Carrying an ice bucket, Olivia had been on her way to the ice machine. To find this brat in her path startled her and annoyed her, because she imagined the child’s mother wouldn’t be far behind.

    However, curiously, it wasn’t Amber who came around the corner chasing after the girl, but a pair of shady–looking men with over–grown bears and haircuts, and clothes with dirt worn in.

    Olivia had no love for this child. Truly, she didn’t care what happened to her, but she could see an opportunity here, a chance to win Alice’s trust.

    So she quickly grabbed Alice by the shoulders and tucked her behind her, carefully standing tall against

    these two men.

    “Are you gentlemen lost?”

    “That’s our daughter,” one of the men said. “She ran away from us…”

    Gods, they couldn’t do better than that? Even as kidnappers, these men proved wanting…

    “I know this girl’s actual parentsi,/ii” /iOlivia said. “And I suggest you move along.”

    “You are only one she–wolf…i” /ione of the men stepped forward.

    Gods, Olivia could have rolled her eyes at him. “We’re on camera, you dingus,” I said, gesturing to the security cameras around the exterior of the hotel. “Plus I have a very shrill scream. I can have the whole hotel staff out here in less than ten seconds, I assure you.”

    The men nced nervously around. When one spotted the camera, he started to pull the other away.

    She did roll her eyes this time. Taking Alice’s hand, I started to lead her to the more well–lit, and busier

    front of the hotel, where guests wereing and going and some of the hotel staff was still lingering

    around, even for this time of night.

    Alice looked up at me somewhat nervously. “Did they leave?”

    Olivia shrugged.

    “They won’t follow us over here,” she said. “Besides, I always carry a stun gun in my purse.” With her free hand, Olivia dipped into her handbag and lifted the handle of the stun gun just enough for Alice to look at it with wide eyes. “Where did you pick up those lowlifes anyway? I doubt your mother isn’t happy about

    that.”

    Alice pouted a little, and dropped her gaze. “Mom doesn’t know I’m here.”

    Oh? Oh, really…

    Olivia’s gaze immediately dropped to the ne around Alice’s neck. She wondered how much Alice was really in on the scheme. Per Olivia’s assumptions, did Alice know that the ne was generating a

    scent to convince Julian he was her father?

    Perhaps not. She was just a child after all. Though children could be as conniving and maniptive as an

    adult. Olivia would now. Her mischief making started early, to earn her parents favor and attention.

    “Did you sneak out?” Olivia asked, almost impressed. At least, she would be, if she didn’t hate Alice and her mother so much simply on principle.

    Worrying her bottom lip with her teeth, Alice nodded. “I wanted to see Daddyb…/bb” /b

    Daddy…? Oh, she meant Julian.

    “I’m afraid he’s not back yet. He went for a walk after the restaurant and I haven’t seen him return yet,”

    Olivia said. Thinking quickly, she said, “Though he’s probably on his way. Why don’t you stay in my room

    until hees back? We wouldn’t want those two men to bother you again, would you?”

    She nervously nced behind her. The men had gone already, but she didn’t need to know that. If she could get her out of public view, and get that ne off of her… Then Julian would be free of his obligation to take care of Alice and Amber. He could finally be free to start his family with Olivia.

    “It will be safe in my room,” Olivia said. “And we can both keep an eye out the window, waiting for his

    return.”

    Alice looked at Olivia with a distinctck of trust, but with how much she was ncing behind herself,

    Olivia knew the dangers of the real world were much scarier to a six–year–old than whatever dislike she

    felt for Olivia herself.

    Meanwhile, Olivia was eyeing the ne. The chain was long. Olivia could probably snatch it and yank it over Alice’s head without the child noticing overmuch. But there was also a sp in the back. That

    could be the sneakier tactic.

    If Olivia could unsp that chain and let the ne fall down…

    cing her hand on Alice’s shoulder, Olivia began to physically lead Alice back to her hotel room.

    “Alright…” Alice frowned. “But maybe we should call my mom…”

    Was the child already having second thoughts for running away? What a coward.

    “I have a phone in my room,” Olivia said. “We can use that to call your mom.”

    Blessedly, the child started to take a step forward.

    Olivia did her best to hide her grin. Soon, she’d have Alice right where she wanted her. Behind closed doors, she could even tear off that ne. It might upset Alice, but she was a child. Who would people

    believe?

    The ne broke, Olivia would say. I have no idea why she is trying to me me for that… But then,

    she always did hate me. Just like her mother. In fact, Amber probably put her up to it.

    A sense of satisfaction finally rose within Olivia. After all this time, she’d finally be able to show Julian the kind of person that Amber truly was. And once that bell was rung, there would be no un–ringing it.

    Together, Olivia led Alice closer and closer to her room. Her hand inched across Alice’s shoulder, moving

    closer and closer to the back of her neck where that sp kept her ne on.

    Olivia brushed that sped with her fingers. Close. So close.

    Soon, Julian would see the truth.

    Soon, he would be Olivia’s once and for all.

    Suddenly, a wolf’s howl echoed through the darkness of the night.

    Olivia stilled, recognizing that call. She wasn’t the only one.

    Somehow, Alice seemed to know it too. She turned away from the door to Olivia’s room and rushed to the railing. “Daddy?” she called.

    I looked at her strangely. How could she have known that howl belonged to Julian? She’d barely been

    with the pack long enough to learn it.

    Could it be…b? /b

    No. This girl couldn’t actually be Julian’s child?

    There was no way. It had to be part of the trick. Olivia pushed the thoughts out of her mind.

    The wolf howled again, closer now.

    Turning, Olivia saw the moment the massive gray wolf pounced into the parking lot.

    Everyone stopped, turned and looked at him.

    Alice immediately rushed down the stairs.

    “Daddy!” she called.

    Spotting her, Julian’srge wolf rushed towards her at once. Before he reached her, he shifted. Opening

    his arms, he caught her in a hug.

    She buried her face in the crook of his neck, crying, “I was so scared!”

    “I have you nowi,” /iJulian said.

    For the first time, Olivia hated her werewolf hearing. She didn’t like to hear this sap, the way Julian was

    protective of this child like she was his own.

    He seemingly forgot the child he was supposed to be raising with Olivia now. The one that tragically died.

    Instead, he found a recement in Alice.

    That was something Olivia would never forgive.

    X

    GE