I always thought seeing him again would fix my broken heart, that it would heal something inside me, but instead, my fears are screaming louder than my own voice. It feels like myworst fear is slowly unfolding before my eyes, and all I want to do is lose myself in my head to escape this moment.
What if he doesn’t want me anymore? What if he finds out everything I did to survive and wants nothing to do with me?
What if he only came back for Grace or his kingdom?
Fuck, I didn’t even think about that. Why would a man care about a long-lost daughter when he has already built this whole other life without her?
All my worries, questions, and fears overwhelm me, and I don’t realize he’s running toward me until it’s too late.
Strong arms crush me in a hug that nearly breaks me in half.
Papa.My papa.
The hug is tight to the point I’m suffocating, but I’m used to being squished by giants between Angel, Seiji, and Harvey. But this is different. This ishome.
Papa cages me in his arms, holding me protectively. My own arms wrap around him before I even register it, shaking, my knees about to give out.
I sob like a child who has finally found their parents after getting lost in a crowd. Papa easily supports my weight as I bury my face in his chest and release ten years of fear into his embrace.
I’ve spent countless nights drowning in doubts, convinced that he abandoned me because Visha swore he didn’t love me enough to save me from those monsters. But here I am, in my father’s arms, while he thanks the universe for bringing me back to him.
I did most of the work, but sure, let’s thank theuniverse.
“Heaven come Hell, kiddo, no one is taking you from me ever again.” His voice is thick, the promise tinged with a darkness that could burn realms.
The last echoes of that cruel voice in my head that insisted Papa loathed me died today. He didn’t stop loving me. He didn’t forget about me even when he forgot himself.
When I finally pull myself together, I reluctantly step back before this whole day turns intoboth of us crying on each other’s shoulders. Papa growls but lets me go, not before wiping away my tears and pressing a soft kiss on the top of my head.
“You know the deal,Trouble.If you cry, then I cry. And you know I can’t do that. I have a reputation to uphold.”
I laugh through the tears, swiping under my nose. “You can’t call me trouble anymore. I’m a grown woman now. Very decent. Very docile.”
Everyone in the room gasps in sync. My so-called family betrays me without hesitation.
“Decent?Stop lying, Monkey.” Harvey butts in immediately.
Before I can smack my best friend, Seiji piles on. “Anddocile?Bitch, you made a grown man pee himself just hours ago… bystaringat him!”
For fuck’s sake. Couldn’t they wait a single day before snitching to Papa that his daughter is a minor nightmare?
Traitors.Every last one of them.
“I think she meantderangedanddangerous,” Angel adds from behind me, hugging me tight like he knows my “derange”is about to creep out.
But Papa just winks and mouthsThat’s my girl, sneaking in a thumbs up.
Angel kisses the side of my head in apology, and Papa’s face goes blank. He raises one brow in silent question.
“Papa, this is Angel—Anxo Alarie.But you obviously know him. He’s my mate…” My voice softened as I turned to my mate. “And soon-to-be husband.”
The smile that blossoms across Angel’s face is worth risking everything. This isn’t the first time I’ve called him my husband or husband-to-be, and every time I do, I fall in love with him all over again at how pleased he looks with that title.
I’m admiring my mate, soaking in everything I love about him, when an obnoxious fake cough interrupts me.
Papa is now glaring at Angel. His eyes narrowed, a rare frown pulling on his face. It’s strange to see him like this. He’s usually the cheeky one with an easy-going attitude and alwayscracking silly jokes.
He clears his throat, lowering his voice to something meant to sound threatening. I doubt it’ll work because they’ve known each other for years. Papa helped Angel rebuild himself after what his parents did, and Angel still looks up to my father.
