Chapter 0485

She stopped drawing and slowly put her pencil down.

She got up from the floor and walked toward me, her eyebrows furrowed.

"The lady outside?" she asked casually.

"Yes. I noticed how you looked at her. I know you were reading her."

"She's unhappy. She used to be happy long ago, but something changed. It's not dark, but it's not light either." Lottie touched her chest gently. "She's hurting, but she doesn't want anyone to know."

"Why did you run inside?"

"Um, she um," Her gaze drifted toward Evelyn. "She is your mate, but she doesn't like that you have friends. Or me."

"Lottie..."

"She's going to take you away from me." Tears streamed down her face as she spoke.

I tried to reassure her that no one was taking me away, but she ran to her bedroom crying.

"Do you want me to go talk to her?" Evelyn offered.

"No. Thank you, but it's me she's worried about."

"I don't understand. How can she read people like that?"

"She's a Hunter. Biologically, she's Luc's daughter."

Evelyn frowned. "That's the child Seraphina told me about."

"Yes."

"You have a Hunter in your house and you're not worried? Should I be concerned?" Her eyebrows rose sharply.

"She isn't exactly like Luc."

"Why does she call you Daddy if she's Luc's child?"

"It's a long story."

"I'm happy to listen," she said. "It's better than listening to my own narrator."

"Dakota?"

"Yes. She talks a lot. I don't mind it. It's different. Sometimes it's weird that she knows exactly what I'm thinking, but it's reassuring too. Does that make sense?"

"Athena told me the same thing."

"But we don't all have the inner Lycan?"

"No, it's related to carrying Alpha genetics. Ultimately, you carry Harrison blood."

"Still a lot to understand," she murmured. "But tell me about Charlotte. I'd love to know more."

She listened carefully as I explained how Lottie came into my life. She didn't interrupt, and she smiled when I finished. "You helped her."

"I like to think so."

"Can I ask you a question?" she murmured.

"Sure."

"Do you think Gabriel knew she was there? Do you think he left her there on purpose for you to find? Did he slaughter those people because of what they did to her?"

"Yes. There's no way he didn't know she was there. Rogues have a stronger sense of smell, and Lottie saw him. Whether he chose to leave her there for me to find, or to use her as an opportunity to get further away, is a different question. One I'll never know the answer to." I looked up at the ceiling. "She's far stronger than most people realize."

"I agree, she is."

My eyes locked on hers. "What did she say to you when she was in here alone with you?"

Evelyn smiled. "She told me she could see I was a good person deep down. That I just need to get out of the trap that no longer exists."

"Anything else?"

She shrugged. "Only that she likes me." She pointed to the back of her hand where a blue unicorn sticker was placed. "She gave me a sticker. Told me that Athena would know I was a good person. But I know it'll take more than a sticker for Athena to believe that. I keep expecting her to knock down the door and take me back to the dungeon."

"It's not going to happen. I've already told her you're here with me, and I'm keeping an eye on you."

"You don't have to do that, Zachary. As much as I'm grateful not to be sitting on a concrete floor, you don't have to be nice to me." She settled back into the sofa, letting out a soft sigh as she enjoyed the comfort.

"You're right. I don't have to do anything. I'm choosing to let you stay here."

She looked at me with wide grey eyes. "Thank you," she whispered. "You should talk to Jasmine, though."

"I will if she's willing to listen. But she seems stuck on her way and her way only. Maybe she got away with that in whatever pack she came from, but that doesn't work with me."

"Crestwood City."

"Hmm?"

"Crestwood City is the pack she came from. An Alpha moved in and took over, killed the old Alpha."

"Who is it?"

"She's already mentioned him. Alpha Julian."