Nathan’s POV
Kyra is sleeping on the long couch while I sit on the single couch across from her.
I want to touch her. I want to kiss her but whenever I think about how she hid the truth from even when she said she forgave , anger bubbles inside .
She made believe that the child I learned to love was another man’s baby.
My own flesh and blood doesn’t even know I’m her real father. It breaks my heart. I keep telling myself I deserve this because I hurt her first, but I can’t ignore this pain.
My daughter almost died.I can’t accept that my little girl had to go through a life-or-death situation before I learned the truth.
She must have used so special thod to block to recognize my own cub.
How could she keep this secret for so long?We’ve been reunited for months, intimate countless tis.Was my begging for her love and forgiveness not enough for her to tell ?
Why did it have to be like this?
Alaric growls inside . "She had no right to keep this from us."
"Daddy Nathan..." That soft voice interrupts my thoughts.
I quickly walk to her bed and sit on the chair beside it, caressing her cheek. "You’re awake."
She stares at with those innocent eyes. "Are you crying, daddy Nathan?"
I touch my cheek and realize she’s right. I imdiately wipe the tears and force a smile. "No, princess. I’m not."
She smiles and reaches for my bruised hand. "Does your wound hurt, daddy Nathan?"
My eyes drop to my bruised knuckles. I punched the wall in the hospital chapel out of anger and pain.
I thought I’d released all the rage, pain and disappointnt, but I was wrong. Whenever I see Kyra, I rember the pain. Is this the sa agony she felt when I hurt her? Is she just punishing for what I did before?
"Daddy Nathan..."
"Just daddy," I say, smiling at my daughter again. "Call daddy, princess. Just daddy."
She beams and nods. "Yes, daddy!"
I hug her gently, careful of her IV line. I love my daughter so much. I loved her even without knowing the truth, and I can’t stand thinking she might have considered Kieran her father. If that bastard hadn’t hurt Kyra, would she have let him raise my child? The thought alone makes Alaric growl inside .
"She’s our cub," Alaric snarls. "No one else’s."
"Daddy, did you and mommy fight?" Snow asks suddenly.
My lips part as I look down at her. "Why would you ask that?"
She glances at her mom, sadness clouding her eyes. "My mommy’s eyes are sad, daddy."
I’m lost for words. I don’t know what to say. I can’t tell her about what happened when she was unconscious. She’s too young to understand adult problems.
"My mommy’s eyes are always sad before we ca here, daddy. But whenever we’re with you, she’s happy."
I swallow hard, guilt washing over . Our daughter noticed it too. I’m sorry, baby. I’ve always been the reason for your mom’s sadness.
"Daddy, can I ask you sothing?"
I nod and smile at her. "Sure, sweetheart. What is it?"
She glances at Kyra again before leaning closer to and whispering, "Do you know my daddy? I an my real daddy?"
My heart races as my lips part. I don’t know what to say. I could tell her I’m her real dad, but she might get scared or confused.
"I always see other kids with their mommy and daddy, but I never asked mommy."
I look at her, my heart aching. "Why didn’t you ask mommy?"
"Because I feel like my daddy hurt my mommy before."
My chest tightens. I can’t take my eyes off my daughter’s curious face. She’s too young and innocent for this pain.
"W-Why did you think that?" I ask, my voice hoarse.
"Mommy got sick once and I heard her crying in her sleep. She said she regretted loving my daddy."
I swallow hard. "D-Did she ntion a na?"
"Yes!" She nods eagerly. "She said Kieran. Is Kieran my daddy?"
Rage imdiately floods through . That asshole traumatized Kyra so badly she cried about it in her sleep. I clench my jaw and shake my head as I cup her cheeks, looking into her eyes intently.
"Listen, princess. Kieran is not your daddy."
"But why is my mommy angry at him?"
I shake my head. "He’s just soone from your mommy’s past, but he’s not your daddy."
"D-Does my daddy hate ?"
"No!" I answer instantly. "No, princess. Of course not. Who could ever hate you?"
She sobs. "Then why isn’t he visiting ? I don’t know my real daddy. I want to see him."
I pull her into a hug, both to comfort her and to hide the tears rolling down my cheeks. She’s hiding pain and anger in her tiny heart. I bla myself for this. I should’ve known. I should’ve felt it the first ti I saw her.
I was so stupid for not noticing it. The feeling. The happiness whenever she’s with . I was so in love with Kyra that I failed to recognize that the connection I felt with Snow wasn’t just because I loved her mother.
"I want to see my daddy! I want to et him and ask him why he left and mommy..." She continues crying in my arms.
I want to tell her the truth. I desperately want to tell her I’m her real father, but I don’t want to make this decision alone. Plus, she’s just a little kid. She won’t understand the complicated situation.
"Shh! Hush now, princess. You have a daddy. I am your daddy. I will be your daddy."
She looks up at , her eyes filled with tears. I gently wipe them away as she stares at my face.
"If only you’re my real daddy, mommy and I would never be sad again."
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