Lily Evans POV
"Mommy, I'm falling!" Emma screamed as her little legs wobbled on the ice.
Lily lunged forward, grabbing her daughter before she could hit the frozen pond. Her own skates nearly sent her tumbling, but she managed to keep them both standing.
"I've got you, baby," Lily panted, her heart racing from the close call.
They'd only been on the ice for five minutes, and already Emma had almost face-planted twice. Lily was starting to think this whole ice skating thought was a mistake.
"I want to go fast like those kids!" Emma pointed to a group of children gliding across the pond like they were born on skates.
"Let's master standing up first," Lily said, trying to sound cheerful while her own ankles shook with effort.
She'd brought Emma here looking for a normal, fun activity. Something to take their minds off last night's terrifying experience with Dominic. After he'd broken into the house, Ethan had somehow talked him into going. But the Alpha's final words still echoed in Lily's head: "This isn't over."
"Need some help?"
Lily spun around so fast she nearly fell. Ethan glided up to them easily, moving on the ice like he was walking on solid ground.
"Ethan!" Emma squealed happily. "I can't do it. The ice is too slippery."
"Ice skating takes practice," Ethan said, smiling at Emma. "Want me to show you a trick?"
Before Lily could answer, Emma was nodding eagerly. Ethan gently took the little girl's hands, supporting her weight as they moved slowly across the ice.
"The secret is to lean forward just a tiny bit," Ethan stated. "Like you're trying to catch a butterfly that's flying away from you."
Emma giggled and tried to lean forward. Amazingly, she started floating instead of stumbling.
"I'm doing it!" she shouted. "Mommy, look! I'm really skating!"
Lily watched in wonder as Ethan patiently guided Emma around the pond. Other kids started following them, and soon Ethan was giving an impromptu skating lesson.
"Push with one foot, glide with the other," he called out. "Just like you're riding a scooter."
The children laughed and tried to copy him. Emma was smiling, more confident with each step. Lily felt that warm, exciting feeling watching Ethan with her daughter. He was so natural with kids, so patient and kind.
"He's good with her."
Lily jumped at the voice behind her. Maya skated up, holding two cups of hot chocolate from the warming hut.
"You scared me," Lily gasped, accepting the warm cup gladly.
"Sorry. I saw you guys from across the pond." Maya nodded toward Ethan and Emma. "Emma looks happy."
"She does," Lily agreed, then dropped her voice. "Maya, can I ask you something? About pack stuff?"
Maya's face got serious. "What kind of pack stuff?"
"True mates. Are they real?"
Maya nearly choked on her hot chocolate. "Why are you asking about true mates?"
"Just... curious."
"Lily." Maya grabbed her arm. "True mate bonds are incredibly rare. Most wolves never find theirs. And when they do..." She looked toward Ethan. "Oh my god. You and Ethan?"
"Maybe. I don't know. It's confusing."
"Confusing?" Maya stared at her. "Lily, true mates are precious. It's the strongest bond possible between two people. If you've found yours, that changes everything."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean pack law recognizes true mates above all other claims. Even Alpha claims."
Lily's stomach dropped. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying if you and Ethan are true mates, Dominic can't just demand you come back to him. The bond protects you."
Before Lily could ask more questions, Emma came skating over, her cheeks red with cold and excitement.
"Mommy, Ethan says I'm a natural! Can we come back tomorrow?"
"We'll see, sweetie," Lily said, but she was distracted by movement at the edge of the pond.
A figure stood among the pine trees, partially hidden but unmistakable. Dominic. He was watching them, and even from a distance, Lily could feel his rage.
"He's been there for twenty minutes," Maya whispered, following her gaze.
"What?" Lily's blood went cold.
"Dominic. He arrived right after you did. He's been watching Ethan with Emma."
Lily felt sick. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought you knew. I figured that's why you looked nervous."
Ethan skated over to them, and instantly the electric feeling between him and Lily got stronger. Emma grabbed his hand, chattering about wanting to learn hockey moves.
"Your shadow's back," Ethan said quietly, pointing toward the trees.
"My shadow?"
"Dominic. He's been following you around town for two days. Didn't you notice?"
Lily's heart started pounding. "Following me?"
"Lily," Ethan's voice got serious. "There's something you need to know. Dominic never stopped looking for you. After you left five years ago, he hired private investigators. He's been searching this whole time."
"That's impossible. He married Victoria."
"Pack duty made him marry her. But Maya told me he built a nursery in the pack house years ago. He was hoping you'd come back with his child."
Emma tugged on Ethan's sleeve. "Can you teach me to go backwards?"
"In a minute, sweetheart," Ethan said, but his eyes stayed on Lily. "He's been obsessed with finding you. And now that he knows about Emma..."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying he's not going to let you leave town again. Not with his daughter."
Lily looked toward the trees, but Dominic was gone. Panic flooded through her.
"Where did he go?" she asked frantically.
Maya pointed toward the parking area. "His truck just pulled out. Fast."
"Why would he leave?" Lily wondered aloud.
Ethan's face went pale. "Because he's not watching anymore. He's acting."
"What do you mean?"
"Your mother's house. If he can't talk to you here in public, he'll wait for you at home."
Lily grabbed Emma's hand. "We need to go. Now."
"But Mommy, I just learned to skate backwards!"
"Emma, please. We have to leave right now."
As they hurried off the ice, Lily's phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number: Cute family trip. Too bad it's the last one. Bring Emma home where she belongs, or I'll come get her myself.
Ethan read the message over her shoulder. "Lily, you can't go back to your mom's house."
"Then where can we go?"
"My home. It's on neutral territory, outside pack lands. He can't enter without permission."
Emma looked between them, feeling the fear. "Mommy, what's wrong? Why do we have to run?"
Before Lily could answer, Maya skated up fast, fear in her eyes.
"Lily, we have a problem. I just got a call from my mom. Dominic went to the pack meeting. He's exercising his Alpha rights."
"What does that mean?" Lily asked, though she was afraid of the answer.
"It means he's legally claiming Emma as his heir. You have twenty-four hours to give her to the pack, or he can take her by force."
Emma started crying, frightened by the adults' scared sounds.
Ethan scooped her up. "It's okay, little one. Nobody's taking you anywhere."
But as they rushed toward the parking lot, Lily saw something that made her blood freeze. Three black SUVs sat blocking the exits. Men in dark clothes stood beside each vehicle.
"Ethan," she whispered. "I don't think we're getting out of here."
One of the men stepped forward, and Lily recognized him as Marcus, Dominic's beta. He walked toward them with a legal document in his hand and a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Lily Evans," he called out. "By order of Alpha Dominic Stone, you and the child Emma are commanded to come with us immediately."