Getting away with the Alpha's Pup

Chapter 201

Daniel's Perspective

My heart was racing, and I knew I shouldn't be here, especially not at this hour. But I couldn't stay at home any longer, waiting alone for my mother to return. She had promised she would be back soon, but it had been so long—so long with no word—that my anxiety was growing by the minute.

I could feel that nagging unease, as if some kind of danger was drawing near. After all, my mother worked under that man's command. I knew I had to find her and make sure she was safe.

I cautiously slipped through the back door of the manor and made my way around the edge of the party grounds. Despite the grandeur of the manor—tall statues and intricate flower arrangements—my focus never wavered from the direction of the main entrance. My mother's presence was a constant weight in my mind. But as soon as I stepped into the hall, I was struck dumb by the sight before me. It was a world completely different from what I had imagined, bathed in golden light and filled with ornate decorations. Every corner exuded a sense of formality and oppression.

I had never seen such a lavish banquet before. Even the air was different, thick with the scent of wine and leather. Around me stood members of the Wolf Clan in full regalia. I bowed my head and edged away from the crowd, trying to blend into the shadows along the wall.

"I can't let them find me," I muttered to myself.

I knew that if anyone discovered me, I'd not only face my mother's wrath, but I might also expose my true identity. For her sake, I had to endure.

But just as I hurried through the hall, I inadvertently lifted my head—and froze. In that moment, it felt as though time itself had stopped. The man standing at the center of the hall was so familiar—the shape of his back, that aura—it was almost impossible to believe my eyes.

Giovanni.

The man who had hurt my mother so deeply, and my father as well. He stood there, surrounded by several high-ranking members of the clan, looking impossibly distant and cold.

My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively took a step back, trying to stay out of his line of sight. I knew this moment was too dangerous. Though it was unlikely Giovanni would recognize me—after all, he had never seen my face, and my mother had always kept our identities hidden—just the thought of what he had done to her was enough to ignite a fierce anger inside me. I gripped the hem of my coat, trying to steady myself.

Yet, for some reason, my eyes betrayed me and fell back to Giovanni. That man, the one I had been running from, seemed to draw me in with an unexplainable pull. I couldn't quite put it into words, but I knew I couldn't help but look.

At that moment, Giovanni's gaze suddenly swept across the room, as if searching for something. My heart lurched, and I held my breath, shrinking further into the shadows.

However, the avoidance didn't seem to work—Giovanni's gaze locked onto me for a split second. His eyes were sharp and burning, as if they had pierced through all my disguises and concealments, reaching straight to the depths of my heart. I could feel an inexplicable pull, as though it were rooted in my very blood, an irresistible force calling to me.

I didn't have the courage to meet his gaze. Instead, I turned quickly and ran toward a corner of the hall. I knew it was only a matter of time before I was discovered if I kept acting like this.

Just as my footsteps carried me into the corner, a sudden chill shot through me, freezing me in place. I froze, my mind flashing with alarm, my wolf instincts kicking in. A strong sense of danger surged through me—a threat emanating from Giovanni, the man… my father.

I pressed myself against the wall, my heart pounding violently in my chest. I held my breath, trying with all my might to fade into the shadows.

Giovanni's footsteps drew nearer. I could hear them—heavy, deliberate—and I could almost smell him, his presence searing itself into my mind, an image that would never leave.

Then, a woman's voice broke the silence.

"Giovanni." Her tone was calm, but there was an edge of urgency. "My father is looking for you."

I exhaled in relief, retreating further into the corner, hardly believing I hadn't been spotted. Giovanni paused, frowning slightly, his gaze still fixed in my direction, though it seemed he didn't fully register my hidden form in the darkness.

The woman's voice came again. "He says he has something very important he wants to discuss with you."

Giovanni hesitated for a moment, then seemed to drop the matter. He turned and walked away in the opposite direction, with the woman following close behind.

I remained hidden until I was sure they were gone. Only then did I slowly emerge from the corner. My heart was still racing, my body tense with nervous energy, yet there was also a thrill that coursed through me, stirred by what I had just witnessed.

I hurried back to the corner where I'd first taken cover, taking deep breaths to steady myself. Despite almost being caught, I had managed to remain unseen.