Chapter 7 House Without A Scent

DAMIEN'S POV

I sat at the head of the table, flipping through quarterly reports, pretending to focus while my wolf paced under my skin.

Numbers bored him. Meetings infuriated him. But I forced both of us to sit still.

My phone vibrated once on the table. I ignored it. Then it vibrated again and again. The receptionist would never call me repeatedly unless something was wrong.

I lifted the phone, glanced at the screen, and froze.

East Street Preschool calling.

My chest tightened. Ashley.

I answered instantly. "What happened?"

A timid female voice came through. "Alpha Damien, sir. This is Ms. Mara from the preschool. We. we tried reaching Luna Stone, but-"

"She's not longer my Luna," I cut in automatically, grumbling, then clenched my jaw. "What's wrong with my daughter?"

Ms. Mara hesitated, then spoke quickly. "It's Family Fun Day. Ashley is the only pup whose mother didn't attend. She's very upset, sir."

The room around me blurred. A low growl escaped my throat before I caught it. Sophia. She was supposed to handle this. Tiffany couldn't, fine but Sophia?

I didn't even excuse myself. Chairs scraped the floor as every board member jumped to their feet in submission. Their wolves were reacting to mine.

I walked out.

"Cancel everything for the rest of the day," I ordered my assistant without slowing down.

"Yes, Alpha!"

By the time I reached my car, my pulse was hammering.

My wolf was restless. His ears were pinned back. He was pacing, confused and irritated. Why wasn't she there? Why didn't she call?

I pressed a hand to my temple as I drove.

Sophia had been distant for months. I hadn't heard a thing from her but she always showed up for Ashley. Always.

At the preschool, I found Ashley sitting alone on the swings. Her little shoulders were stiff. Her eyes were red. When she saw me, she didn't run into my arms.

She glared.

"You didn't come either," she muttered.

My heart squeezed. "I had a meeting, baby. But I came as soon as they called me."

She kicked the dirt. "Where's mom? Everyone else's mom came."

I took in a deep breath. My wolf growled.

The truth was that I had no idea where Sophia was. Not really. I'd been trying to call her since last night. No answer. No texts. Her number felt like a dead line. But I couldn't tell Ashley that. She already felt abandoned enough.

So I knelt in front of her and brushed her hair behind her ear. "Mom is. at home preparing a big surprise."

Ashley frowned. "A surprise?"

I forced a smile. "Your grandpa's birthday dinner is today. She wants it to be perfect."

She stared at me suspiciously. "Then why didn't she tell me?"

I swallowed the frustration burning in my chest. "She wanted it to be a secret. You know she loves surprising people."

Ashley softened, but only a little bit. "Okay."

I lifted her into my arms, kissed her forehead. My wolf calmed, if only a little.

Just then, my phone rang again. This time, it was my mom.

I exhaled through my nose before answering.

"What."

She clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Is that how you greet your mother? Listen, tomorrow is your father birthday. We're meeting at Alena Mall so we can drive together to the estate. Bring Ashley. She needs to look presentable as always."

"I know it's his birthday," I replied tightly. "I'll bring her."

"And don't forget Sophia," she added sharply. "She'd better not embarrass us again."

The muscles in my jaw twitched. "Sophia will be there."

The call ended and I lowered the phone slowly, trying to suppress the irritation I felt.

Sophia was not reachable. And I had no idea why.

Ashley tugged on my sleeve. "Daddy, can we go home now?"

"Yes, baby. We'll get ready for tomorrow."

But even as I drove home with her, my mind wasn't in the car. It was with Sophia. Her silence. Her absence.

*

By the time we reached the estate with my mom the next day, a knot had already formed in my stomach.

The villa was dark.

No light came in from the windows. No scent of cooking filled the air. There were no footsteps, no movement.

My mom stormed inside first.

"Sophia!" she shouted. "Sophia, where the hell are you?!"

Silence answered.

I walked through the kitchen. The place looked untouched. The counters were spotless. No pots. No ingredients. No preparations.

My heartbeat slowed. Sophia wasn't even here. Had she forgotten what today was same way she forget to be at Ashley's school.

My mother pulled out her phone.

"She'll answer me," she declared, more to herself than to us. "She knows better."

She dialed. The ring tone echoed through the quiet villa.

Sophia didn't answer. Helen tried again but she got no response.

Then again. Nothing.

Her temper snapped. She screamed and threw her phone away. It shattered into pieces on the wall.

"She dares to humiliate us on your father's birthday?!" she shouted. "That useless BITCH-"

Ashley hid behind my leg. I felt her trembling. My wolf snarled silently, ready to tear into anyone upsetting my daughter.

But on the outside, I remained calm.

Inside, though. something cold slid down my spine.

Sophia had never failed. She had never forgotten any event. She would never disobeyed a direct instruction, especially not on a day like this.

Something was wrong.

Ashley's voice cracked as she looked between us.

"Daddy. why didn't mom come? She always cooks for Grandpa."

Helen crossed her arms. "Because she's ungrateful."

Ashley's little eyes filled with tears, and she whispered, "Tiffany would've come. Tiffany always wants to be with me. Mon doesn't even like me. She embarrassed me on purpose."

Her words stabbed deeper than they should have.

I crouched down, taking her hands. "Ashley. Look at me."

She sniffed.

"Your mom would never embarrass you," I said firmly. "Never. Something must have happened."

But as I said it. doubt crept in.

Because for the first time in years, Sophia felt completely. gone. She had no presence in the house. No scent in the halls.

My wolf lifted his head and growled inside me.

She's not here. She hasn't been here for a long time. She's slipping away.

And I felt it..too late.