Chapter Sixteen: The tides that turned

Daisy's POV

Two days passed quietly in Dickson's apartment. I kept pretending to be confused, even though every night, I wrote down my thoughts and everything I remembered.

The smell of smoke was still in my memory, but I pushed it aside, focusing on what really mattered now: survival, answers, and making sure no one controlled my life ever again.

Mirah was coming today.

She was the only person I trusted completely. She had helped me give birth to my children, kept my secrets, and had never once judged me for my decisions. If anyone could help me now, it was her.

Dickson had no idea.

He made breakfast that morning. Toasted bread, eggs, and tea. He acted like we were a happy couple hiding away from the world. But I knew better.

"I was thinking," he said as he set my plate down, "we could stay here for a few weeks. Just you and me. Until your memory comes back."

I nodded slowly. "Okay."

He smiled.

I didn’t.

I was totally playing along, and waiting for the perfect time to shoot my shot.

Immediately as soon as he stepped out to fetch some vegetables, I changed clothes, packed a small bag, and left a note on the bed:

Don’t follow me. I need to find myself without you.

Thirty minutes later, at the meeting spot...

I spotted Mirah’s car parked near the old abandoned gas station, just like we agreed.

She stepped out and pulled me into a tight hug.

"You're okay," she whispered. "I was so scared."

"I'm fine now."

We got into her car, and she drove us to her clinic miles away from the Dickson apartment Once inside, she locked the doors and shut the blinds.

"Tell me everything," she said.

I didn’t hold back.

I told her about Dickson, about the fire, about pretending to forget, about Lycan, and Rosa.

She listened quietly, her facial expression darkened for a while, and with every one of my words she was completely speechless.

"This isn’t just about you anymore," she said finally. "This is totally tougher than we thought."

"What do you mean?"

"I found something. You know at first, I told you about some spies finding every bit of information about your kids.

Someone is watching your kids."

And they're taking every bit of this seriously.

My stomach dropped. "What?"

Mirah pulled out her phone and showed me a photo.

It was my daughter, my adorable little princess. At school

The photo was taken from a distance. Secretly.

"How did you get this?"

"One of my old contacts. He’s been tracking Lycan for me since the day he lied to you. Turns out, Lycan had someone follow your children, just in case you didn’t say yes to marrying him."

And he wants to make sure he hides them from you completely.

"That monster," I whispered.

"That’s not all. Rosa paid the same guy for similar photos. She's keeping tabs on the kids too."

"Why would she care about them?"

"Because they tie you to Dickson. And as long as you have them, he’ll never stop chasing you."

I sat in silence for a moment. I don't know what to say.

Then, I spoke.

"I need to go to them."

"It’s not safe yet. Not until we know who else is involved."

"Mirah, they’re my babies. If anything happens to them—"

"Nothing will. I promise. But we have to be smart. We have to plan this carefully."

I nodded slowly. "Then help me."

"Always."

Dickson's POV

I returned to my apartment and saw her note on the bed. My heart dropped.

*Don’t follow me. I need to find myself without you.*

I sank to the floor, holding the paper in my hands. She left. Again.

But something told me she wasn’t finding every bit of information connected to her kids.

She was hunting the truth.

And maybe... me.

Rosa's POV

I poured a glass of wine and smiled as I looked through the surveillance photos.

"So predictable," I whispered.

The tracker beside me nodded. "She left Dickson apartment She met with the healer. They're moving fast."

"Good. Let them."

"You want me to stop them?"

"No. I want her to feel safe. Just for a little while longer. Then, we strike."

The tracker hesitated. "And Dickson?"

"Let him stay confused. He's still useful."

Daisy's POV

The next day, I visited the kids' school in secret. I wore a cap, glasses, and kept my distance.

They were safe. Laughing. Happy.

For now.

I called the nanny and arranged to meet her later that night.

At 9 PM, I met her behind the school. She was confused and scared.

"Why all the secrecy, Daisy?"

"Because someone is after my kids, they are after their damn life."

Her eyes widened in shock.

"Take them to the location Mirah will send. Don’t tell anyone. Not even Lycan. Especially not Lycan."

"I understand."

I went Back immediately at Mirah's clinic

I felt stronger. Focused.

Mirah handed me a small device.

"GPS tracker. Hidden in this necklace. Give it to your daughter. If anything happens, we’ll know."

"Thank you."

I looked in the mirror and saw myself looking different and more confident.

No longer the broken woman betrayed by two alphas.

Now, I was something else.

A mother.

A fighter.

A woman who had nothing to lose.

"I'm ready," I whispered.

"For what?" Mirah asked.

"To bring down everything they built on lies."

Lycan's POV

I stood in my office, pacing.

"She’s disappeared again," my spy said.

"Where?"

"We don’t know. But she met with the healer."

"Then they know."

"Possibly."

I slammed my fist into the wall.

"Find her. Now. Before she ruins everything."

Rosa's POV

I got the message from Lycan.

He was panicking.

Perfect.

"Everything is falling apart," he wrote.

I replied with one word.

Good.

Daisy's POV

It was almost midnight when I finally sat down in Mirah’s office and exhaled.

"They’re all safe," she said softly. "The nanny got them to the hideout."

I nodded.

"What now?"

"Now we have to stay low and see how things will be."

"And when will they come for me?"

I looked at her and smiled.

"Let them come. I will get arrested and punished, for all their evil deeds."