Chapter 53

Mr. Wilfred I walked out of the hall in silence, my mind in complete disarray. I had no idea where Aira had gone ever since that girl revealed she once bore a child with Alpha Owen. It wasn’t news that Alpha Owen and my wife had once been mated, but everyone chose to ignore it over the years as life moved on. So the mention of this child didn’t shock me as much as it should have. What stung was that she hadn’t trusted me enough to confide in me. Still, knowing Aira, she must have buried it all in the past. But that’s the problem—just because you bury something doesn’t mean it ceases to exist. My eyes fell on Bella Maxwell standing nearby, her guards flanking her. A wide smile stretched across her face—the very woman who had once wanted my daughter’s mate. She was nothing like my Aina, neither in looks nor in character. I walked toward her, but her guards immediately blocked my path. “I want to speak with your mistress,” I told them firmly. From behind them, her voice came, mocking yet calm. “Let him in.” They stepped aside, and she greeted me with that same sly smile. “Oh, Aina’s father,” she said. “I suppose you’ve come to ask if it’s true—that your wife had a child with Alpha Owen?” She laughed mockingly. Keeping my face stern, I shook my head. I watched as her smile faded. “No. That’s a matter for my wife and me to settle. But you claim the lady in question is here. I want to see her.” She studied me for a moment as if weighing the decision. “Very well then,” she finally said, signaling to one of her guards. The guard walked to a nearby car and opened the door. A pair of legs stepped out. The young woman looked around cautiously, as though trying to get her bearings. Guided by the guard, she walked toward us. The closer she came, the clearer it became—this was Owen’s daughter. The resemblance was striking. People always claimed Osborne resembled his father, but they were wrong. This girl looked more like Owen than Owen himself. “Hello, Clara,” Bella greeted her with a smile. “You took a long time,” Clara said sharply. “I was beginning to think you were playing me.” Ah, not only did she look like Owen, but she carried her mother’s tone too. If Aira had told me about this child, I would have kept the secret and cared for her like my own. But even at that people would find out because she will grow to look like her real father.  Her gaze met mine. “Hi,” I greeted softly. She gave a slight nod. “Are you my dad?” Bella laughed, loud and mocking. Clara turned to her with uncertainty, but I cleared my throat to bring her eyes back to me. “No. But my wife is your mother.” Her eyes went wide. “Oh… I didn’t mean to cause any trouble,” she said quickly, then looked at Bella. “You promised me I’d only get to see them from afar.” Bella chuckled wickedly. “Oh, dear, you were just a pawn in my game. I got what I wanted with you. You’re no longer my problem, you can go with your stepdad.” as she motions to me. Clara simply stared at her, as though Bella had lost her mind. Bella turned to leave, but she paused halfway, throwing me a sly look. “And congratulations on your daughter’s wedding,” she mocked before walking away, her laughter echoing behind her. And there I was, left standing with the daughter Aira had abandoned years ago. We sat together quietly on a bench, watching as people rushed out of the venue in confusion, whispering among themselves. Everyone seemed shaken by the news, but none more than Aina. I couldn’t help but wonder how she would cope—realizing that the man she married shared a half-sibling with her. It was the kind of cruel twist no parent should allow, and Aira owed her an apology. When I glanced at her, I could see she was torn, struggling with whether to believe Bella’s words or dismiss them. “What’s happening?” Clara finally spoke, her voice breaking the silence as her eyes darted to the murmuring crowd. “Today is the day the Alpha’s son weds his mate,” I answered. “Oh, I’m sorry but… I don’t actually know the name of this pack,” she admitted, almost nervously. That caught me off guard. I turned to her in disbelief. “What? You followed someone here without even knowing who they were or where you were going?” She lowered her head, her voice soft but firm. “I didn’t want to know the name of the pack my parents belonged to. If I knew, I might not have resisted coming here again. I only wanted to see them from a distance. Bella gave me proof that matched what my adoptive parents told me, so I trusted her.” She paused briefly, then smiled faintly. I exhaled deeply. “So you really have no idea what this pack is called?” She shook her head. I gave a short, dry laugh. “Unbelievable. This is the Silver Crest Pack.” Her eyes widened slightly. “Ah, no wonder it took us twenty-six hours by flight,” she said. I snapped my head toward her. “Twenty-six hours?” She nodded with a small smile. “Yes. And honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever even heard of Silver Crest Pack before.” “And still you followed her all the way here? Did you at least bring anything valuable with you?” I asked, irritation creeping into my tone. Her blind faith in someone she has never met before was beginning to annoy me. She nodded again. “Yes, I did. I actually paid for my own flight, and I can find my way back if I need to.” At least she wasn’t completely foolish—just far too trusting for her own good. “Very well. My daughter just got married, and her room is empty for now. You can stay the night with us while you talk with the woman who abandoned you,” I said offhandedly. To my surprise, she answered softly, “Thank you, it means a lot to me.” Suddenly, her phone rang and she picked up. “Hello… oh no, I don’t think I’ll be able to come back earlier than I thought. Things got a little complicated.” She paused for a while to let the receiver speak. “And you were right when you said you didn’t trust her… No, that’s not it. I’m here with someone who is married to my real mom, so don’t worry. I’ll call you when I’m done, okay? Love you.” Then the call ended. She chuckled shyly. “That was my mate.” I nodded. “Good for you.” She inhaled deeply and looked up at the sky. To be sincere, I did pity her. I couldn’t imagine how excited she must have been to act so carelessly once she heard about her real parents.