Chapter 5

Alpha Elijah led Thea and me out of the ballroom as Thea clung tightly to both of our hands. My mind swirled around the events of the night, continuing to land back on the birthmark on Thea’s neck.

It sent shivers down my spine, the prospect that it really could be her—my daughter, the child that I had lost so long ago.

The idea both thrilled and terrified me. The thought that she could be so close, have been this close all this time, and now right beside me, in arms’ reach was overwhelming.

But it also made no sense. Thea was the Alpha’s daughter. He wouldn’t… There was no way that our Alpha had stolen my daughter.

Right?

And yet… I had seen the birthmark.

But maybe it was just a coincidence.

Thea happily bounced alongside us as she explained to Elijah with excitement, “I gave Agnes the dress! It’s too pretty not to wear! Besides, I like her—I want her!”

Her innocent proclamation hit me hard. We had an instant connection, that was for sure.

But I didn’t feel ready for this—wasn’t ready for her attachment to me, the possibility that she might be mine. And yet, how could I deny the bond I already had formed with this sweet little girl?

There was something undeniable between us, something that pulled at my heart with every passing second.

I barely had time to process my thoughts when Elijah replied, reprimanding her.

“You’re too quick to trust a stranger.” His eyes flicked over her head to mine and he frowned, eyes cold and filled with suspicion. His frown deepened, a clear sign that he didn’t appreciate how much Thea liked me—or perhaps, just how much I was beginning to mean to her.

But Thea continued, undeterred by his response, “Well, I don’t care!” She grew insistent as she tugged at his hand. “The Mate Trial is to find me a new mommy, right? Well, I like Agnes the very best! She’s kind, beautiful, and she doesn’t care who you are, Daddy. She’s the mommy I’ve been looking for!”

Her words sent a pang through my heart, the kind of pain that comes when hope intertwines with fear. Thea squeezed my hand and my heart ached, torn between the possibility that Thea could be my daughter—and the reality of the situation I now found myself in.

I had so many questions swirling through my mind--like how an Alpha would have been able to kidnap my child, if she was my child—but I tried to block out all of my mind’s questions and focus on the right now.

I couldn’t dwell on those questions right now. Not here. Not yet.

Alpha Elijah was unfazed by Thea’s words, though the tension in his posture told me he wasn’t really as unaffected as he pretended to be. He was tense.

He signaled to a nearby maid, who hurried forward. He gestured to Thea.

“Please take Thea to her room,” he ordered. “She’s had enough excitement for one night.”

“But Dad!” Thea pleaded, but his gaze was firm and left no room for negotiation. She sighed and reluctantly let go of my hand.

“Goodnight, Agnes,” she whispered, giving me a soft, lingering hug. The warmth of her little arms around me made my heart ache even more.

“Goodnight, Thea,” I replied softly, squeezing her back before letting her go. “Maybe we can go play in the gardens tomorrow?” I asked brightly, hoping to lift her spirits.

She nodded enthusiastically, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “Yes! I can show you the super-secret hiding spot I found under the big willow tree! It’s perfect for playing hide-and-seek. And we can catch butterflies! There are so many of them!” Her voice bubbled over with excitement as she bounced on her toes.

“That sounds like a lot of fun,” I said, smiling. “I’d love to see your secret spot. Maybe we can bring some snacks and have a little picnic too. What do you think?”

“Yes! Oh, and maybe I can get the maids to bring out my tea set! I’ve always wanted to have a tea party in the garden. You can be the queen and I’ll be the princess… And we can invite the butterflies to join us!”

I chuckled at her enthusiasm. “A tea party with butterflies sounds perfect.”

She giggled, and then looked up at Alpha Elijah. “Daddy, you’re too serious to be the court jester. You can be the big bad wolf that tries to get us instead!”

Alpha Elijah looked frustrated that she hadn’t gone to bed yet, looking over at me and the maid in irritation.

“Thea, you’ll have plenty of time to play tomorrow, but right now you really must go to bed.” His tone was firm but held a gentleness to it that showed he really did have a soft spot for Thea.

“Okay, okay,” Thea said. She looked at us both brightly. “Goodnight!” she said again before allowing the maid to pull her down the hallway.

She glanced back at me with a small wave and large smile one last time before the maid led her down the curve of the hallway.

Elijah’s lips were tight, and I wondered if he was upset that she had forgotten to hug him.

…

A little while later, after changing out of the dress, I found myself seated in the Alpha’s study. It was a room as imposing as its owner, to say the least.

Three of the walls were lined with floor to wall bookshelves, filled with books, their spines worn from use. There was a large fireplace on the other wall, with a plush loveseat situated in front of it. His large desk was surrounded by the bookshelves, and I was seated across from him in a hard wooden chair that he must make people sit in when he wanted to pull rank—it was incredibly uncomfortable.

It was definitely a contrast to the large, cushioned office chair he sat in.

Alpha Elijah’s demeanor was as cold as the chair beneath me, his gaze sharp as he slammed a document across the desk and pushed it toward me.

“I don’t trust you,” he said coldly. “I believe you approached Thea with ulterior motives. I may indulge my daughter’s whims, but that does not mean I will extend that same courtesy to you.”

Caught off guard, I leaped up, ready to defend myself. “I don’t have any bad intentions toward Thea. I just want to care for her. I would never—”

He cut me off, throwing another set of papers at me. I expected the papers to be a payoff, a bribe to leave his house, Thea, and this entire Mate Trial behind. I might have even taken a payoff a few days ago, but now…

But now everything had changed since I’d seen that familiar crescent shaped birthmark on Thea’s neck. She could be my long-lost daughter, and no matter what happened, I couldn’t walk away from that hope. I had to stick around long enough to find out for certain.

“Please, you have to let me explain,” I started, my voice cracking.

“Read,” Elijah commanded coldly before I could finish. I swallowed, reluctantly flipping open the document, then blinked at the emblazoned bold title that stared back at me.

“A…mate contract??”