Aria hugged my neck tightly in fear. I crossed the road and returned to my car. My driver was shocked.

I got in, Aria still in my arms. I couldn't believe how small she was. She was limp in my arms, making no movements. As she leaned her head against my shoulder, she cried uncontrollably. I patted her back, unsure what had happened or why she was in the middle of the road.

"Alpha, who is this child?" my driver asked.

"Shut your mouth! Can't you see she's crying?" I snapped, glaring at him.

His eyes widened; he shifted his gaze to the road and didn't start the car, awaiting my instruction.

After a while, Aria lifted her head and looked at me. Her crying had left her eyes puffy and her nose red.

I seated her in the passenger seat and asked, "Where's your mom?"

She sobbed, "I–I lost Mommy."

"What? How?"

Her eyes filled with tears again. I told my driver to start the car as Aria began to explain.

FLASHBACK

Aria and Noah had gone to the park near their school with their mother. They played together; Aria was happy. Their mother, Natalia, had them sit on a bench while she went to buy ice cream. After a while, Noah spotted a kitten on the road leading out of the park. Aria chased it, becoming lost. Unfamiliar with the area, she searched for her mother, mistaking a stranger for her. Crying and lost, she saw me and hugged me out of fear.

END OF FLASHBACK

"If you get lost again, the first thing you should do is ask someone for a phone and call your mom," I told Aria. Seeing her cry was upsetting. How could Natalia be so careless?

"Uncle, can I use your phone?"

I chuckled, realizing she'd taken my advice.

"To call your mom?"

She nodded, wiping her tears. She seemed to trust me, which surprised me. Why would she trust a stranger? I wanted to warn her against trusting strangers, but seeing her pale face, I couldn't. Perhaps she could trust me.

"You don't need my phone. I'll call your mom."

I called Patric.

"You're not coming back?" Patric asked.

"I'm with Natalia's daughter."

"You what?"

"I don't repeat myself."

"What are you doing with her child? Don't tell me you're trying to get revenge on Natalia for what her family said."

I frowned. Did he really think that of me? Would I hurt a child to get revenge on their mother?

"Tell her Aria's with me."

"Okay." Patric seemed to understand.

"Tell me where you are so I can tell Natalia to pick her up."

A smirk crossed my face.

"That's her job."

I ended the call and turned to Aria. "Your mom knows you're with me."

She smiled. "She won't worry now."

Her maturity shocked me. She wasn't thinking of herself, but of her mother. I told my driver to stop near an ice cream parlor, as Aria wanted ice cream. As we stopped, Aria's happy expression fell. She saw a little girl with a man who looked like her father.

"Do you want to go inside?" I asked.

She shook her head, looking down. I felt awkward.

"Tell your dad to bring you next time," I said, looking away. I didn't like talking about Eric, but I felt I had to.

She looked up. "My… dad?"

"What? Doesn't your dad take you and Noah out?"

"I–I don't have a… dad."

I frowned. Did she not know about Eric? I'd heard he even attended parent-teacher meetings. "Isn't Eric your dad?"

She shook her head. "Everyone thinks he is. Even my friends' parents."

"What do you mean? Isn't he your dad?" I asked urgently.

"No, Eric is our uncle. Mommy said he's not our dad."

I wasn't sure what to believe. She seemed unaware of the truth. After sighing, I shook my head. "Didn't Eric go to your parent-teacher meetings?"

She nodded slightly. "But Mommy had an exam. Uncle Eric said she shouldn't worry and went instead."

"She had an exam? She's studying?"

"Mommy just finished her studies."

I was unaware. Had Natalia continued her studies? Even graduated? I remembered her giving up school to marry me. Her adoptive father had said she'd decided against further education.

While I pondered this, Aria mumbled, "Uncle Eric once told us to call him Dad, but Mommy stopped us. He just loves us."

I looked at her. "Then who is your dad?"

Tears filled her eyes. "He's not with us. He's… gone."

I was shocked. "What?"

"Mommy said our dad is gone. Not to talk about him."

"He's gone?" I repeated, stunned. If Eric were their father, Natalia wouldn't have said that. It seemed impossible for her to erase their father's memory while he was still alive. A strange heaviness lifted from my chest.

"Tell me more about your dad," I said.

She shook her head. "No. Mommy said not to talk about him."

I rubbed my forehead. Aria looked sad again. I got out of the car, opened her door, and lifted her into my arms.

"Let's get some ice cream. Don't be sad."

She hugged my neck tightly, fearful of getting lost again. I held her close, reassuring her.

Everyone in the ice cream parlor looked at us. I went straight to the counter, ignoring the stares.

"Order whatever you want."

She chose vanilla and chocolate.

"Eat here or in the car?"

She looked around. "It's beautiful. I want to eat here."

I took her to a table. Her face lit up as she ate. She was so cute; she reminded me of her mother. I wondered if her mother had been just as childlike. I thought of Natalia's past: Had she lived in poverty, or luxury? As far as I remembered, Gamma Jeremy hadn't adopted Natalia at a young age.

"How's Mom?" I asked abruptly.

"She's the best mom in the world," she replied.

"And?"

"She wants us to be happy. So Noah and I want her to be happy too."

"How?"

Leaning closer, she whispered, "I heard Grandma tell Grandpa that Mommy is alone and needs a husband to protect her."

I averted my gaze. "What else did your grandma say?"

"She said Mommy cries alone, but never shows us her pain."

My heart froze. Why would she cry? Wasn't she happy with her boyfriend?

"Is Uncle Eric her boyfriend?"

Her eyes widened. "Is he?"

"I'm asking you." What was I doing, asking a child this? Why was I so desperate to know about Natalia's life?

"Leave it," I mumbled.

"Uncle Eric is Uncle Jason's friend. He's very kind. Noah and I like him a lot."

I was furious.

"Are you finished?" I asked, getting up.

She looked at her ice cream. I sighed, relaxing slightly. Then my phone rang—Natalia. My mood changed instantly.

"Where's my daughter?" Natalia's frantic voice filled the phone.

"She's with me," I replied calmly.

"Give her back! She's just a child. How could you… shame on you!"

Her words didn't anger me. What had Patric told her?

"Do you want me to return your daughter? Or do you want something else?"

"The truth."

"W–What?"

I looked at Aria, who grinned at me. I forced a smile, but my voice was unchanged as I replied to her mother.

"I want the truth about your children's father. I'm sending you an address. Come get your daughter. But you're not leaving without telling me the truth."

Natalia hung up. I stared at my phone. Earlier, I'd been relieved to find Aria. But learning Adrian had her… fear gripped me. How could he be so cruel?

"What did he say?" Eric asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I shook my head. "He wants to know about their father. I think he knows something."

Eric's eyebrows shot up. "What does he know?"

"I don't know. He sent an address, but he won't let me take Aria until I tell him the truth. How will I?" I pulled my hair in frustration. He knew my weakness.

I was in my room. My family knew about Aria's disappearance. When Patric called, I told them a friend found Aria. I didn't want them contacting Adrian. What if he hurt Aria?

"Natalia, what are you doing?" Eric asked, watching me go to the closet.

I ignored him, pulling out a gun. Eric's eyes widened. He tried to take it, but I dodged him.

"Don't stop me. He wants the truth? I'll tell him everything, then kill him."

Eric shook his head. "Don't do anything out of anger."

"NO, I CAN'T!" I yelled, tears streaming down my face. "What will he do to my children? He's Adrian Miller. He'll never let me live peacefully. I can't lose them."

I bit my lip, controlling my tears and anger. I looked at the gun. "It's the best way to teach him a lesson. I can be a killer, but I can't lose my children."

Eric grabbed my wrists, wresting the gun away just as I was about to pull the trigger.

"You can't do that. We can't hurt him. He's here for Jason's party."

I gaped at Eric. I couldn't let Jason get hurt because of me.

"Then what will I do?" I asked, losing my patience.

Eric put the gun away. He hugged me, and I sobbed. "What will he do when he knows the truth?"

Eric stroked my head. His words froze me.

"He'll never know the truth. Your children are bound by spells."

I stepped back. When had my parents done that? I'd known nothing about it. Adrian, a powerful Alpha, couldn't smell his own children. His wolf couldn't recognize his pups—because of the spell.

"W–What if he learns the truth? That's why he's calling me," I whispered.

Eric shook his head. "No one can break Qadir's spell. He's not a simple wizard."

I felt relief. "What will I tell him?"

"Lie to him."

I got a message from Adrian—the hotel address.

"Aria will be with you soon. Don't let him intimidate you," I mumbled.

I rushed out, my parents asking where I was going.

"To get Aria back," I said.

I told Jason, too. I didn't want him to worry.

"Let's go," Eric said, opening his car door.

I stopped. I didn't want to take him. Adrian had doubted Eric was the father. I couldn't risk angering him.

"I want to go alone."

"No, I can't let you go alone." Eric was stubborn.

"I'll make an excuse."

"No. I can't trust that man. If Jason finds out, he'll never forgive me."

He was adamant. Defeated, I got in the car. The silence was filled with my thoughts—of Noah, feeling guilty about Aria getting lost.

"I'm sorry, Mom," he'd said.

He was just a child. How could I blame him? It was my fault for not being careful enough, giving Adrian a chance to blackmail me.

The car stopped at the hotel—the best in the pack. My father owned it. I'd sent men to check security a few days ago.

Eric opened my door. We checked the message. "Room 902."

"Let's ask at reception," Eric said.

The receptionist recognized Eric, but she looked surprised at me. She'd likely seen the news from last night's party, where my father revealed my identity.

"Room 902," I said impatiently.

She gave directions. I stopped Eric as he was about to go.

"Can I go alone? You're here. If anything happens, I'll call."

He hesitated, then nodded. "I'm here. Just come back with Aria. Don't talk to him again."

I nodded and went to the elevator. On the ninth floor, I found the room and knocked, praying Aria was okay.

The door opened; it was room service. He let me in and left. I entered the presidential suite. Aria was eating brownies.

"ARIA!"

"Why the hurry?"

Adrian was there, on a couch with men in black—my brother's guards! How had they betrayed Jason?

"Mommy?"

Aria ran to me. I knelt, relieved she was okay.

"Mommy, I missed you. But the handsome uncle gave me food."

I frowned. Had Adrian poisoned her food?

Adrian scoffed. I stood, taking Aria's hand to leave. The guards stopped us.

"Let me go."

Adrian stood, walking toward us.

"Ungrateful! You lost your child, but when someone helps you find her, you leave without repaying?"

I glared. "Name your price."

He chuckled, throwing his cigarette. "Do you have anything to repay me?"

"Worship you?" I mocked.

His eyes darkened. He ordered his guards, "Take the child inside."

The guards pulled Aria away. "No, don't!" I yelled, holding her close.

Aria was confused.

"They won't hurt her. If they dare, they'll die," Adrian said, warning the guards.

"Mommy, I'll be fine. Uncle wants to talk to you," Aria said.

I was stunned. Had Adrian brainwashed her?

The guards took her to another room.

"So? Let's talk, Natalia Hansely. Who's your children's father?"

I looked into his eyes. He was calm, patient.

"He's dead," I replied.

He scowled. He's dead to me, I thought.