Chapter 14

Nova & Lila

Nova

July twenty-fifth. That was Lila’s seventh birthday, too—and Emma’s, for that matter. Nova couldn’t help but think about how funny the coincidence was. Three little girls, born on the exact same day.

No wonder Nova felt so drawn to Aria!

Later, after dinner, Dominic dropped Nova off at home. “So you’ll come to my birthday?” Aria asked as Dominic pulled up in front of the brownstone.

Nova nodded. “Of course. I’ll tell my daughter that she’s invited, too.”

Aria beamed, pleased, and Nova said goodnight as she climbed out of the car.

The moment Nova entered the apartment, Lila came barreling around the corner from the living room. “Mommy!” she squealed, rushing into Nova’s arms like a little whirlwind.

Nova grinned, breathless from the sudden impact, and scooped her daughter up into her arms. “You’re up late again,” she teased.

“I can’t go to sleep without your kisses,” Lila pointed out. “Auntie said I could stay up until you got home.”

“Well in that case, Auntie should be the one to try and wake you up in the morning when you’re cranky because you’re so tired,” Nova said, winking at Susie over Lila’s shoulder, “but I’m glad you’re up. I actually wanted to ask you something.”

Lila’s eyes lit up. “What is it?”

“The little girl I’m taking care of is having her birthday party on the same day as your birthday. Would you like to go?”

Lila’s face darkened at that. Without answering, she wriggled out of Nova’s arms and ran off, disappearing into her bedroom down the hall. Nova stared after her for a moment, confused.

“I think she’s starting to get jealous,” Susie said quietly from the living room doorway.

Nova sighed and kicked off her shoes before following Lila. When she found her, she was curled up in her bed with the covers pulled over her head. Nova carefully sat on the edge of the mattress and placed her hand on the little form beneath the blankets.

“Lila, what’s gotten into you?”

“You’re gonna leave me for that other girl,” a muffled little voice called back. “She’s probably not broken like I am.”

Nova’s heart cracked. “Sweetheart… You’re not broken.”

“But I’m a werewolf when I should be a human like you. I came out all wrong.”

“That wasn’t your fault.” Nova stared down at her lap. “The hospital just made a mistake, that’s all. But you’re still my little girl. Forever and always, no matter what.”

There was a sniffle under the covers. Finally, Lila poked her head out, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy from crying. “I don’t like how you keep missing dinner with us. Auntie said you were having dinner at a restaurant with your new family tonight.”

“Sweetheart…” Nova held her arms out, allowing Lila to clamber into her lap. She held her tight. “They’re not my new family—they’re just my employers. I’m doing this to make us money.”

She didn’t want to tell her six-year-old daughter that if she didn’t have this job, they might end up on the streets.

Lila sniffled again and rested her head on Nova’s chest. “I want to spend more time with you.”

“I know, honey. So do I.” Nova sighed and combed her fingers through Lila’s dark hair. “Tell you what—we’ll do something fun on my next day off. Just you and me. How does that sound?”

“That would be nice…”

“And in the meantime,” Nova said gently, rocking Lila, “why don’t you think about going to Aria’s birthday party? She really wants to meet you. Maybe if you two become friends, you can come with me to work sometimes.”

Lila didn’t respond to that.

When Nova looked down, Lila had fallen asleep. She rocked her for a while longer before gently tucking her in and kissing her forehead.

…

Lila

Lila was very upset that her mother had to go back to work.

She didn’t like when Mommy had to go to work. She liked it when they were all together—Mommy, Auntie, Emma, and Lila. A family. She liked it when they had breakfast, lunch, and dinner together. When they played board games and watched princess movies before bed.

And she didn’t like that her mom was out playing with another little girl all day while Lila was sitting at home, waiting for her.

The next morning, Mommy kissed Lila goodbye like every day. Lila pouted as she watched her mother walk down the sidewalk through the front window.

“Why don’t we go to the park today?” Auntie asked, placing her hand on Lila’s shoulder. “You, me, and Emma. We’ll get ice cream after.”

The thought of ice cream made Lila perk up, but only a little. Ice cream didn’t taste as good when her mother wasn’t eating it with her.

A little while later, once Lila was dressed in a pair of dungarees and a striped t-shirt, she, Auntie, and Emma headed out to the park down the street. Emma grabbed Lila’s hand and pulled her ahead, but Lila dragged her feet, not in the mood to play.

“Why don’t you wanna play with me anymore?” Emma asked, pushing her lower lip out in a pout. “You’re always sad lately. It’s making me sad.”

Lila shrugged. “I miss my Mom.”

“It’s not like she’s dead or something. She’s just working. She’ll come back.”

“Yeah, but… She’s always working. I think she’s having more fun with that other girl and she doesn’t wanna be around me anymore.”

Auntie, having overheard, suddenly gasped. “Miss Lila!” she chided. “Don’t say that! Your mother loves you very much and wants to be around you all the time.”

Lila didn’t argue, but she didn’t believe Auntie. Her mom’s face always lit up whenever she talked about that other girl, Aria. She talked about her like she was her own daughter.

Maybe Aria really was her real daughter. Lila thought that would make sense—after all, she wasn’t her mom’s real daughter. She was a werewolf. A mistake.

As they approached the park, Lila looked up to see a large house at the top of the hill overhead. She pointed. “Whose house is that?”

“That’s the Alpha House,” Auntie replied. “That’s where your mom works, actually. Maybe, if you wave, she’ll see you from there!”

Emma grinned and waved up at the house excitedly, but Lila was frozen. Her mom was up there, right now… That meant that Aria was there, too.

Lila knew, then, that she had to go up there. She had to see that other girl. She wanted to know if Mommy loved Aria more than her.

Lila played with Emma in the sandbox for a little while, biding her time until Auntie was distracted with one of the other moms at the park. Then, once Auntie’s back was turned, she quickly slipped away into the bushes.

“Where are you going?” Emma hissed after her.

“Shh!” Lila put her finger to her lips. “I’m just gonna go see the Alpha House. Stay here. I’ll be right back. And don’t tell Auntie!”

Emma pouted, folding her arms across her chest. “You’re gonna get in trouble!”

“No, I won’t. Not if you don’t tattle.”

With that, Lila quickly scurried away. The hill leading up to the Alpha House seemed to never end, and Lila’s overalls started to get torn on the bushes as she scrambled up through the woods. But finally, she reached the top and gasped.

This was where her mom worked? This place was a mansion!

Lila looked around, noticing a scary-looking werewolf in a black uniform standing by the gate. She knew she should probably avoid him, so she hurried down the fence line instead and found a spot where the hedges were a little higher.

The bars were just wide enough to squeeze her little body through, and a moment later, she was inside.

Quickly, Lila hurried across the lawn and ran up to the side of the house. She heard voices inside. Was that her mother? One was higher-pitched—the little girl?

Standing on her tiptoes, she grabbed the windowsill and lifted herself higher, trying to peek into the house…

Suddenly, a hand grasped Lila’s shoulder. She gasped as someone pulled her away from the window and twirled her around to face them. Lila found herself looking up into the face of a tall man with dark hair and golden eyes, just like hers.

The man crouched down, holding her by both shoulders.

“Whose child are you?” he asked.