerves were finally catching up to her.

She turned her serious gaze to Athena. "Will you please look after Daddy? He's very sad."

Athena's blue eyes flicked in my direction as she settled Logan into his high chair. "Of course I will."

I really wished Lottie would stop informing everyone of my supposed sadness. Isabella was dead. That chapter was closed.

"Do you think my other Daddy will come walk me to school?"

"I can ask him, but you need to finish your breakfast first. I know you, Lottie. You'll be hungry again in ten minutes."

She gave me a guilty little smile and began shoveling cereal into her mouth.

Lottie held my hand in a death grip as we walked across the pack grounds toward the converted school building. She was far more jittery than usual. Her eyes darted everywhere. It was probably because Luc hadn't shown up like he said he would.

She wasn't the only hesitant child. Other kids were protesting too. Caleb had his youngest boy trapped under one arm, carrying him toward the school. The look on his face suggested a rough morning of convincing.

"He's scared." Lottie whispered to me.

"He hasn't been here very long. Remember how scared you were when you first arrived? Maybe he just needs a friend." I offered gently.

"Like Auntie Brianna is your friend?"

"Exactly like that."

She nodded, straightening out her pink dress with determination. Confidently, she strode away from me. She stopped directly in front of Caleb. "My name is Charlotte. I can be your friend." She offered her small hand to the boy. Caleb just stood there, staring down at her as if she carried some contagion.

I hadn't considered that the Lycans might object to a Hunter's daughter attending their school.

"She is just a child!" I snarled, closing the distance between us.

"I know that." Caleb muttered lowly. "But is this truly wise? The classroom will be full of young Lycans."

"I believe you're worried about the wrong person entirely."

Lottie's small hand slid back into mine. "It's okay, Daddy. I can just go home."

I forced a reassuring smile for her. "No. You have every right to be here, just like everyone else." I turned my hardened gaze back to Caleb. "Doesn't she?!"

"Of course she does." He muttered, but the words rang completely hollow. If I could hear the lie, she undoubtedly could too.

I made sure she was settled at a small desk before I left, though the disapproving looks from other parents did not escape my notice. I was starting to think it was a good thing Luc hadn't come. He would have shot every single person in that room. Perhaps he had known that.

Kissing Lottie on the cheek, I promised to pick her up later. I then made my way over to the teacher.

"Any problems whatsoever, you call me immediately." I slid my number across the table to her.

The sooner I took that damned oath, the better.

"Wait!" Caleb called out as I strode back toward the main house.

"What is it now?" I snapped without stopping.

"I'm worried about my boys."

"You're their father. You should be." I retorted and kept walking.

"You know that's not what I'm talking about! And you are one of her parents in that... unusual arrangement you have."

I stopped and glared at him. "She is a little girl who has likely seen more horror than all the other children in that room combined. More importantly, she just wants to learn. Why is that a problem for you?"

"Zachary, you know exactly what I mean. She's a Hunter of our kind. She is a threat."