Piss Off, Alpha! You Lost Me Forever novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Chapter 7 House Without A Scent

DAMIEN’S POV

I sat at the head of the table, flipping through quarterly reports, pretending to focus while my wolf paced under my skin. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Numbers bored him. Meetings infuriated him. But I forced both of us to sit still.

My phone vibrated once on the table. I ignored it. Then it vibrated again and again. The receptionist would never call me repeatedly unless something was wrong.

I lifted the phone, glanced at the screen, and froze.

East Street Preschool calling.

My chest tightened. Ashley.

I answered instantly. "What happened?"

A timid female voice came through. "Alpha Damien, sir. This is Ms. Mara from the preschool. We... we tried reaching Luna Stone, but—"

"She’s no longer my Luna," I cut in automatically, grumbling, then clenched my jaw. "What’s wrong with my daughter?"

Ms. Mara hesitated, then spoke quickly. "It’s Family Fun Day. Ashley is the only pup whose mother didn’t attend. She’s very upset, sir."

The room around me blurred. A low growl escaped my throat before I caught it. Sophia. She was supposed to handle this. Tiffany couldn’t, fine but Sophia?

I didn’t even excuse myself. Chairs scraped the floor as every board member jumped to their feet in submission. Their wolves were reacting to mine.

I walked out.

"Cancel everything for the rest of the day," I ordered my assistant without slowing down.

"Yes, Alpha!"

By the time I reached my car, my pulse was hammering.

My wolf was restless. His ears were pinned back. He was pacing, confused and irritated. Why wasn’t she there? Why didn’t she call?

I pressed a hand to my temple as I drove.

Sophia had been distant for months. I hadn’t heard a thing from her but she always showed up for Ashley. Always.

At the preschool, I found Ashley sitting alone on the swings. Her little shoulders were stiff. Her eyes were red. When she saw me, she didn’t run into my arms.

She glared.

"You didn’t come either," she muttered.

My heart squeezed. "I had a meeting, baby. But I came as soon as they called me."

She kicked the dirt. "Where’s mom? Everyone else’s mom came."

I took in a deep breath. My wolf growled.

The truth was that I had no idea where Sophia was. Not really. I’d been trying to call her since last night. No answer. No texts. Her number felt like a dead line. But I couldn’t tell Ashley that. She already felt abandoned enough.

So I knelt in front of her and brushed her hair behind her ear. "Mom is... at home preparing a big surprise."

Ashley frowned. "A surprise?"

I forced a smile. "Your grandpa’s birthday dinner is today. She wants it to be perfect."

She stared at me suspiciously. "Then why didn’t she tell me?"

I swallowed the frustration burning in my chest. "She wanted it to be a secret. You know she loves surprising people."

Ashley softened, but only a little bit. "Okay."

I lifted her into my arms, kissed her forehead. My wolf calmed, if only a little.

Just then, my phone rang again. This time, it was my mom.

I exhaled through my nose before answering.

"What."

She clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Is that how you greet your mother? Listen, tomorrow is your father’s birthday. We’re meeting at Alena Mall so we can drive together to the estate. Bring Ashley. She needs to look presentable as always."

"I know it’s his birthday," I replied tightly. "I’ll bring her."

"And don’t forget Sophia," she added sharply. "She’d better not embarrass us again."

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