Rowan's POV
The moment I led Lisa into one of my houses—a villa tucked safely within my territory—her entire face lit up. She stepped inside, eyes wide at the polished wood and the rich scent of cedar lingering in the air.
"Rowan, this place is beautiful!" she gasped.
I slid one hand into my pocket, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "From now on," I told her, "this will be our home… our little family's new den."
She darted toward me and planted a kiss on my cheek—light, sweet, eager.
Her warmth struck me unexpectedly, and for a heartbeat, Audrey's face flashed across my mind.
Audrey—steady, composed, always holding her emotions on a tight leash. She'd never kissed me like that. Never rushed toward me with girlish joy. She was all restraint, cold moonlight instead of warm sunlight.
I caught myself thinking of her and let out a low, self-mocking huff.
Why was she creeping into my thoughts now?
"Rowan!" Lisa snapped her fingers in front of my face. "Are you zoning out? I literally just said something."
"What?"
"I said, to celebrate moving in, I want spicy BBQ for dinner!"
I hesitated. Audrey always banned spicy food—said it would tear my stomach apart. After I had been poisoned once, my stomach never fully recovered.
She used to brew those bitter herbal concoctions for me, fussing over me like some desperate she-wolf trying to keep her dying mate alive.
Annoying… but I drank them.
And for years, my stomach never once rebelled.
Now, thinking back, I snorted inwardly. Maybe she exaggerated the danger—just another way to control me under the disguise of care.
I wrapped an arm around Lisa's waist and murmured, "Whatever you want, we'll eat."
Fen, who'd been listening with wolfish curiosity, chimed in instantly. "Me too! If Lisa likes spicy food, then I need to train my tongue to handle it!"
Lisa burst out laughing. "Fine, but don't cry later when it burns."
"I won't! I'm a man! I'm a strong wolf!" Fen puffed his chest like a little alpha.
***
Audrey's POV
I was riding with Riley toward the old apartment my father had left me—a small place, but in good territory. After marrying Rowan, I'd moved out, leaving it sealed like a shrine to my past.
Riley parked and glanced my way. "Ms. Audrey, feeling down about the divorce? Want me to take you out for dinner?"
I paused, then shook my head. "Wrong. I'm in an excellent mood. Leaving a jerk frees the spirit." Then I sighed. "But I do need help cleaning."
Everyone used to call me cold. But I wasn't cold. I was simply composed. Always thinking. Always bearing too much. That was my only flaw.
We climbed the old building—five floors, no elevator. I pressed my thumb to the lock I'd installed years ago, and the door clicked open.
Dust weighed the air heavily. I was deciding where to begin when my phone rang.
A strange number.
Suspicious.
"Audrey?" a rich, deep voice rumbled—low, magnetic, with a familiarity I couldn't place at first. A voice like a wolf calling through fog.
"You are…?"
"Where are you?" he asked.
Suddenly, it clicked. "Dorian."
My brows knitted in a frown. "What do you want?"
He sighed softly, voice dipping into something gentler. "Bonnie had another attack. The pack's doctor couldn't help her this time. You treated her before… Could you see her again? Since your leg is injured, we'll come to you instead."
Looks like Dorian had noticed my wounded leg.
Instead of insisting she travel to him, he offered to bring his child. That alone softened me a little.
I had always had a tender spot for children—maybe because I once lost my own before the world ever met her.
"…Alright," I said finally. "Come over."
I hung up and turned to Riley. "Sorry. No dinner. I've got someone coming."
Riley smirked. "This your new guy? Dorian… I swear I've heard that name."
I tapped his forehead. "Don't be ridiculous. He's my patient."
***
Half an hour later, Dorian arrived—tall, broad-shouldered, storm-eyed—with little Bonnie in his arms.
I had a small bed prepared. The girl lay there sweating, fragile, whimpering softly.
Seeing her, I was pulled back to memories of Fen's childhood fevers—nights when I nursed him with trembling hands while Rowan paced and growled, restless, blaming me, demanding answers, desperate for his son to get better.
Dorian's presence filled the room almost instantly. He stood like a looming alpha he was—tall frame, long legs, narrow waist. He explained quietly, "She felt sick after dinner. The pack's doctor checked her—same issue."
He sounded helpless. Hopeless. A father who'd fought too many losing battles.
I crouched at the bedside, soothing Bonnie before beginning treatment.
Within ten minutes, the child relaxed. Her breaths steadied. She blinked up at me, calm and trusting, her dark eyes shining like dew on night fur.
"It's all better now," I whispered.
When I stood, my injured leg trembled slightly. "Normally, this shouldn't flare again so soon. Maybe something she ate triggered it."
Dorian's expression darkened. He pulled out his phone. "Check tonight's dinner."
Silence settled after he hung up.
"Mr. Wayne, you can leave—" I started, but then my stomach growled.
Loudly.
My cheeks burned with embarrassment. I hadn't eaten all day—I'd spent the whole time waiting for Rowan and Fen to come home… then everything fell apart.
Dorian laughed softly. "Ms. Willow, forgive me for taking so much of your time."
I forced a nod. If they left soon, I could cook something simple.
But Dorian didn't leave.
Dizziness hit me. Finally, I admitted, "Mr. Wayne, I haven't eaten all night. I'm afraid I can't entertain—"
"I already ordered food," he said simply, sitting on my sofa and crossing his long legs. "I hope you don't mind."
I had no words. He'd already done it.
…
Back at the villa, Lisa, Fen, and Rowan devoured the juicy, spicy meat.
At first, the fire in the spices felt thrilling—like a challenge. Fen ate until his face went red, lips numb, but kept insisting he wasn't hurting.
With Lisa laughing and egging us on, I kept eating too.
But after dinner, when I slumped against the sofa, a sharp pain twisted in my gut—sharp enough to blacken the edges of my vision.
My stomach issues… the ones Audrey kept at bay for years…
They were back.