121 Chapter 121


    Seraphina’s POV 1


    “That little bitch!” Ophelia snarled, her hands clenched into fists as we stood outside the baby store. “I’m


    going back in there. Nobody talks to you like that!”


    “No.” I grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the car. “Just leave it, Ophie. It’s not worth it.”


    “Not worth it?” She spun around, her eyes zing with fury. “Did you hear what she said about Lily? About


    you? I’m going to rip her throat out!”


    “And then what?” I asked, adjusting Lily’s carrier with trembling hands. “You get arrested for assault? Make a scene that gets back to Damien? Give everyone more reason to talk about how his human mate can’t even


    handle shopping without causing drama?”


    The fight went out of Ophelia’s posture, but her jaw remained tight with anger. “Sera, you can’t let people talk


    to you like that.”


    “Why not?” The words came out more bitter than I intended. “She wasn’t exactly wrong, was she?”


    “Don’t you dare.” Ophelia’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “Don’t you dare let some ignorant little girl


    make you think less of yourself.”


    But as we drove home in heavy silence, I couldn’t stop reying Brittany’s words. *Human groupie who thinks sleeping with a wolf makes you special.* *Pathetic human who got knocked up.* *Dirty little mixed-


    blood freak.*


    The worst part? Deep down, I was starting to wonder if she was right.


    I stared out the passenger window, watching the familiarndscape blur past. Six months ago, I would have put that girl in her ce without breaking a sweat. Six months ago, I had A’s strength backing me up, pack authority in my voice, the confidence that came with knowing exactly who I was and where I belonged.


    Now? Now I was just some human


    really mine to begin with.


    man with a baby, trying to pretend I still fit into a wedge Yo


    “Talk to me,” Ophelia said quietly. “I can practically hear you beating yourself up over there.”


    12.01


    “I’m fine,” I lied.


    “Bullshit.” She nced over at me, concern clear in her expression. “That girl was a piece of trash. Her opinion


    doesn’t matter.”


    “Doesn’t it, though?” I shifted in my seat to face her. “Ophie, Adrian can sense that something’s wrong with <ol><li> A five-year-old knows I’m not what I used to be. So why wouldn’t everyone else?” </li></ol>


    “Because you’re still you, Sera. Still the same person who-”


    “Who what?” I interrupted. Iughed, but it sounded hollow even to my own ears. “That person is gone, Ophie. I’m just what’s left.”


    The rest of the drive passed in ufortable silence. By the time we pulled into the estate’s long driveway, I felt like I was drowning in my own thoughts.


    Home looked the same as always-grand and beautiful andpletely intimidating. The afternoon sun


    painted the stone walls golden, and I could see Adrian’s toys scattered across the frontwn where he’d been


    ying earlier.


    “Mama!” Adrian’s voice carried across the yard as he spotted our car. He came running toward us, his face


    bright with excitement. “Did you get stuff for Lily? Can I see?”


    “We got some clothes,” I managed, forcing a smile as he threw his arms around my legs. “Want to help me


    carry the bags?”


    “Yes!” He grabbed one of the smaller bags .


    “How did shopping go?” Damien’s voice came from the living room. He appeared in the doorway, taking in my expression with those perceptive silver-blue eyes. “What’s wrong?”


    “Nothing,” I said automatically. “Just tired. Being out was more exhausting than I expected.”


    But Damien knew me too well. His gaze sharpened, and I saw him look from me to Ophelia, who was still radiating angry tension.


    “What happened?” His voice carried that alpha authority that couldmand an entire pack.


    “Some ignorant clerk at the baby store,” Ophelia said when I remained silent. “Said some truly vile things about Sera and Lily.”


    19.01


    Damien’s entire demeanor changed. The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees, and I felt that familiar thrill of fear and attraction that came with being near an angry alpha-even though I could no longer


    sense his power the way I used to.


    “What kind of things?” His voice was deadly quiet.


    “It doesn’t matter,” I said quickly. “She was just some stupid girl. It’s over.”


    “It matters to me.” Damien stepped closer, his hands gentle as they touched my face. “What did she say?”


    I looked into his eyes and saw genuine concern, protective fury, and something else that made my chest


    ache.


    “She called me a human groupie,” I admitted quietly. “Said I was pathetic for thinking I belonged in the pack


    world. Called Lily a… a freak.”


    The growl that rumbled through Damien’s chest was purely wolf, dangerous enough to make every instinct I


    no longer possessed scream warnings. “Give me a name. An address.”


    “Damien, no.” I pressed my hand against his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart. “Please. Fighting my


    battles for me will just prove her point.”


    But before either of us could say anything else, Adrian tugged on my sleeve.


    “Mama, why are you sad?” His little face was scrunched up with worry. “Did someone say mean things to


    you?”


    I knelt down to his level, smoothing his dark hair. “Sometimes people say things they don’t mean when


    they’re having a bad day. But it’s okay. I’m okay.”


    “Want me to beat them up?” Adrian asked with such serious determination that I couldn’t help but smile.


    “That’s very sweet, sweetheart, but violence isn’t the answer.”


    “Daddy would beat them up,” Adrian said confidently. “Daddy beats up all the bad guys.”


    “Daddy protects people,” I corrected gently.


    Dinner was a quiet affair. Damien kept shooting concerned nces my way, while Adrian chattered about his


    day and all the things he wanted to teach Lily when she got bigger. I tried to participate, but my heart wasn’t


    714


    in it.


    I was still lost in my own thoughts when the doorbell rang around seven o’clock.


    “I’ll get it,” I said, d for an excuse to escape the dinner table tension.


    I adjusted Lily in my arms and walked to the front door, expecting maybe a delivery.


    Instead, I found myself face to face with a woman I’d never seen before. She was attractive in a polished, professional way-dark hair pulled back in a neat bun, expensive business attire, confident posture. She carried a leather briefcase and wore the kind of smile that was perfectly pleasant but didn’t quite reach her


    eyes.


    “Hi,” the woman said, looking me up and down with barely concealed assessment. “You must be Damien’s… human nanny?”