Chapter 364
(Diban’s POV)
Emma knelt on her bed, her young face twisted into an expression I’d never seen before. Gone was the sweet, obedient pup who gazed at me with adoration. In her place was something unrecognizable–her features contorted with malice that no seven–year–old should possess
In one hand, she clutched a small figure. In the other, a silver needle glinted in the moonlight streaming through her window, With vicious precision, she stabbed the doll repeatedly while spitting venomous words
“Stupid Lily,” she hissed, driving the needle into the doll’s chest. “Even dead, you still take my Daddy away. I hope your spirit suffers forever!”
My wolf roared beneath my skin, nearly breaking free with rage. Thus was my daughter she was clesing – my true daughter whose death i couldn’t prevent, whose love I’d squandered. The daughter I’d falled so completely that my only hope was that she might be reborn, that Olivia might forgive me enough to give us another
chance.
And here was Emina, cursing Lily’s very soul.
1 licked the door fully open, unable to contain my fury. “Tama Frost, what are you doing?!”
Emma troze mid–stab, her head whipping toward me. For a split second, her face remained twisted with hatced before recognition dawned. Panic flashed across her features as she realized I’d caught her.
“Daddy?” she gasped, quickly trying to hide the doll under her moonlight thermal blanket.
In her haste, she accidentally drove the silver needle into her palm. She winced, tears immediately springing to her eyes. I watched as calculation replaced pain in herexpression
“Daddy, you’re finally here!” she cried, crawling toward me with outstretched amis. “Emma waited for you all day! I thought you forgot my birthday!”
Her tears flowed freely now as she reached for me, expecting the comfort I’d always provided. But I remained rooted in place, my amber eyes fixed on her bleeding palm before returning to herface.
” asked you, what were you doing?” I
7” 1 repeated, my voice dangerously low.
Emma’s eyes darted nervously. “Daddy, I wasn’t doing anything! I was just bored and playing with a doll while waiting for you!”
She sported the Moonstone Bracelet gift box in my hand and lunged for it, clearly hoping to distract me. “Is that for Emma? Thank you, Daddy!”
I tossed the gift aside, stepping closer to the bed. My Alpha presence filled the room as I demanded, “Take it out.”
e like that, I’m s
More tears streamed down Emma’s face as she clutched at my Black Alpha Overcoat “Daddy, you’re scaring me! Don’t look at me
scated”
I recognized the act – the same innocent, frightened pup routine that had always worked on me before. But the image of her cursing my daughter was burned into my mind.
Losing patience, I pushed herside and reached for the blanket myself.
“Daddy, don’t look!” Emma cried, desperately trying to stop me
Her small hands were no match for my determination, I yanked back the blanket, revealing what she’d tried to hide.
Emma kuelt on the bed, trembling, her eyes wide with terror as she watched my reaction.
The doll was crudely made but unmistakable in its intent. Lily’s name was scrawled across it in childish handwriting. Photos of my daughter – photos I’d never seen before, likely stolen from surveillance footage–were pasted to its face and body. The doll was riddled with countless pinholes, evidence that tonight wasn’t The first time Emma had performed this ritual.
Mylean clenched with anguish and rage. Even in death, Lily had suffered comment from this child I’d favored over her.
“What kind of monster have I been coddling these past few years?!” My will snarled beneath my skin, turious at this betrayal.
My hand shook as I picked up the doll, a stormot emotions overwhelming me. Pain for Lily Anger at Emma. Disgust at myself for being so blind.
Before I could stop myself, my hand lashed out, striking Emma across the lace. I barely restrained my wolf’s strength, but the impact was enough to send her weeling
Limma Frost, why would you do this?” demanded, any amber eyes burning
Memories flooiled back, pieces falling into place. The first time idly and Emma met. Emma’s fall into the Moonlit Hetlection Pool, which she blamed on Lily, I’d believed her without question, punishing my own daughter and casing ber to develop a high lever
Tremerabered watching security footage later – Lily crying in Olivia’s amns, insisting she hadn’t pushed Eina. Her heartbroken question echoed in my mind: Why doesn’t Daddy believe me?”
How many other lies had Emma told? How many truths had 1 overlooked because of my misplaced faith in this child?
“Daddy.
………….. Emma whispered, clutching her reddened check.
wolt pup cowered deep within her,
The slap hadn’t been particularly hand- I’d seen Victoria hit her much hander – but Emma looked genuinely shocked. Her wolf
projecting distress phemmones
Leould see her struggling to find an explanation, but with the evidence in my hands, she resorted to tears and pitiful glances. Her young wolf attempted to project nubuntissive phewsones, trying totdigger ny postective Instincts.
“Emma Frost, don’t call me Daddy anymore! I don’t have a pop like you!” I declared, my voice cold and merciless.
My wolt rejected her completely, no longer recognizing het as pack. The boud I’d thought we shared shattered like glass.
“Daddy, don’t say that?” Emina walled, desperate now, “You promised you’d always be my Daddy, that you’d never abandon me!”
then woll Hantically tried to reestablish our pack band, but I telt nothing!
“My promise was to the obedient, kind tomma,” I replied sily. “Emina Frost, is that you?”
The question made het weep harder, but no words came. For once, she had no manipulation ready, no act to
no act to preform
suddenly, the sound of wheels on hardwood broke the tense silence. Victoria appeared in the doorway, her face a mask of concem as she propelled her Raven- Trimmed Wheelchair into the room.
Without hesitation, she threw herself at ne legs, clinging to me desperately. Her wolf projected frantic pheromanes, but they only disgusted me further.
1 kicked her away instinctively, as it she were something repulsive. My wolt growled in disgust at her touch.
at the rejection but quickly recovered, her focus unwavering. “King, you’ve misunderstood EmmalTM
victoria winced at the reje
“It’s all my fault!” she continued, her voice quivering with what seemed like gemine emotion. “I was jealous of Olivia being your true mate and occupying your heart for so long, so I toolishly directed my anger at Lily”
She crawled closer, her eyes pleading, “I made the doll, and Ensma just imitated ine. She doesn’t understand anything, I led her astray.
Victoria reached for Emma, pulling her close protectively, “You know she’s inherently good. 1, as her mother, talled to teach her properly. It’s my fault, de
Emma”
„don’t blame
Her wolt projected what app
appeated to be sincere remorse as she continued her plea. “She admires you so much, she listens to you. If you formally adopt her into the Stone Pack, and keep her by your side, teaching her, she’ll become as upright as you.”
Victoria’s eyes glistened with tears. “King, Emma is only seven years old, she’s a blank slate. Give her another chance, you can guide her.”
She pushed Emma toward me, her intentions transparent. Even if she couldn’t have me, she wanted Emma to temalit connected to the Stone Pack – to me
“Please, King, “Victoria begged, hier wolf putting with satisfaction as she saw my hesitation, “For Emina’s sake.”
