Aria's POV
The rest of the holiday passed quietly. Damon never appeared again. No unexpected encounters, no phone calls. But somehow, that frightened me more.
Lydia paced uneasily inside me. He's too quiet. He is probably hunting.
I sighed. I know.
Damon wasn't the type of Alpha who admitted defeat. He investigated, planned, waited... Then he struck. The silence wasn't surrender. It was preparation.
Before now, Elona had been a secret. Hidden. Protected. Now Damon had seen her with his own eyes. He knew she was real.
Which meant that if suspicion consumed him enough, he wouldn't hesitate. He could have her taken. Run a DNA test. Use his influence to force every door open. My blood ran cold.
My chest tightened.
"No." I whispered the word aloud. "No one is taking my daughter."
Lydia
