Page 46 of Fated Alpha Baby

I raise a brow. “How?”

“A potion.”

Nodding again, I turn my eyes to Hannah, staring intensely. “Are you planning on running away with her?”

“No. We’re not going anywhere. But I need you to give her time.”

“Fine. I will tell her when you feel like it’s the right time. But if anyone figures it out, or if she does and starts asking questions, I won’t deny it.”

Hannah nods. “Deal.”

“No more potion.”

She nods again. “I don’t have any more, anyway. We lost our supply in the wreckage that night.”

A flicker of anger ignites in my chest again. “You were planning on hiding her from me longer, weren’t you?”

Hannah opens her mouth to respond, but she’s interrupted when Clarissa’s door opens, and she comes skipping toward us.

“Mommy!” Clarissa chirps and comes rushing into Hannah’s open arms. The mother and daughter embrace, and I’m left hovering awkwardly in the hallway.

My heart lurches at the sight of the two, and I have the urge to be a part of them. But I promised Hannah I wouldn’t tell Clarissa right away. Still, it pains me to not be able to hold my daughter, or the fact that she’s almost eight and I missed so much time with her.

It’s especially troubling when Clarissa lifts her head from Hannah’s shoulder, her radiant, dark brown eyes fierce and curious as she stares at me.

“Hey, mister!” she beams brightly, unaware that she should be calling me “Dad.”

“Hey, kiddo,” I greet her with a gentle smile and a pat on her head. “Are you enjoying yourself in your new home?”

“A little, but I’m getting bored,” she pouts as Hannah sets her back on her feet. “I don’t have any friends here.”

Hannah hesitates as she crouches in front of Clarissa. “Don’t worry, Bug. You’ll make friends soon. Once we’re settled in, you can join the daycare. A friend of mine, Dorothy, runs the place.”

“Actually,” I step in, “I think it’ll be a good idea to visit the daycare today. I can take you there, if you’d like,” I offer, and Clarissa glances warily at her mother.

“Only if Mommy says it’s okay,” she says.

“Maybe not today, Bug,” Hannah says, glancing at me with a look between apology and firmness. “Let’s explore the house today. I’ll ask Dorothy to visit us instead, so you can meet her first.”

Clarissa nods, then skips her way down the hallway to the kitchen. This time, when Hannah turns, I don’t stop her as she follows our daughter.

I know what she’s thinking—that exposing Clarissa to the pack will lead to her discovering that she’s my daughter. The alpha’s daughter. The others will eventually put two and two together, noticing how similar our scents are, and the mere fact that I’m mated to her mother.

Once Hannah and Clarissa have disappeared, I sigh in frustration.

What am I supposed to do to get through to Hannah?

Are we ever going to get somewhere?

Feeling despondent, and unlike I’ve ever felt before—even when she left the pack and destroyed me—I drag my feet toward my study instead of following them to the kitchen. Once I’m inside, surrounded by the scent of aging pine and old books instead of Hannah’s distinctly enticing lavender scent, I sigh.

I advance into the room until I’m seated at my desk, stacks of paperwork requiring my attention, but I’m not remotely interested or capable of putting my focus into work. Instead, I find myself gravitating toward the bottom drawer on the desk.

When I’ve pulled it open, I lift out the wooden box at the bottom and slide open the lid to reveal the only item it houses—a note.

The note Hannah left behind on her kitchen table when she left Iron Breath. Left the valley.

I’m sorry, Conan, but you and I can’t be together.