(Daisy's POV)

The next day, I lied to my mother, claiming I was heading to work at the hospital. In truth, I had arranged for a day off and was heading to the old place Alan had mentioned—the office of his company.

In the past, when Alan was consumed by endless work, I'd often bring him sweets and visit, even when he barely had time for me. Just being able to see him, even from a distance, used to fill me with joy. But now, it felt like I was marching into a waking nightmare.

My hands trembled violently, a mix of anger and nerves forcing me to fight for composure as I pushed open the door to his office.

Alan was seated at his desk, his gaze fixed on some documents. At the sound of my arrival, he raised his head, an all-too-satisfied grin spreading across his face.

"My darling, I knew you'd come," he said, rising to his feet, arms outstretched as if he wanted to engulf me in a warm embrace. "Heaven knows how much I've missed you."

I sidestepped his grasp, fixing him with a frigid glare. "Release my father, or I swear you won't get away with this."

"Oh?" He arched an eyebrow, a playful smirk spreading across his face. "And how exactly do you plan to make sure I won't get away from it?"

I glared daggers at him. "I'll go straight to Lilith and tell her what kind of monster you really are!"

I thought the threat would at least unsettle him, but to my dismay, he burst into a dismissive laugh. "Darling, how naïve can you be?"

He reached out to brush against my face with fake pity. "Do you think Lilith would believe you? Even if she did, what would it change? You clearly don't understand how deeply she loves me. More importantly, I already have solid proof of your father's crimes. If you do that, it will only hasten his death."

"Smack!" The crisp sound of my palm striking his face echoed sharply through the room.

My hand stung faintly, but the sight of his head snapping to the side was a fleeting satisfaction. Still, the hatred within me remained.

"You scum!" I yelled, my voice shaking with rage.

A flash of menace danced in his eyes. He seized my wrist with startling force, his tone shifted to something perilously low, dangerously cold. "Daisy, I had hoped you'd come to your senses. Apparently, you're still as foolish and stubborn as ever."

A wave of nausea rolled through me as our skin touched. Disgust blossomed deep in my stomach, leaving me desperate to pull away. "Let go of me, you vile bastard!"

"I've been far too lenient with you."

Alan's expression turned to pure frost. Before I could react, his fingers clamped around my free wrist like a steel trap.

"Bang!" My back slammed against the surface of the wall, the impact jolting a cry of pain from my lips. I struggled, but his weight bore down on me, keeping me pinned.

"It doesn't matter." His face drew close, the heat of his breath brushing intimately against my skin, his tone twisted with suggestion. "I'll give you another chance. Make me happy, and I—"

Before he could finish, the bile rising within me finally broke free. "Urgh!" I retched.

Alan's expression darkened instantly, the color draining from his face until it was almost comical in its fury. "Do you hate me that much?"

"What do you think?" I snapped, my laugh sharp and cutting. I wanted to hurl more insults, but the sound of a knock at the office door interrupted me.

A sweet voice slipped through the tension-filled space. "Alan, are you in there?"

It was Lilith.

Alan's grip loosened abruptly at her arrival, and he quickly stepped back, creating a distance between us.

The door was pushed open.

"Alan, see? This time I remembered to knock!" Lilith chirped cheerfully, her expression bright, but her smile froze when her eyes fell on me.

Suspicion etched itself across her features as she glanced between me and Alan. "You two…"

Alan wore an expression of tenderness as he crossed to her side and draped an arm over her shoulders. "Sweetheart, what brings you here so suddenly?"

"Who is she?" Lilith demanded, pointing at me. Her hand was pressed against her chest as if to steady the rapid rise and fall of her breath.

Her reaction startled me. Before I could collect my thoughts, Alan had already grabbed her by the arm, pulling out a small medication bottle from his suit pocket. "Calm down, darling. You know what this stress does to your heart."

Andrew appeared at the doorway, golden eyes sweeping over Lilith's pale lips. His brow furrowed. "Alan, perhaps it's time you explain what's going on."

Alan barely spared me a glance, dismissive as ever. "Oh, her? Just a simple friend. Her father, Finn, has been implicated in a rather unfortunate incident—the death of the former Beta of the Deathmaw Pack, Martin. She's come asking for my help in clearing her father's name."

"Is that true?" Lilith questioned hesitantly, the doubt lingering in her gaze as it flicked towards me.

How desperately I wanted to tear apart Alan's facade, to scream the truth right in her face. But the cold steel in his gaze warned me. My father's life hung in the balance, forcing me to swallow the rebellious fire burning inside me. "Yes, Miss Lilith," I whispered hoarsely.

Alan feigned sympathy, saying, "I'm sorry, Daisy, but I'm afraid my hands are tied. The authorities, I'm sure, will see justice served in time."

"Then I won't trouble you further," I managed weakly, forcing my lips into something resembling a smile before turning on my heel to leave.

But as I tried to escape, I collided—quite literally—into Andrew's solid chest.

When I lifted my gaze, I found a pair of familiar golden eyes staring right back at me.

The memories rushed back unbidden, vivid flashes from the previous night making my heart race in my chest.

The sleeping wolf within me seemed to be awakened again.

"Miss, it's time to snap out of it," Andrew's voice broke through my reverie, his tone flat, impassive, almost indifferent. The smoldering look from before—the fleeting heat that had kindled so fiercely—was nowhere to be seen.

My chest tightened, a faint ache blooming inexplicably from the absence of that fire.

The inexplicable wave of loss churned within me, mixing with my already desperate desire to flee. Muttering a barely audible apology, I pivoted and hurried out, not daring to look back.