Page 218 of His Sunshine Baby

Oh, her cousin. That makes sense. My two-year-old nephew is a bit too young to be in a hospital, and he has a bit of a temper, too. He probably can’t sit still for a long time. Estelle, on the other hand, is very calm, though she sends regular glances to the surgery room, and seems a bit afraid by the crowd around her. Is that why she’s staying right next to me?

“Estelle?” I gently call to her.

“Mhmm?”

“How did you know that I’m your dad?”

Daniel sends me another glare from behind her, but I don’t care. Estelle smiles, all proud, and explains in her little voice.

“I have your picture! Mommy showed it to me, and I said I liked it, so Mommy printed it and now I have it! I put it in a pretty frame so I could see you all the time!”

My heart is torn apart from hearing this.

I’m such an ass. All these years… Damn it. I can’t hold back; I pull my daughter in to hug her. I’m so thankful to Elena. She didn’t tell her how much of an imbecile her father was, or pretend I didn’t exist.

“But… Daddy… I left the picture at the house…”

I chuckle.

“It’s okay, baby. I’m here now. And we can get it back later if you want.”

“Can we?” asks Nora, turning to Sylviana. “You said she was…”

The witch seems to hesitate for a few seconds.

“She fled as soon as she sensed me, but from what I felt, she is stronger than before. I’m afraid we don’t have much time left.”

Damian and I exchange a glance. We were preparing for when this Dark Witch would attack, but… this is too soon. I only barely met Estelle, and Elena is in such a state!

“How long?” asks Damian.

“I’m not sure,” sighs Sylviana. ”It could be a few weeks, or a few months. But it will be before next year.”

Next year? We are already in July… meaning we only have six months left, maximum. I look at my daughter, feeling like a vice is constricting my heart. At least now she’s here with me.

“Tonia?”

Boyan’s older sister just came out of the surgery room, wearing a nurse’s gown. She takes off the paper hat and mask, walking up to us. I realize Damian probably gave orders right when we came back.

“Hi, everyone. Elena is fine. We managed to save her shoulder too. It will take a few weeks, but she’ll heal. She’s stable, but she will need to stay in the intensive care unit. She lost a lot of blood, and like Nora, she doesn’t heal like a normal werewolf either.”

“Thank you for taking care of her,” says Levi.

“What are you talking about? She’s family, of course we will take care of her, and Estelle too,” replies Nora.

He looks down, a bit overwhelmed by the Luna’s annoyed tone. Damian probably told her about the White Moon clan banishing Elena. Nora is usually gentle, but when she’s pissed, you don’t want to be in the same room as her. She learned howto be scary from my brother, but her Alpha Aura is no mere imitation.

“Nora, go home with Estelle,” says Damian. “She won’t be able to see her mother in the intensive care unit.”

“But… I want to see Mommy…” Estelle starts crying.

She’s standing next to me, opposite from my brother, but I can tell Damian scares her a bit. I caress my daughter’s hair.

“Estelle, Mommy is sleeping now, and doctors are taking care of her.”

She slowly cries, fidgeting. She grabs my hand, holding on to it.

“Daddy… Please… I promise I won’t wake Mommy up… I’ll be really quiet… please…”

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