Page 62 of Bully Wolf's Nanny
“He doesn’t seem to smell that Thea is his daughter.”
“It’s not a conscious thing, it’s primeval. Rooted in our shifter biology. So either Gracie isn’t his daughter, or you’re lying. And let me guess, he insisted on a DNA test at the time.”
Francesca didn’t respond, her face pale as a ghost.
“Of course he did. He’s not an idiot. Gracie is his daughter. So you lied, Francesca. There was no abusive relationship. Why make one up?”
The two women faced each other, locked in a battle of wills, until finally Francesca shook her head and advanced on Daisy with a snarl.
“Listen up, you nosy little cow. My reasons are none of your business. I’m here to reclaim what’s rightfully mine, andyouare getting in my way. So here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to leave, because if you don’t, I’m going to tell Nicolas you tried to poison Gracie on purpose so that Thea could inherit his empire. I’ll tell him all about how she’s actually his daughter, and you’ve been scheming from the beginning.”
“You can’t,” Daisy whispered, “you won’t. I’ll tell him you’re lying!”
“And you think he’ll believe you? After you lied to him for years about his daughter? You seem so keen oneducatingme about how alphas feel about their young, how about you apply that logic to your own situation? How do you think Nicolas will respond when he finds out you’ve been hiding his heir from him this whole time?”
Daisy had no words. Because deep down, she knew Francesca was right.
She had nowhere to run. No way to hide. Nothing would shield her from Nicolas’s fury.
Unbidden, Amelia’s words echoed round her head.
“This kind of secret doesn’t stay buried, and I don’t think Nicolas will just let you go.”
“Finally worked it out, have you?” Francesca sneered. “Well, I’ll tell you what. If Nicolas manages to hunt you and that brat of yours down, I’ll take her in. Gracie will need someone to look after her, after all. And if you don’t want that to happen, well…” She leaned down, whispering into Daisy’s ear, “I would start running.”
Chapter 20 - Nicolas
Seven years ago
His father’s breath was rancid with whiskey as he slammed Nicolas against the wall, books and picture frames clattering to the floor and smashing into pieces with the force of the impact.
“What the fuck did you just say to me, boy?” he roared.
“I said,” Nicolas spat out a mouthful of blood from where his father’s fist had made contact with the side of his face, “I don’t give a fuck what you tell me to do. I’m not giving her up.”
His father growled, skin rippling as his wolf churned just below the surface, ready to rip through and savage Nicolas. “You think you’re so fucking intelligent, don’t you, boy.”
Nicolas shoved his father, relishing the glint of fear that flashed across his face as he stumbled backwards, surprised at his son’s strength. He was a fool to underestimate him. Nicolas had grown bigger than him. Stronger than him. It was only the power of the Old Guard united that had kept the younger alphas in line. But even that was waning.
“More intelligent than you,” Nicolas said, licking the blood from his teeth. “You won’t take her from me. She’s mine!”
“She’s a low-born bitch from a nothing family,” his father roared. “She’d be eaten alive if she joined the inner circle with you. I won’t let you throw everything I’ve built away over some slut!”
Now it was Nicolas’s turn to roar in anger as he gripped his father’s collar, smashing him against the wall. “Don’t you fucking speak about her like that!”
His father laughed, a thin, hollow sound. Years of bitterness and anger. It repulsed Nicolas.
“Oh, you’ll do exactly as I say, boy,” his father shook him off, “or I’ll make a call to the alpha tonight. And your precious Daisy will be on the front lines during tomorrow morning’s attack.”
Nicolas’s blood ran cold, all the air leaving his lungs. “You wouldn’t. You can’t. She’s not a fighter, she’ll be killed by the Black Claws!”
“So she will,” his father grinned.
Nicolas pushed back, running a hand through his hair, a million different plans rushing through his head. “I’ll go with her. Protect her. You can’t stop me.”
“Actually,” his father rolled his neck, wincing as it cracked, “I can, and I will. One call, Nicolas, and three enforcers will be here to put you to fucking sleep for a while. Not long, just enough time for dear, sweet Daisy to head north.”
“I’ll run,” Nicolas replied instantly, fists clenching into balls, “I’ll take her and I’ll leave. Your precious legacy will go up in smoke.”
