Chapter 0397

Her small fingers gripped the pencil so tightly it snapped in two.

"But I'm not the bad one."

"You think Liam is bad?"

She nodded vigorously, her braids swinging with the motion.

"Not yet. But he will be."

It seemed impossible to predict a child's future behavior at such a young age. They hadn't even begun to experience life properly.

"Have you talked to either of your fathers about this?"

"Daddy Zachary got angry. Daddy didn't listen. I had to stop Liam, Brianna. Everything he said hurt me deeply. He's mean, but only to me." She smiled softly at Luca sleeping in my arms. "Can't I just stay here with Logan and Evrin? They actually like me."

"That decision isn't mine to make. School is important though. Have you made any friends there?"

"One girl talks to me. Her name is Ava."

"She's a Wolf?"

"Uh huh. She's the one who told me to stand up for myself. So I did."

"I need you to do something for me."

Her green eyes studied me with uncertainty.

"When you return to school, if anything happens, tell your teacher immediately. I don't want you doing anything that could get you in trouble."

"That's what Daddy Zachary said."

"Because he's right." Though if she had asked my younger self, I probably would have advised her to fight back against Liam.

She pouted, a tiny crease forming between her brows. "I can't wait to be grown up."

I laughed softly. "Come on, you can stay with me and Luca. One of your fathers can pick you up later."

"Are you going to tell them?"

"I think you should tell them yourself, but I'll be there with you when you do."

Zachary and Alexander arrived late that evening. I hadn't expected both of them, but perhaps I could reason with them together.

"Charlotte is asleep. She can stay overnight. We need to talk." I wanted Charlotte to explain herself, but I couldn't wake her after finally convincing her to sleep. She was absolutely convinced Liam would harm her and I wouldn't notice.

"Did she say anything?" Zachary muttered as he sat at my small dining table.

I recounted my entire conversation with Charlotte.

"He called her poison?!" Alexander asked with clear disgust.

"She said she doesn't even know what that means, so she likely didn't make it up. I don't know if it's because she's a Hunter by birthright or if something else is happening, but..."

"I'll handle it," Alexander stated firmly. "She's part of this pack whether they like it or not."

"That won't ease her mind. That girl cried herself to sleep tonight. She's probably back to square one emotionally." Right on cue, she began crying upstairs.

"I'm taking her home. Maybe her own bed will help." Zachary frowned and disappeared up the stairs to find her.

I sighed and looked at Alexander. "You haven't said anything about Evrin."

"Athena told you?"

I nodded, aware I was entering dangerous territory by challenging him. "Is that why you haven't spent time with them today? Why you've been making excuses about going home? Because he can shift?"

I didn't wait for his answer.

"She's sad, and I know you feel her sadness. She thinks you're disgusted that Evrin can shift."

"Not true."

"But you came here with Zachary when you didn't need to. You could have gone home to her. Home to your boys."

Alexander shook his head. "I've been on duty. I don't want news about Evrin getting out."

"That's why you've been avoiding going home?"

"No. I don't want Levi finding out my son can shift. I've been working all day, chasing leads, looking for problems within my pack. Shutting down anyone who thinks they know something."

"You're worried?"

"Wouldn't you be if Luca started shifting? I'm not worried about who Evrin is. I'm worried about the assholes who might try to take advantage of it."

"Then you should tell Athena before she spontaneously combusts from all the thoughts swirling in her head."