My Best Friend's Dad is My Alpha

Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Morning After

The Hawthorne Estate was unusually quiet the morning after Emilia's birthday.

The decorations were gone.

The fairy lights had been taken down.

Only a few white rose petals remained scattered across the gardens, swaying gently in the breeze.

Yet for Killian Hawthorne...

Nothing felt normal anymore.

---

He hadn't slept.

Not even for a minute.

Instead, he stood in the private gym beneath the mansion, throwing punch after punch into a heavy leather bag.

Bang!

The chain rattled violently.

Bang!

His knuckles split open.

Blood stained the worn leather.

Still, he didn't stop.

Bang!

The door creaked open.

Damien Blackwood stepped inside.

"I thought I'd find you here."

Killian didn't answer.

He threw another punch.

The chain snapped.

The heavy bag crashed onto the floor with a deafening thud.

Silence followed.

Damien folded his arms.

"So..."

Killian finally looked at him.

"You know."

It wasn't a question.

Damien nodded once.

"I smelled it last night."

Killian looked away.

"I was hoping I imagined it."

"You didn't."

A heavy silence settled between them.

Finally, Damien spoke.

"The Moon Goddess chose."

Killian laughed bitterly.

"No."

"She made a mistake."

"There has never been a mistake in a mate bond."

"There is now."

Damien sighed.

"You know that's impossible."

Killian's voice hardened.

"She's Sean's daughter."

"I know."

"She's Camila's best friend."

"I know."

"I watched her grow up."

"I know."

Each sentence felt heavier than the last.

Killian ran a hand through his dark hair.

"What am I supposed to do?"

It was the first time Damien had ever heard his Alpha ask a question without already knowing the answer.

For once...

The strongest Alpha in the country looked completely lost.

---

Across the city...

Emilia woke with a smile she couldn't explain.

She stretched before sitting upright.

Her room smelled faintly of cedar.

She frowned.

That's strange...

Then she noticed it.

Killian's suit jacket.

Still draped neatly across the chair beside her bed.

She had forgotten to return it.

Her fingers brushed the sleeve.

Immediately...

Warmth spread through her chest.

Her heartbeat quickened.

"What is wrong with me?"

She hugged the jacket to herself before quickly placing it back down.

"No."

She shook her head.

"This has to stop."

She couldn't keep daydreaming about Killian.

Not after promising herself she'd move on.

---

At breakfast, Sean looked up from his newspaper as Emilia entered.

"Morning."

"Morning, Dad."

Mrs. Walters placed pancakes on the table.

Sean smiled faintly.

"Any plans today?"

"I was thinking of meeting Camila."

"Good."

He hesitated before adding,

"I'm taking the afternoon off."

Emilia blinked.

"You are?"

"I thought..."

He cleared his throat awkwardly.

"...we could spend some time together."

A smile spread across Emilia's face.

"I'd like that."

Sean smiled back.

It felt unfamiliar.

But nice.

---

Meanwhile...

Roman Volkov stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse suite.

The city stretched endlessly beneath him.

His Beta entered.

"Our investigation is complete."

Roman turned.

"Tell me."

"The girl is Emilia Miller."

Roman repeated the name quietly.

"Emilia..."

"Daughter of billionaire Sean Miller."

"What about the man with her?"

His Beta opened another file.

"Killian Hawthorne."

Roman's eyes narrowed.

"The businessman?"

"More than that."

"What do you mean?"

"We've uncovered rumors."

"What kind of rumors?"

His Beta hesitated.

"There are whispers that powerful people answer to him."

Roman smiled.

"So..."

"He's not just another wealthy executive."

Interesting.

Very interesting.

His wolf stirred again.

Take her.

Roman ignored it.

"Not yet."

He wanted answers first.

---

At Hawthorne Global Headquarters...

Killian sat in his office, but none of the reports on his desk held his attention.

Every time he closed his eyes...

He saw Emilia.

Laughing.

Smiling.

Looking up at him beneath the moonlight.

A knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in."

Lucian Hawthorne walked in without waiting.

"You look terrible."

Killian glared at his younger brother.

"Good morning to you too."

Lucian smirked.

"When was the last time you slept?"

"I don't remember."

"Hmm."

Lucian leaned casually against the desk.

"Something happened last night."

Killian remained silent.

"I've known you my whole life."

Lucian shrugged.

"You only wear that expression when something's completely shattered your world."

Killian's jaw tightened.

"I'm fine."

Lucian laughed.

"No, you're not."

Before Killian could reply, his phone buzzed.

The caller ID displayed a familiar name.

Sean Miller.

Killian answered.

"Sean."

"Free for lunch?"

Killian closed his eyes briefly.

"Yes."

"Good."

"I'll meet you at one."

The call ended.

Lucian raised an eyebrow.

"Business?"

"No."

"Friends."

Lucian smiled.

"Maybe that'll cheer you up."

Killian wasn't so sure.

Meeting Sean had never been difficult before.

Now...

Every conversation with his oldest friend felt like walking across thin ice.

Because Sean had no idea...

That fate had chosen the one woman Killian believed he could never allow himself to love.

And somewhere in the city...

Roman Volkov smiled as he looked at Emilia's photograph one last time before slipping it into his jacket.

"It's time we met, Emilia Miller."