Chapter 11

Nova

After a long and eventful day, I was glad to finally be home. My feet dragged as I made my way up the front steps to my little brownstone apartment, but the sound of music and laughter coming from inside brought a smile to my face.

“What are you still doing up, young lady?” I teased as I stepped inside. “It’s way past your bedtime!”

“Mommy!” Lila came barreling out of the kitchen, bringing with her the scent of fresh-baked cookies. I hung up my coat and grinned, scooping my daughter up into my arms.

“I take it you had a fun day?”

Lila nodded enthusiastically. “Mhm. Auntie made cookies.”

“I can tell,” I laughed. “You’ve got chocolate all over your face.”

Susie appeared around the corner, smiling sheepishly. “I know it’s late, but the girls wanted to be up for when you got home. And Susie’s Famous Chocolate Chunk Cookies fix everything.”

I couldn’t help but moan with delight as my sister held out one of the enormous cookies, practically oozing with gooey chocolate. I took a big bite, savoring the way it melted on my tongue, and said, “Indeed they do. I feel better already.”

Emma, standing beside her mother, tilted her head. “Did you have a bad day?”

I hesitated. Did I have a bad day? There were a few unfortunate circumstances, but I really had enjoyed my time with Aria, and coming home like this—to a small home filled with warmth, love, cookies, and the promise of a good paycheck—made everything sweeter.

“I had a fantastic day, actually,” I said, setting Lila down and kicking off my shoes. “Just a long one. Which begs my next point—” I gave Lila a stern look— “go get your pajamas on, little miss. It’s late.”

Lila whined, but didn’t protest as I put her to bed. Once she was all tucked in, her eyelids already drooping, I sat on the edge of her bed and tucked her handmade yellow quilt—Susie had made both girls matching ones—up to her chin.

“I think you’d like the little girl I’m nannying,” I said, booping Lila’s nose. “You two would get along.”

Lila’s mouth twitched downwards a little at that. “You’re not gonna leave me for her, are you?”

My eyes widened. “Honey, why would you say that?”

“I dunno. Maybe she’s not broken like me. I’m a bastard.”

My heart cracked at her words. Without thinking, I pulled Lila into my arms and held her tight. “You’re my number one girl,” I whispered into her dark hair. “Always and forever.”

For a little while, I just rocked Lila until her breathing evened out. Once she was asleep, I turned off the light, leaving the room only lit by the pale glow of the nightlight, then quietly crept out to the living room. Susie was crocheting yet another blanket in the patched-up old armchair by the window.

“Haven’t you made enough of those?” I teased as I grabbed my laptop and flopped onto the couch.

Susie shrugged. “It’s meditative.” She held up the half-finished expanse of purple and pink yarn. “Maybe you can see if that little girl you’re nannying would like it.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that. “I think she would. Her father, on the other hand…” My voice trailed off as I thought of Dominic’s stern face. I didn’t know what to think of him anymore—he hadn’t stood up for me tonight for my sake, more for his late wife, but it had still touched me.

Maybe he wouldn’t turn his nose up at a human-made gift. Not if it was for his little princess, Aria.

I opened my laptop and checked my email. My eyes lit up when I saw an email from the hospital where I had given birth—I'd reached out just yesterday about a possible mix-up with Lila and another baby, and they had already replied.

But when I read the email, my heart sank.

“Susie, come look at this,” I gasped. “The hospital is threatening to sue me for defamation if I don’t stop pressing them!”

“What?” Susie threw aside her crocheting and scrambled over, peering over my shoulder to read the email.

My hands trembled as I held my laptop. It was the hospital that had potentially swapped my human daughter with a werewolf at birth, and now they wanted to sue me? This was absurd!

…

The following day, Dominic stayed true to his promise. Around dinnertime, he picked Aria and me up in his expensive sports car and took us out.

I, despite hardly sleeping all night after that awful email from the hospital, suddenly sat up straight when I saw the gleaming skyscraper come into view.

“We’re going to Sheffield’s?” I gulped, looking around at the other expensive cars and the stream of finely-dressed guests as Dominic parked. I hadn’t even gotten out of the car yet and I already felt underdressed in my simple checked trousers and white button-down.

Dominic didn’t even glance at me—just leaned over, casually placing his hand on the back of my headrest as he backed into a parking space. The gesture made me gawk for a second, but I quickly snapped my head forward once more, cheeks reddening.

“Something wrong with it?” he asked coolly.

I quickly shook my head. “No, not at all. It’s just expensive, that’s all.”

I didn’t mention the fact that I couldn’t even afford a glass of water at Sheffield’s, too ashamed to point that out. Although Dominic likely already knew.

Unfazed, Dominic parked the car and got out, then moved to help Aria out of her car seat. “I can afford it.”

I smiled faintly and climbed out. After a long elevator ride up to the top floor of the skyscraper, we emerged into an elegant restaurant packed full of werewolf socialites.

The sound of cutlery and voices filled the space, the soft strains of a live pianist floating through the air. The scent of roasted meat and seafood made my mouth water.

The hostess recognized Dominic right away and bowed her head respectfully. “Alpha Dominic, it’s an honor to serve you tonight. Right this way.”

The hostess led us to a somewhat secluded area near the back of the restaurant. The table was in a small alcove with windows on all three sides, allowing a panoramic view of Wintercrest below.

The city lights stretched out like a glittering sea, the river Umbria cutting across the expanse and shining in the light of the setting sun like liquid gold.

It was beautiful, and momentarily took my breath away. Being a human, I had never had the money to visit a restaurant in a skyscraper like this.

Right now, I was pretty certain I was one of perhaps three humans in the entire establishment, and the other two likely worked in the kitchens.

The hostess pulled out two of everything: two menus, two sets of cutlery wrapped in crisp white napkins. “Here you are, Sir,” she said, gesturing to one chair and then the other. “And a children’s menu for the young lady.”

Just as the hostess was about to walk away, I pointed out, “You forgot about me.”

The hostess stopped and gave me a distasteful look up and down. “You’re dining here, too?” she asked incredulously, as if I had just implied the sky was purple.

My mouth parted, but Dominic quickly cut in, “Miss Brooks is my guest. And I would certainly hope you don’t speak to potential customers like this. Perhaps we should take our business elsewhere.”

Dominic began to stand, but the hostess immediately recovered. “Uh—No, Sir, that won’t be necessary. I’ll get your guest an extra chair and a menu.”

“And an apology,” Dominic ordered.

The hostess’s face reddened, but she obliged. She quickly turned toward me and bowed her head deeply, averting her gaze. “My apologies, Miss. I hope you can forgive me.”

I was speechless. No one, especially not a werewolf like that woman, had ever apologized to me like that before. I didn’t know how to respond other than a weak, “Thanks.”

The hostess scurried away, returning a moment later with the promised materials. I was equal parts thankful and surprised that he had stood up for me, and took my seat.

“What do you like to eat when you go out, Miss Nova?” Aria asked as they scanned their menus. “I like to get mac and cheese and chicken tenders—Daddy says it’s not healthy usually but it’s okay to sp… spl…”

Aria furrowed her brow, trying to form the word.

“The word is ‘splurge’,” Dominic offered without looking up from his menu. “It means to indulge. To treat yourself.”

Aria nodded vigorously and turned to me. “Right. Anyway, what do you like?”

I couldn’t help but smile, but truthfully, I couldn’t think of anything. “Well, I… I don’t really go out,” I admitted, scanning my menu for something that wasn’t too expensive. Even if Dominic could afford it, I didn’t want to be rude.

Aria gasped. “Never? Like, never ever?”

“Only once in a while,” I said. “For my birthday, for example.”

“Oh. Is your birthday soon?”

I shook my head. “Not for another few months. September fifth.”

Aria turned to Dominic. “Daddy, make sure you put that in your calendar. I want to take Miss Nova out again.”

Dominic nodded slowly, and I had a feeling he wouldn’t bother. Why would he? I was just the nanny. But when his eyes briefly flicked up to mine and met my gaze, I felt my face warm a little.

Just then, as I was locking gazes with Dominic, I saw movement over his shoulder. My stomach dropped when I looked over and saw a familiar figure walking straight toward our table.

Henry Kingsley.

My ex-husband.

“I need to use the restroom,” I quickly blurted out, shoving my chair back so abruptly it rattled the table. “I’ll be right back.”

Before Dominic or Aria could react, I hurried away.