Chapter 4 The Perfect Replacement

Mira spent three days recovering at Zara's apartment in Windmere. Three days of sleeping, healing, and slowly piecing herself back together. Her body recovered quickly-werewolf healing saw to that. But the emotional wounds ran deeper.

On the morning of the fourth day, Mira woke feeling clearheaded for the first time in years. She made coffee, stood at Zara's window watching the city wake up, and felt something she hadn't felt in so long she'd almost forgotten what it was called.

Hope.

"You look better," Zara said, appearing in the kitchen doorway in her scrubs. "Almost human again."

"I feel better." Mira turned to face her friend. "Thank you. For everything. For not judging me."

"Never." Zara poured herself coffee. "What you did took courage. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Kieran will see it differently."

"Kieran can go to hell." Zara's voice was sharp. "He lost the right to have opinions about your body when he started treating you like livestock."

Mira managed a weak smile. "I need to go back. Not to the manor-I can't face that yet. But to the estate. I need to see Brielle."

"Are you sure you're ready?"

"No. But I need to try."

An hour later, Mira was on the road back to Ravencrest territory. Her hands were steady on the wheel, her mind clear. She'd made her choice. Now she had to live with it.

And she had to figure out how to be Brielle's mother from whatever distance Kieran would allow.

The estate looked exactly the same as when she'd left it three days ago. Warm stone, blooming gardens, the picture of peaceful domesticity. Mira parked and sat for a moment, gathering her courage.

Then she heard it. Laughter. High and bright and coming from the back garden.

Mira got out of the car and walked around the side of the house. Through the garden gate, she could see Brielle playing on the grass, chasing butterflies in her princess dress.

But she wasn't alone.

Astrid Sinclair sat on a blanket in the shade, watching Brielle with a soft smile. She wore casual clothes that probably cost more than Mira's car, her blonde hair perfect even in the outdoor breeze.

She looked like she belonged there.

Mira's hand tightened on the gate. This was her home. Her daughter. Her life that this woman had stolen piece by piece.

"Mommy!"

Brielle had spotted her. The little girl ran over, and for a moment, Mira's heart soared-until Brielle stopped a few feet away, suddenly uncertain.

"You came back," Brielle said, and it sounded almost like an accusation.

"Of course I came back. I told you I would."

"But you left without saying goodbye." Brielle's lower lip trembled. "You were here when I went to sleep, and then you were gone."

Guilt crashed over Mira. "I'm sorry, baby. I had to take care of something important. But I'm here now."

"Mira." Astrid had stood, brushing grass from her designer jeans. "What a surprise. Kieran didn't mention you'd be visiting today."

The casual way she said his name-Kieran, not the Alpha or your husband-made Mira's blood boil.

"I don't need his permission to see my daughter."

"Of course not." Astrid's smile was poisonously sweet. "I just meant it would have been nice to know. We have such a busy schedule-Brielle has ballet in an hour, don't you, sweetie?"

"Ballet?" Mira looked at her daughter. "Since when do you take ballet?"

"Auntie Astrid signed me up!" Brielle brightened. "It's so fun. We get to wear tutus and everything."

"I thought it would be good for her," Astrid explained, moving closer to Brielle in a subtle but clear claiming gesture. "She has so much energy, and the discipline is good for young wolves. Kieran agreed it was a wonderful idea."

Of course he did. Because Astrid suggested it.

"Brielle, can I talk to you alone for a minute?" Mira asked.

Brielle glanced at Astrid, and that look-that automatic checking for permission-made Mira want to scream.

"It's okay," Astrid said graciously. "I'll go make us some lemonade. You talk to your mommy."

She walked toward the estate, and Mira noticed she moved with the confidence of someone who knew where everything was. Because she'd been living here. In Mira's space. With Mira's daughter.

"Come sit with me, Brielle." Mira settled on the blanket Astrid had vacated.

Brielle sat down but maintained a careful distance. When had her daughter started treating her like a stranger?

"I wanted to talk to you about something," Mira began carefully. "How would you feel about coming to stay with Mommy for a while?"

Brielle's face scrunched up. "But I live here."

"I know, but-"

"And Auntie Astrid is here. And all my stuff. And my ballet class."

"We could find you a ballet class wherever we go."

"But I like my class. I like my teacher." Brielle picked at the grass. "Why can't you just stay here with us?"

Us. Her and Astrid. Not her and Mira.

"It's complicated, baby."

"That's what grown-ups always say when they don't want to tell you the truth." Brielle looked up with those too-wise eyes. "Are you and Daddy getting divorced?"

The question stunned Mira. "How do you know that word?"

"Auntie Astrid explained it. She said sometimes mommies and daddies don't love each other anymore, so they live in different houses."

"What else did Auntie Astrid say?"

Brielle bit her lip. "She said you're very busy with important work. And that Daddy needs someone to take care of him and me. And that she's happy to help because she loves us very much."

Each word was a knife. Astrid had been preparing Brielle. Planting seeds. Making herself indispensable while painting Mira as the absent career woman who'd abandoned her family.

"Brielle, I want you to understand something." Mira took her daughter's small hands. "I love you more than anything in the world. More than any job, more than anyone else. You are the most important thing in my life."

"Then why are you always gone?"

"Because-" Mira's voice caught. How did she explain pack politics and toxic marriages and systematic isolation to a four-year-old? "Because sometimes grown-ups make mistakes. And I made a mistake by not being here enough. But I want to fix that."

"Auntie Astrid is here. She reads me stories and plays dress-up and makes my favorite foods." Brielle pulled her hands away. "She's nice to me all the time. You're always sad or busy."

"I know, baby. I know I haven't been the mommy you deserved. But I want to try-"

"Lemonade!" Astrid emerged from the estate with a tray, all gracious hostess energy. "I hope you don't mind, Mira. I added those little mint leaves Brielle loves."

She set the tray down and poured three glasses with practiced ease. Brielle immediately reached for hers.

"Thank you, Auntie Astrid!"

"You're welcome, sweetheart." Astrid settled beside Brielle, and the little girl immediately leaned into her.

Mira watched them, feeling like an outsider at her own daughter's tea party.

"So," Astrid said brightly. "Kieran mentioned you had some concerns about Brielle's care? I want you to know I take my responsibilities very seriously. I've been keeping detailed notes about her schedule, her preferences, even her growth measurements."

"Your responsibilities?" Mira's voice came out cold. "She's not your daughter."

"Of course not." Astrid's smile didn't waver. "But Kieran asked me to step in while you were... occupied with other matters. And I've grown quite attached. Haven't we, Brielle?"

"I love Auntie Astrid," Brielle declared. "She's going to take me to Everwood Academy next month! All my friends go there."

"Everwood?" Mira's stomach dropped. "That's in the city."

"Well, yes." Astrid sipped her lemonade delicately. "It's the best kindergarten in the region. And since Brielle will be spending more time in the city apartment with Kieran and me, it makes sense."

"Excuse me?"

"Didn't Kieran tell you?" Astrid's eyes glittered with false innocence. "We've worked out a new arrangement. Brielle will split her time between here and the city. That way she can be closer to her father, and I can ensure she gets the best education."

"You can't just take my daughter to live with you."

"I'm not taking her anywhere. Kieran is. He's her father, after all. He has just as much right to decide where she lives as you do." Astrid set down her glass. "Besides, Brielle wants to go. Don't you, sweetie?"

Brielle nodded eagerly. "Daddy's apartment has a pool! And Auntie Astrid said I can have my own room with a princess bed!"

Mira felt the ground shifting beneath her. This was it. This was Astrid's endgame. She wasn't just stealing Kieran-she was stealing Brielle too. Creating a perfect little family unit that had no room for Mira.

"No." Mira stood abruptly. "Absolutely not. Brielle stays here."

"That's not really your decision to make alone," Astrid said calmly. "You'd need to discuss it with Kieran. And I think you'll find he's already made up his mind."

"We'll see about that."

Mira pulled out her phone and called Kieran. It went straight to voicemail. She tried again. Same result.

"He's in meetings all afternoon," Astrid offered helpfully. "But he should be here around six. He's taking Brielle and me to dinner at that new Italian place. You're welcome to join us if you'd like."

The casual cruelty of it-inviting Mira to watch them play happy family-took her breath away.

"Mommy, are you okay?" Brielle looked worried now. "Your eyes are glowing."

Mira realized her wolf was close to the surface, rage and grief making control difficult. She forced herself to breathe, to push the wolf down.

"I'm fine, baby." But her voice shook. "I just need to talk to Daddy about some things."

"He'll be here soon," Astrid said, checking her watch. "Why don't you stay? We can all have a civilized conversation."

Civilized. As if there was anything civilized about this woman systematically dismantling Mira's life.

"Brielle," Mira crouched down to her daughter's level. "I need you to know something. No matter what happens, no matter where you live or who you're with, I am your mother. I will always be your mother. And I love you. Okay?"

Brielle nodded uncertainly. "Okay."

Mira kissed her daughter's forehead, breathing in her scent, memorizing it. Then she stood and walked toward the estate.

"Where are you going?" Astrid called after her.

"To wait for my husband."

Mira went inside and positioned herself in the living room where she could see the driveway. If Kieran thought he could move their daughter to the city to live with his mistress without even discussing it with her, he had another thing coming.

An hour passed. Then two. Mira sat in the growing darkness, watching shadows lengthen across the floor.

Finally, at seven-an hour late-Kieran's SUV pulled into the drive.

But he wasn't alone.