y's

e I even thou

ace gently into my shoulder, and turned us both into the narrow side corridor to our left. I kept walking, one hand on the

open and too visible. The stairs were tucked away and quiet, and by the t

hair was slightly mussed from being pressed against my shoulder and s

aid. "You did

me on, the booksh

g to let it go. She never let things

y clothes. Is Dad goi

went straig

r with shoppers moving around us on both sides, and I looked at my daughter's face. Waiting f

e was already asking question

theart." The words came ou

he never did, openly, searching, and taking things in. Something moved across her face tha

a," she sa

e lead her toward the book

s almos

htly breathless from keeping up. She didn't say any

tly, once Ophelia had run ahead toward the ch

hea

ed to

voice was gentle but firm.

d turn it over to read the back with the focused seriousness she ga

s got a bookshop and her mother besi

aled

enough. It

dore'

it was urgent, I forced myself to take a break from t

d to shop or stand here picking out colors for the unbo

ely, and the pack duties kept piling up. If not pr

witching from one conference call to another just to keep everything man

more than I w

e seemed to pinpoint her exact location. My Beta had spent

ould leave, throw her usual tantrum but return home at the end of the day. She had never once gone off-grid. She never ignored my texts entirely like

ther choice

re was still no sign of her returni

nd my mother's voices pu

m chatting happily a

for a perfect heir!" My mother's voice rang out around us as she

em, never wanting to be involved

orn to the Luna held inheritance rights. Alexandra's child was under my protection and I would m

had too much to look into other than expl

me in no time and I held bac

you think would be perfect for a boy?" She aske

" Alexandra said sweet

at them, at a loss for words. I looked at the

nd turned back to the arran

l. I'd always imagined having a daughter rather than a son

as in no mood for another round of m

call," I told them but no one

ess in my mind-as if sensing something, a familiar scent yet fading fast. I instinctively loo

stopped them and I fo

catch a glimpse of the owner of the dress, but when I g

and he just snorted instead

out. Strange. Atlas was never one to rumb

y. I must've looked pathetic, running up t

d and head back to the baby store. Bu

l rabbit-shaped button. I bent low to pick it up

sing about it. The scent

t and mixed. It mingled with another trace, unfamil

it. I slipped the button into my pocket without thinking

man in that dress just now was definitely Ivy

, I dialed Dr. Marsh's number to

tely and carefully. "She even rejected the offers we'd given her and disap

words, I

t perhaps Ivy's departure th

get a reaction from me.