Nineteen

Chapter 19 Dylan

I left the coffee shop shortly after Cherry. Immediately, I pulled out my phone and called my Beta.

Bert's upbeat voice was a welcome taste of home, and I felt calmer as I walked down the foreign street. "You seen Cherry yet?" he asked.

"I have," I answered, awash with heady emotion. "She's as beautiful as ever."

"You know it was only two days ago since you saw her last, right?"

"Yes, but she's majorly jetlagged and still easily the most beautiful woman in any room."

My Beta laughed indulgently. "How have these compliments not won her round yet?"

"She has a boyfriend, Bert," I growled out, grinding my teeth. The thought of Cherry with someone else set a furnace roaring through me. The beast within me snarled and threatened to stalk back to her apartment, then carry her off to where no one else but me could find her.

"Oh," Bert responded. "Yeah, she mentioned there was someone." I was startled. "And you didn't tell me?"

"I kinda thought that Cherry having a daughter, who's likely yours, was bigger news."

Warmth ran through me at his words. I had seen Fern from a distance in the garden. She had dark brown eyes and hair like mine, and Cherry's heart- shaped face and delicate build. Besides, it wasn't just these outward signs and wishful thinking that had me feeling sure that Fern was mine. It was Nuu-Chah's insight, that flash of the future I'd seen in which I'd already accurately seen Fern before I'd even seen her today.

"I can still demote you, you know?" I retorted to Bert half-heartedly.

"I do remember Cherry saying that she wasn't sure about her current suitor," my Beta recalled.

"That's more like it," I said, my wolf rumbling happily at my Beta's words. If Cherry hadn't been sure about her and her suitor a few days ago, there was no reason for her to be surer now. If anything, she was likely less sure, given how wonderful the kiss with her after my Alpha Ceremony had been.

She was likely simply pushing me away because she was scared: of being treated and hurt by me as she had been in the past. Also, if Fern were my daughter, Cherry would fear that I'd force them to come to live with the Starsmoon Pack. I had to prove to her that she was wrong on both counts. I wanted what was best for her because I loved her. But I would earn her trust and prove to her that she was happiest at my side because I was her mate.

With my resolve hardened, I ordered Bert, "I need you to reach out to our preternatural contacts here in Berlin. Find out about who Cherry's dating. Get everything you can on him."

A few hours later, I parked myself in my hotel's restaurant, enjoying a schnitzel for dinner. With meat this good, I was starting to see why my mate might like this city. I multi-tasked, scrolling through Berlin property listings within a mile radius of Cherry's as I ate. My phone on the table vibrated, my Beta's name popping up on the screen.

"Bert?" I answered.

"So, her suitor's name is Carl Jacobs. He's human, thirty-one years old, and lives in Wedding, in the Mitte District of Berlin. He's a property lawyer and works for DLL Partners."

A smile wound across my face. Cherry was dating a human. This was hardly competition for me. Another thought occurred to me as I stumbled across a great find on the property website.

"Bert?" I said, my mind whirring as I concocted plans. "I'm going to send you a property listing I'd like you to buy. And after you call to make the offer, I'd like you to call DLL Partners and ask for Mr. Jacobs to deal with the legalities of the sale."

Bert chuckled. "You want a look at the competition."

I huffed a laugh. "Can't hurt to keep your enemies close. Tell the property broker I'd like to move in tomorrow. Money's no issue."

When my Beta rang off, I retired to my room with the happy probability that I'd only be sleeping in a hotel room for a night, and tomorrow night would find me very much closer to Cherry.

By lunchtime the next day, I found myself successfully installed in the beautiful townhouse opposite Cherry's apartment. From a distance, Bert and

other pack members have done a stellar job of managing the purchase and have even managed to furnish the kitchen, living room, and one of the bedrooms for my needs. Throughout the morning, too, a local witch from the Mitte district who had a good relationship with my pack and happened to be a designer arrived with a new wardrobe for me. And a food delivery turned up, too, so my kitchen and cupboards are fully stocked.

Properly moved in, I was left with enough time to nip to the shopping mall and spend the afternoon browsing for toys. Having no idea what would capture a girl of six's interest, I put myself at the mercy of the sales assistant. She was soon walking me through the store's best-selling items for that age group.

"Lately, the Disney Princess Lego has been popular." She pointed out a Rapunzel doll and tower set, and I nodded, adding it to my basket, as well as the Frozen Winter Wonderland set, complete with Anna and Elsa dolls.

Next, the sales assistant motioned to the Magnetic Letters and Number kit. "They're perfect for kids practicing their spelling and times tables," she explained, and I was sold.

The Magic Hair and Chalk Set ended up amidst the trove next, and then the Hop 'Til You Drop Dance Mat. By this time, the sales assistant was beaming at me, and sensing that money was no issue soon added a dozen other high-ticket items to my already overflowing baskets.

As my shopping was rung through the checkout by a smiling sales assistant, who I suspect was looking forward to a healthy commission, I asked for everything to be gift-wrapped. When I finally left the store, I was so laden with toys I had to take a cab back to my townhouse.

Soon, I stood outside the door to Cherry's apartment again with multiple bags at my feet.

My stomach clenched as I heard footsteps issuing up the stairs. Sweat prickled along my forehead. I realized I was more nervous than I had been waiting for Cherry here yesterday. The magnitude of the moment seemed to sneak up on me. I might be about to meet my daughter. No, I felt certain that I was about to meet my daughter. My heart stampeded in my chest as if mimicking the running steps of the kid I heard racing toward me.

The brown-haired little girl stopped suddenly as she caught sight of me. Her dark eyes widened.

A slight smile crossed my face, eager not to frighten her, but she surprised me by tilting her chin out and demanding, "Who are you?"

She didn't look frightened or shy. Instead, it was me that felt stupidly tongue-tied and struggled to answer that question. I realized I didn't want to just introduce myself as Dylan. And it was far too early to say I was her dad. I didn't know for sure. Instead, I said, "Someone who's been looking forward to meeting you, Fern. I couldn't resist bringing you a few presents."

Her eyes fell on the bags around me, which had lots of wrapped packages poking out of them. Now, a small smile crossed her face, and she asked, "How do you know my name?"

Just then, Fern's nanny joined her on the stairs. "Oh, hi, can we help you?" The young woman asked, her gaze raking over me and the shopping bags.

"I hope so." I smiled. "I'm Dylan, an old friend of Cherry's. I was hoping to surprise her and Fern," I said.

But before Lara could respond, Fern exclaimed, "Omg! This is even better than when Bert came!" She darted toward me and asked with a smile. "Can I open one now, please?"

I grinned, about to comply with her request. The beautiful smile across her heart-shaped face, so like Cherry's, was impossible to refuse.

But the nanny's guarded voice interrupted. "Fern," she reproached. "You know better than to talk to strangers, let alone accept gifts from them."

I was startled, frowning at the nanny. "I told you, I'm an old friend of Cher–"

"Until I can confirm that with Miss Wood, I'm afraid you have to leave," the nanny said staunchly, her hand settling protectively on Fern's shoulder.

I nodded, realizing I'd over-stepped the mark by coming here without Cherry's home. But I'd wanted… no, needed to meet Fern. I could see the confusion flitting across Fern's face. I didn't want to disappoint her by having her nanny forbid her from accepting the gifts I'd already said were hers.

Bert had warned me how angry Cherry was when he'd used his shifter powers on the nanny last time. So I knew using my Alpha assertiveness wasn't a good idea. But I swore I'd only do so once so that she allowed Fern to accept the gifts.

Meeting the woman's gaze, I used my preternatural stare. "It's fine, honestly. I'm a good friend of Cherry's. Let Fern take the gifts, and I'll

leave and call Cherry to arrange a better time to visit."

Lara released Fern's shoulder, and as she met Fern's upturned hopeful eyes, the nanny sighed. "Okay, go on, Fern, open one."

I gave the young woman my warmest smile, and she blushed.

I crouched down and handed Fern one of the packages. Soon she had ripped it open. She turned to Lara, "Look! It's an Elsa and Anna set!" She beamed at me and threw her little arms around my shoulders since I was still crouched down at her level.

My chest felt tight as I heard Lara opening the door and calling Fern in. I was about to be shut out, away from my daughter. Nuu-Chah's insight stirred again, and I felt keenly that Fern was my daughter.

As I stood up, I tried my warmest smile, without any use of my shifter powers as I suggested, "Like I said, I'm an old friend of Cherry's, and I've just moved into the house opposite. Perhaps, you and Fern would keep me company, and she can play there for the afternoon?"

The woman's cheeks flushed, and I could tell she thought me charming and attractive as her heartbeat raced. But she still answered, "I'm afraid we can't. Not until I chat about it and have okayed it with Cherry."

I had to content myself with the last smile I received from Fern before the nanny shut the door on me. Feeling as hollow as when Cherry had walked away from me, I descended the stairs.