Dion knew something was wrong the moment the door opened and the smile drained from Natalieās face. He turned at once and the breath hitched in his throat.
There he was. David Avax.
The wolves might have their alphas, but humans had David Avaxāking of technology, billionaire powerhouse, and one of the most dangerous men alive. And, most importantly, Natalieās father.
Natalie was a split image of her father. Same dirty-blonde hair, same jawline sharp enough to cut. Where she carried stunning hazel eyes, Davidās were an icy gray capable of freezing hell over. Nonetheless, Natalie was very much Daddyās girl.
The man stared coldly at him and Dion couldnāt even move, his mouth parting uselessly. What was he going to say?
Hi sir, Iām Dion. I apparently saved your daughter from a crash and to thank me, we kissed just a minute ago before you arrived?
Yep, not happening.
Finally, David broke the silence, his voice low and edged. "Who are you?"
As intimidating as David was, Dion somehow summoned the spine to answer.
"Iām Dion, Natalieās classmateā"
"And the one who saved me from the crash," Natalie cut in sharply, her lips pressed together in warning.
Davidās hard stare shifted to his daughter. She met it head-on, a silent war passing between them. Natalie dared him to dismiss or belittle the boy who had helped her.
Though not a single ounce of aloofness left his expression, David finally turned back to Dion and said, polite but distant,
"Well. Thank you for saving my daughter, Dion. Youāll be rewarded for that."
"Huh?" Dion felt like he heard wrong.
"Oh God," Natalie groaned, dragging a hand over her face, absolutely drowning in second-hand embarrassment.
Dion straightened immediately. "Iām good, sir. I didnāt rescue Natalie to receive anything in return. Weāre friends..." His voice trailed at the end. Friends didnāt kiss like that, but Dion shoved the thought aside. It was a thank-you kiss, like Natalie said. Nothing more. Probably.
Davidās perfectly shaped brow lifted. "Friends, huh?"
"Very good friends," Natalie said pointedly, a declaration and a warning in one.
Davidās gaze shifted to his daughter again, tension thick in the air. Dion swallowed hard and stepped back, desperate to escape the invisible battlefield between father and daughter.
"Urm... Iāll wait outside while you talk to her and come back later," he said, clearing his throat.
Davidās frown deepened. "Come back later?"
Dion gulped. "I-I promised to take care of Natalie."
"Yes, he did," Natalie added without hesitation.
"That wonāt be necessary," David replied, his tone clipped and final. "Her caretaker is standing right outside that door and will take over once Iām done."
"Oh." Dion flushed. Of course she had a caretakerāwhy hadnāt that crossed his mind? Suddenly he felt stupid, very stupid, for assuming she needed him in that way.
Feeling like he was intruding, Dion awkwardly lifted a hand in a tiny wave.
"I... hope you make a quick recovery, then."
"Iāll see you tomorrow then?" Natalie asked.
Dion paused, glancing at David and catching the tight clench of the manās jaw. Yep. He definitely didnāt like him.
"Right?" Natalie pressed, leveling her father with a fierce stare.
Somehow, that gave Dion courage. His familiar smile tugged at his lips. "Sure. Iāll be here tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after the next until youāve recovered."
This time, Natalieās face lit up. Good. That was the spirit she wanted to see. For a moment earlier sheād been disappointed watching him shrink under her fatherās presence, but now heād found his footing, and the expression on Davidās face was priceless.
"See you then," Dion said, about to leave whenā
"Dion?" Natalie said.
It killed him a little inside. What now? "What?" he asked, voice gentle.
She pointed to her cheek. "Goodbye peck, love."
Dion immediately understood. Natalie was using him to irritate her father on purposeāand there was no universe where he would turn that down. Not after the bastard married the woman who hurt her.
He walked to her bedside. But instead of giving the peck she requested, he leaned down and kissed her on the lips again. Natalie responded instantly, wrapping one arm around his neck, moving her mouth against his with equal intensity.
He didnāt deepen itāhe wasnāt suicidal enough to disrespect David directlyābut it was still intimate enough to drive the point home.
When they pulled apart, Natalie was breathless, eyes sparkling like a kid on Christmas morning.
"Sleep tight," Dion murmured, then pressed a soft peck to her cheek and straightened.
To David Avax, he said, "Have a lovely time with your daughter, sir." Then he slipped past him and walked out with a quiet confidence that bordered on swagger.
The door shut.
Silence thickened the room.
A battle of wills began the moment their eyes met.
"Really, Natalie?" Davidās tone dripped with condescension. "Weāre dating
that kind
of people now?"
Natalie hissed. "That kind of people?" She stared at him, disbelief burning through her exhaustion. Then an unsettling calm washed over her as she spat, "Well, those kinds of people are better than your high-class wife who abused me for years."
There was a crack in his cold armor, and for the first time, remorse flickered across Davidās face.
He stepped closer. "You should have come to me."
"Really?" Natalie scoffed. "Did you have time for me? The little attention I asked for after Mother died, what did you do? You married the woman who abused me. And now you stand here acting like a father? How dare you?!"
"Youāre right," David admitted. "I should have chosen better. If I had known Kate was like that, I would have made a better choice."
"Oh God," Natalie groaned, exasperated. His apology for years of neglect was choosing a better wife? She was furious.
"You donāt have to worry about Kate, not anymore," David said.
"What?" Natalie stilled, then narrowed her eyes. "What have you done, Father?"
David held her gaze.
"Kate is dead."
Natalieās breath vanished, every drop of blood in her body turning to ice.