Chapter 2
1691 Words
Chapter 2: A Father's Love
The Miller Mansion was silent when Emilia returned that evening.
The silence wasn't unusual.
It was expected.
As she stepped through the grand entrance, the housekeeper, Mrs. Walters, smiled warmly.
"Welcome home, Miss Emilia."
"Thanks, Mrs. Walters."
"I kept dinner warm."
Emilia glanced toward the empty dining room.
"Has Dad eaten?"
Mrs. Walters hesitated.
"He called. He'll be working late again."
Emilia forced a smile.
"Of course."
She should have seen that coming.
Tomorrow was her birthday.
Another birthday Sean Miller would probably miss.
---
The Miller Corporation headquarters towered over the city's skyline.
On the top floor...
Sean Miller stared through the glass wall of his office.
The city lights shimmered below, but he barely noticed them.
His assistant, Clara, entered quietly.
"Sir."
Sean didn't turn around.
"What is it?"
"You've canceled dinner again."
"I know."
"You also canceled tomorrow morning's board meeting."
"I did."
She blinked.
That was unlike him.
Sean picked up a small velvet box resting on his desk.
Inside lay a silver moon-shaped pendant decorated with tiny diamonds.
Sophia's favorite design.
"I've missed every birthday since she was born."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
Clara remained silent.
She had worked for Sean for over fifteen years.
She knew why.
Every year on Emilia's birthday...
Sean remembered the hospital.
The screaming.
The doctors.
The moment they told him Sophia hadn't survived.
Every birthday felt less like a celebration...
And more like reliving the worst day of his life.
"I don't know how to look at her," he admitted.
"She has Sophia's eyes."
"And every time I see them..."
His voice cracked.
"I remember losing my wife."
Clara's expression softened.
"Sir... Emilia doesn't need a perfect father."
Sean closed the velvet box.
"She deserves one."
---
Meanwhile...
At the Hawthorne Estate...
Killian stood on the balcony outside his study.
His Beta, Damien Blackwood, approached.
"You've been quiet."
Killian didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he watched the moon rising above the trees.
"She's eighteen tomorrow."
Damien frowned.
"Emilia?"
Killian nodded.
"I still remember the day Sean brought her here."
"So do I."
"She could barely walk."
Damien smiled faintly.
"Camila kept trying to teach her."
"They both fell into the pond."
The memory almost made Killian laugh.
Almost.
"Time moves too quickly."
Damien folded his arms.
"You've always cared about her."
"She's family."
The words sounded convincing.
Yet something inside him felt... unsettled.
He couldn't explain it.
Lately...
Whenever Emilia smiled...
His wolf became strangely attentive.
Not restless.
Not aggressive.
Simply...
Aware.
It made no sense.
Damien noticed the distant look in Killian's eyes.
"Everything alright?"
Killian looked away from the moon.
"I don't know."
---
Across the city...
A black luxury SUV rolled through the streets.
Inside sat a man whose face remained hidden beneath the shadows.
Roman Volkov.
His fingers drummed lazily against the armrest.
"When?"
he asked.
The man beside him answered immediately.
"Tomorrow night."
Roman smiled.
"Excellent."
His wolf had been unusually restless for weeks.
As though...
Something was calling to him.
He intended to discover what.
"No mistakes," Roman said.
"I want eyes on every major Alpha gathering."
"Yes, Alpha."
Roman leaned back.
Somewhere...
Something important was about to happen.
He could feel it.
---
Near midnight...
Emilia stood by her bedroom window wearing one of her mother's oversized sweaters.
She held an old photograph in her hands.
It showed four smiling adults.
Sean.
Sophia.
Killian.
Lillian.
And two little girls sitting on the grass.
Camila.
And herself.
She traced her mother's smiling face with trembling fingers.
"I wish you were here."
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
Mrs. Walters entered carrying a small package.
"Your father asked me to give this to you tomorrow morning..."
She smiled.
"But I think he'd forgive me if I gave it to you a little early."
Emilia carefully opened the box.
Inside was the silver moon pendant.
Beneath it lay a handwritten note.
For the first time in years...
Her father's handwriting.
> To my dearest Emilia,
If your mother were here, she'd tell me to stop hiding behind my work.
I know I haven't been the father you deserve.
Not because I don't love you...
But because every birthday reminds me of the day I lost the love of my life.
That was never your burden to carry.
I'm trying to be better.
Happy eighteenth birthday, sweetheart.
Love always, Dad.
Tears welled in Emilia's golden eyes.
For years...
She had wondered if he even noticed her.
Now she realized...
He noticed everything.
He simply didn't know how to say it.
She clasped the pendant around her neck.
Outside, the full moon slipped from behind the clouds, bathing the room in silver light.
A strange warmth spread through her body.
She frowned.
"What..."
The pendant glowed.
Just once.
Then went dark.
Far across the city...
Killian's wolf suddenly stirred.
Roman's eyes snapped open inside his moving SUV.
And deep within ancient ruins hidden from the modern world...
A hooded man slowly lifted his head.
A faint smile crossed his lips.
"The Moonborn has awakened."
End of Chapter 2Chapter 2: A Father's Love
The Miller Mansion was silent when Emilia returned that evening.
The silence wasn't unusual.
It was expected.
As she stepped through the grand entrance, the housekeeper, Mrs. Walters, smiled warmly.
"Welcome home, Miss Emilia."
"Thanks, Mrs. Walters."
"I kept dinner warm."
Emilia glanced toward the empty dining room.
"Has Dad eaten?"
Mrs. Walters hesitated.
"He called. He'll be working late again."
Emilia forced a smile.
"Of course."
She should have seen that coming.
Tomorrow was her birthday.
Another birthday Sean Miller would probably miss.
---
The Miller Corporation headquarters towered over the city's skyline.
On the top floor...
Sean Miller stared through the glass wall of his office.
The city lights shimmered below, but he barely noticed them.
His assistant, Clara, entered quietly.
"Sir."
Sean didn't turn around.
"What is it?"
"You've canceled dinner again."
"I know."
"You also canceled tomorrow morning's board meeting."
"I did."
She blinked.
That was unlike him.
Sean picked up a small velvet box resting on his desk.
Inside lay a silver moon-shaped pendant decorated with tiny diamonds.
Sophia's favorite design.
"I've missed every birthday since she was born."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
Clara remained silent.
She had worked for Sean for over fifteen years.
She knew why.
Every year on Emilia's birthday...
Sean remembered the hospital.
The screaming.
The doctors.
The moment they told him Sophia hadn't survived.
Every birthday felt less like a celebration...
And more like reliving the worst day of his life.
"I don't know how to look at her," he admitted.
"She has Sophia's eyes."
"And every time I see them..."
His voice cracked.
"I remember losing my wife."
Clara's expression softened.
"Sir... Emilia doesn't need a perfect father."
Sean closed the velvet box.
"She deserves one."
---
Meanwhile...
At the Hawthorne Estate...
Killian stood on the balcony outside his study.
His Beta, Damien Blackwood, approached.
"You've been quiet."
Killian didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he watched the moon rising above the trees.
"She's eighteen tomorrow."
Damien frowned.
"Emilia?"
Killian nodded.
"I still remember the day Sean brought her here."
"So do I."
"She could barely walk."
Damien smiled faintly.
"Camila kept trying to teach her."
"They both fell into the pond."
The memory almost made Killian laugh.
Almost.
"Time moves too quickly."
Damien folded his arms.
"You've always cared about her."
"She's family."
The words sounded convincing.
Yet something inside him felt... unsettled.
He couldn't explain it.
Lately...
Whenever Emilia smiled...
His wolf became strangely attentive.
Not restless.
Not aggressive.
Simply...
Aware.
It made no sense.
Damien noticed the distant look in Killian's eyes.
"Everything alright?"
Killian looked away from the moon.
"I don't know."
---
Across the city...
A black luxury SUV rolled through the streets.
Inside sat a man whose face remained hidden beneath the shadows.
Roman Volkov.
His fingers drummed lazily against the armrest.
"When?"
he asked.
The man beside him answered immediately.
"Tomorrow night."
Roman smiled.
"Excellent."
His wolf had been unusually restless for weeks.
As though...
Something was calling to him.
He intended to discover what.
"No mistakes," Roman said.
"I want eyes on every major Alpha gathering."
"Yes, Alpha."
Roman leaned back.
Somewhere...
Something important was about to happen.
He could feel it.
---
Near midnight...
Emilia stood by her bedroom window wearing one of her mother's oversized sweaters.
She held an old photograph in her hands.
It showed four smiling adults.
Sean.
Sophia.
Killian.
Lillian.
And two little girls sitting on the grass.
Camila.
And herself.
She traced her mother's smiling face with trembling fingers.
"I wish you were here."
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
Mrs. Walters entered carrying a small package.
"Your father asked me to give this to you tomorrow morning..."
She smiled.
"But I think he'd forgive me if I gave it to you a little early."
Emilia carefully opened the box.
Inside was the silver moon pendant.
Beneath it lay a handwritten note.
For the first time in years...
Her father's handwriting.
> To my dearest Emilia,
If your mother were here, she'd tell me to stop hiding behind my work.
I know I haven't been the father you deserve.
Not because I don't love you...
But because every birthday reminds me of the day I lost the love of my life.
That was never your burden to carry.
I'm trying to be better.
Happy eighteenth birthday, sweetheart.
Love always, Dad.
Tears welled in Emilia's golden eyes.
For years...
She had wondered if he even noticed her.
Now she realized...
He noticed everything.
He simply didn't know how to say it.
She clasped the pendant around her neck.
Outside, the full moon slipped from behind the clouds, bathing the room in silver light.
A strange warmth spread through her body.
She frowned.
"What..."
The pendant glowed.
Just once.
Then went dark.
Far across the city...
Killian's wolf suddenly stirred.
Roman's eyes snapped open inside his moving SUV.
And deep within ancient ruins hidden from the modern world...
A hooded man slowly lifted his head.
A faint smile crossed his lips.
"The Moonborn has awakened."
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