Chapter 46
SOPHIA’S POV
Ashley was missing.
The second Tiffany said those words I was already moving. Patricia had gone the other way, toward the gymnasium and the outdoor playground, calling Ashley’s name. I had gone toward the older wing of the school, where the bathrooms, storage rooms, and unused classrooms were.
Klara stayed behind in the home economics room with Ms. Henderson.
I pushed open the first bathroom door slowly.
“Ashley?” I called softly, not wanting to scare her if she was hiding there.
My voice echoed back at me. The stalls were empty. The sinks were dry. There were no small shoes under the doors.
She’s not here.
I moved down the hallway, looking through the narrow windows of classroom doors. Most rooms were dark and empty.
I was so worried about Ashley.
Why did she run?
My chest ached with the thought. Ashley must have felt so small today. First on the stage. Then in that room full of judging adults. And then alone.
I rounded another corner, and that was when I heard it – the sound of soft crying.
I followed the sound. It was coming from near the girls’ restroom at the far end of the hall.
“Ashley,” I whispered again.
Then I heard another voice. It was Damien’s.
I froze.
I felt relieved that I had found her but I also felt dread in my stomach.
My wolf bristled. Damien’s presence always did that. His alpha scent filled the air.
I stopped just around the corner. I was out of sight, but close enough to see them.
Damien was crouched outside the girls’ restroom. He was hugging Ashley. One of his hands stroked her hair slowly. He was murmuring to her. I couldn’t hear every word, but I heard the tone. It hurt more than I expected.
This is what he looks like when he chooses to be a father. This is the side of him I don’t get to see anymore.
“They were mean,” Ashley cried. “They were all yelling. And Aunt Tiffany tried but it got all messed up and everyone was mad and I didn’t know what to do p>
Damien murmured something soothing. Ashley sniffed and kept talking.
“I tried to help her,” she said desperately. “I told them to stop. I didn’t want them to be mean to her. And then everyone was looking at me and I – I ran. I’m sorry, Daddy. I’m sorry I ran. I’m sorry I’m bad p>
The words slammed into my chest.
Bad. She thinks she’s bad.
“No,” Damien said firmly. “You are not bad. Do you hear me p>
Ashley nodded against his shoulder, still crying.
“This was not your fault,” he continued. “Adults failed you today. Not the other way around p>
I swallowed hard. My eyes burned.
“Where was your mother?” he asked. “Where was she when all this happened p>
I flinched like I’d been hit.
Ashley hesitated. “She was… she was with Klara. She came later p>
Damien exhaled slowly through his nose. I could feel the anger radiating off him even from here. His wolf was close to the surface. I could sense it.
I stepped forward before I could lose my nerve.
My footsteps were quiet, but Damien heard them instantly. His head snapped up. Our eyes met.
The look he gave me was pure disgust. Ashley lifted her tear-stained face from his shoulder.
“Mom,” she breathed, and reached for me.
My heart broke.
But Damien’s arm tightened around her, holding her in place.
I walked closer then stopped a few feet away.
“I’m so glad you’re safe,” I said gently “We were all so worried about you p>
Ashley sniffed and nodded. She tried to lean toward me again but Damien didn’t let her go.
“Thank you for helping look,” he said in a flat tone. “It’s appreciated p>
I heard what he wasn’t saying. Then he delivered the blow.
“You’re never here. Maybe it’s time you focus on your own family,” Damien said evenly. “You have a daughter who needs you p>
“She does,” I said quietly.
He stood, glaring at me. “Ashley needs stability. She needs her parents. Not… distractions p>
I looked at Ashley. I really looked at her. Her red eyes. Her trembling hands.
I knelt to her level.
“I’m so sorry about today, Ashley” I said.
I wrapped my arms around her and breathed in her scent.
“I was so scared,” Ashley whispered into my shoulder.
“I know,” I told her. “It must have felt awful p>
She pulled back to look at me. “Are you mad at me for running away p>
“No,” I said quickly. “I’m not mad. I was worried. Very worried p>
I took a slow breath and looked into her eyes.
“You are not a bad daughter,” I said firmly. “Not at all p>
I brushed her hair back from her face.
“You are a strong, smart, wonderful girl,” I continued. “You are capable of so much more than you realize p>
Ashley blinked at me. “You really think that p>
“Yes,” I said. “I do p>
She doubts herself already. Seven years old and already doubting.
“Part of growing up,” I said, “is learning to handle hard situations. And hard feelings p>
She nodded.
“But Ashley,” I said gently, “running away today… that was not the right choice p>
She froze in my arms.
“I understand why you did it,” I added quickly. “Anyone would want to run after a day like that.But when things are hard or overwhelming, running only makes it worse p>
“People were looking at me,” she murmured.
“I know,” I said. “But hiding doesn’t solve the problem. It just makes everyone panic p>
“I didn’t mean to make you worry p>
“I know you didn’t,” I replied. “When something is wrong, you need to face it. Talk about it. Not hide p>
I glanced past her to Damien.
“And you need to trust the adults in your life,” I said carefully, “to help you through those moments p>
Damien’s eyes met mine.
“Your father loves you very much,” I told Ashley, still looking at Damien. “He wants what’s best for you p>
Ashley turned to him. “Daddy p>
“Yes, sweetheart,” Damien said. His tone softened for her alone.
I slowly stood up then. Every instinct screamed at me to keep holding her but I didn’t. I put distance between us.
“Listen to your father,” I said one final time to Ashley. “He knows what’s best for you p>
Damien picked her up and adjusted her against his shoulder.
“We’re going home now,” he said.
“Okay,” Ashley whispered.
I watched as he turned away from me. I forced myself to stand still.
Minutes passed. I didn’t know how many. I pressed one hand to my chest and tried to breathe through it.
Then I heard footsteps.
Patricia appeared at the far end of the hall, breathless.
“Sophia!” she called. “Any sign of her p>
The moment she saw my face, her expression changed. Without asking any questions, she wrapped her arms around me and held me tight.
I collapsed into her. The control I had kept for Ashley finally shattered.
“Hey,” Patricia whispered, stroking my hair. “It’s okay. I’ve got you p>
I sobbed against her shoulder. My wolf howled softly inside me now that the crisis was over and the real pain had begun.
“Is Ashley found?” Patricia asked quietly. “Is she safe p>
I nodded.
“Yes,” I managed to say. “Damien has her. They’re going home. Everything is fine p>
Eventually I pulled back and wiped my face with my palms. My eyes were swollen. Mascara smudged. I knew I looked broken.
“What’s wrong?” Patricia asked, “Talk to me p>
“I found them,” I said. “Damien was with Ashley. She was crying and he comforted her. I spoke to Ashley but for some reason, it felt like I was letting her go. It felt like I was losing my daughter p>
Patricia listened without interrupting. When I finally ran out of words, she spoke carefully.
“This has been complicated from the start,” she said gently.
“I know,” I whispered.
“As a mother,” Patricia continued, “I’ve been afraid for you. Afraid you were pouring too much of yourself into a child and father who don’t appreciate you enough p>
My wolf stirred at that.
“I love her,” I admitted.
“I know you do,” Patricia said softly.
She pulled me into her arms again.
The hallway around us stayed empty and quiet. My wolf finally settled as Patricia held me like I was the pup now, like I was the one who needed saving.
And maybe I was.