Page 35 of Fated to the Enemy Alpha

In a moment, I was back beside Betty, who was awake again. “Mommy?” She looked wide-eyed and asked. “You’re not going again, are you?”

My heart squeezed, and I settled onto the bed beside her. “No, I’m going to stay right here with you. In fact, I was hoping that when you feel better later, you’ll let me play house with you?”

Betty brightened instantly. “I love playing house.”

“Emily and Matthew have loved playing it, too. They’re not ready to stop pretending. Do you think you can keep calling them Mommy and Daddy for a bit longer?”

Just as I asked her, there was a knock at the front door downstairs. My heart raced; I needed to act fast.

“I’m the best at pretending, Mommy!” she chirped, her spirits rising.

I winced but forced a grin. “That’s perfect, my little actress. But shouldn’t you call me Auntie Lina if Emily is Mommy?”

“Right! Auntie Lina!” Betty laughed, momentarily distracted from her fever. “Can I have some juice, Auntie Lina?”

“Auntie Lina is on it!” I promised, grabbing the moment to fortify our play. With a racing heart, I hurried down the stairs to greet Stephen. The murmur of voices washed over me as I came down to see the last person I’d ever thought would be sitting on my couch in Philadelphia.

He looked concerned and apologetic.

“Stephen said you had a file he needed,” Em said as if she’d bought his reason for appearing. “I’m going to make us all some coffee—want one, Lina?”

“Stephen and I will make them,” I said, my voice steady despite the fluttering nerves in my chest. “Betty wants a glass of juice.” I spoke Betty’s name openly, offering Stephen knowledge of her existence so that it didn’t look as if I were trying to hide her.

I noticed Stephen looking around the house, his gaze lingering on the colorful toys scattered across the living room. It was obvious to anyone that a child lived here.

Em and Matt’s daughter, I reminded myself, trying to convince myself that if I repeated it enough, I’d be able to pull this cover story off with Stephen.

Emily nodded, retreating upstairs while I faced Stephen, anxiety twisting in my gut.

“A file?” I asked him as he joined me in the kitchen. He shrugged. “It was all I could think of.”

The unasked question lingered between us as he looked at me. What had compelled me to expose my friend’s location? What urgency had driven me here, prompting me to return to Philadelphia?

“I told you how important Em is to me,” I said, flushing as I thought of last night. But there wasn’t time to think about that right now. “She has a daughter, Betty. She’s not well. I came as soon as I heard.”

“I’m sorry,” Stephen said, his brow creasing as he listened to the murmur of soft voices above. “God, I feel even more of a jerk for needing to follow you now.”

“How did you know where I was?” I asked.

He heaved a sigh. “After the attack, Magnus had me put a tracker on your car.”

My eyes widened. So that’s why I didn’t see anyone following me. They hadn’t needed to. Stephen must have started following me when he saw me heading out of the city.

“It’s okay,” I said, feeling conflicted as I could see how cut up he was about needing to track me. I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “I should have realized Magnus would have you tailing me. He’s been more protective since we were attacked.” I remembered that Magnus and I were meant to be discussing mate ceremony dates this weekend. Ever since the attack, too, he’d been keener on moving things forward.

I met Stephen’s steady green gaze. He was watching me with an intensity that had my heart fluttering again. But I had to ask, “What will you tell Magnus?”

He was quiet for a beat, then said, “That you met friends in Philadelphia.”

I exhaled a sigh of relief, but it was short-lived because the next moment, Betty wailed. “I want Auntie Lina!”

My heart twisted in response, and I rushed to her room, finding her agitated. “I’m here, sweetie. I’m here.”

I rocked her, and she soon calmed down.

“I’s good at this game, ain’t I?” she said, a proud smile illuminating her clammy face.

“The best, sweetie.”

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