Aiden stepped away, his voice low as he answered the call. “Maria, this isn’t a good time—”
[Aiden, I need you.] Maria’s voice purred through the phone, laced with urgency and allure. [There’s something you need to know—I can’t explain over the phone, but I need your help. It’s critical.]
Aiden’s resolve wavered. “Can it wait? I’m with Lyra right now.”
[It’s urgent, Aiden. You’re the only one I trust to handle this.]
Aiden’s sense of duty clashed with his instincts as a father. He glanced back at Lyra, who was picking wildflowers by the spring, blissfully unaware of the turmoil unfolding.
“Fine, I’ll be there soon,” Aiden finally conceded, his decision a reluctant surrender.
Hanging up, Aiden returned to Lyra, his expression conflicted.
“Lyra, something came up. I need to go back to the pack. I’m sending some of the guards to walk you home. Tobias, you know my Beta, right? You’ll be safe with him.”
Lyra’s face fell, disappointment clouding her features. “But you promised we’d go to the spring together.”
Aiden knelt down. “I know, sweetie, and I’m sorry. I promise we’ll come back soon. But this is important.”
“Okay, Daddy. I’ll see you at home.”
With that, Aiden called for two of his men, ordering them to escort Lyra safely back to the village. As he turned away, the guilt gnawed at him, but the pull of Maria’s call was too strong, and he headed back through the forest, leaving Lyra in the care of his trusted guards.
*
"We're almost there, little princess," Tobias said, trying to ease the little girl's anxiety. "Once we arrive, we'll say our prayers and then head back, okay?"
"Yes."
As Lyra walked with the guards, the path seemed darker, the woods more foreboding. The men walked slightly ahead, their conversation low and distracted. Lyra clutched her bouquet of wildflowers tightly, glancing around the unfamiliar surroundings.
Suddenly, a rustle in the bushes caught her attention. Her heart skipped a beat as she froze, her instincts warning her of something amiss. The guards paused, sensing the tension, but before they could react, a low growl echoed through the trees.
“Stay close, princess,” one guard said, his voice steady but alert. “We’ll protect you.”
The other guard shifted into a defensive stance, scanning the shadows for any sign of danger.
“There’s something out there,” Tobias muttered, eyes narrowing.