Cookie Contest Crisis

Lily Evans POV

"She's burning up!" Lily pressed her cool hand against Emma's forehead, panic rising in her chest. Her daughter's tiny body shook with fever.

Mrs. Stone pushed through the growing crowd. "Everyone back! Give her air."

Dominic knelt beside them, reaching for Emma. "Let me take her."

"No!" Lily clutched Emma closer. "Don't touch her."

Hurt flashed across Dominic's face, but Lily didn't care. Five years of raising Emma alone had made her extremely protective.

Mrs. Stone examined Emma carefully. "The fever's not dangerous—it's part of her growth. Stone children often experience this when their wolf genes begin to awaken."

"But she's only four," Lily whispered.

"And half Alpha," Mrs. Stone answered. "The strongest I've seen in generations."

Emma whimpered, her eyes fluttering open. "Mommy? I feel funny."

Lily smoothed back Emma's damp curls. "I know, baby. You're going to be okay."

Ethan appeared with a glass of water and a wet cloth. "This might help," he said, giving them to Lily.

When their fingers brushed, that strange electric feeling surged again. Judging by Ethan's sharp intake of breath, he felt it too.

Dominic's eyes narrowed, watching the conversation. "Victoria," he called over his shoulder, "tell everyone the party is continuing in the main room. Now."

Victoria paused, then nodded, ushering curious onlookers away.

Mrs. Stone helped Emma sip some water. "The fever will pass soon. It's just her body adjusting."

"Adjusting to what?" Lily asked.

"Her heritage," Dominic replied. "The Alpha bloodline runs strong in her."

Emma's trembling eventually subsided. Color returned to her face, and her breathing steadied.

"Look!" Emma pointed happily to the window. "It's raining again! Can we still do the cookie thing?"

The adults shared surprised glances at her quick recovery.

"Cookie thing?" Lily asked.

"The decorating contest!" Emma said. "That lady announced it before I got dizzy."

Ethan crouched down beside her. "You still want to decorate cookies after all this excitement?"

Emma nodded eagerly. "Can we make animal ones? With red noses?"

Lily couldn't believe her daughter's resolve. One minute having a werewolf fever, the next wanting to make Christmas cookies.

Before Lily could answer, Ethan said, "Of course we can. If your mom says it's okay."

Emma turned begging eyes to Lily. "Please, Mommy?"

Looking at her daughter's hopeful face, Lily couldn't say no. And truthfully, the cookie contest would be a good excuse to avoid the confrontation with Dominic that was definitely coming.

"Alright," Lily agreed. "If you're feeling better."

"I'll take her to get washed up," Mrs. Stone offered, helping Emma to her feet. "Meet us in the dining room in five minutes."

As they walked away, tension increased between the three adults left in the hallway.

"We need to talk," Dominic said, his voice low and controlled. "About Emma. About why you never told me."

Lily stood up, brushing off her dress. "Not now."

"Then when?" Anger edged into his tone. "You can't avoid this forever, Lily."

"Tomorrow," she said firmly. "I'll bring Emma to the pack house tomorrow morning. We can talk then."

Dominic looked like he wanted to argue but finally nodded. "Fine. Nine o'clock." He turned and stalked away, tension apparent in every line of his body.

When he was gone, Lily released a shaky breath.

"You okay?" Ethan asked quietly.

"Not really," she admitted. "This night has been a disaster."

"Hey," Ethan said softly, "you're handling it amazingly well. Most people would've run screaming by now."

A small laugh escaped her. "Don't think I haven't considered it."

"Come on," he said, offering his arm. "Let's go make some reindeer cookies with red noses."

The dining room had been turned into a cookie decorating workshop. Long tables covered with materials stretched across the room—frosting bags, sprinkles, candy pieces, and plates of plain sugar cookies. Children and their parents gathered around, making festive treats.

Emma waved happily from a table where Mrs. Stone had saved them spots. Lily was touched by the old woman's kindness, despite the difficult situation.

"I saved you the reindeer-shaped ones," Emma revealed proudly as they sat down.

For the next hour, Lily forgot herself in the simple joy of decorating cookies with her daughter. Emma chattered happily, showing Ethan how to make perfect red noses with cinnamon treats. The connection between them was instant and natural, as if they'd known each other forever.

Every time Lily's hand brushed against Ethan's—passing a frosting bag or reaching for sprinkles—that strange feeling spread through her body. It was nothing like what she'd felt with Dominic years ago. This was different, almost like recognition on a soul level.

"You're staring," Ethan whispered, amusement in his eyes.

Lily blushed. "Sorry. This is just...weird."

"Good weird or bad weird?" he asked, helping Emma add pretzel ears to her cookie.

"I'm not sure yet," Lily revealed.

Across the room, Dominic stood with Victoria, watching them. His face was dark, conflicted. When their eyes met, Lily felt nothing—not anger, not desire, not the pull that had once consumed her. Just emptiness.

It should have been freeing. Instead, it confused her.

Mrs. Stone leaned close to Lily. "The true mate bond is rare," she said softly. "It supersedes all other connections."

"I don't understand what's happening," Lily admitted.

"You will." The old woman patted her hand. "The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes."

Before Lily could ask more questions, a bell rang, marking the end of the decorating time. Judges moved from table to table, studying the cookies.

"Do you think we'll win?" Emma asked excitedly.

"Your reindeer are definitely the best," Ethan assured her.

Emma smiled at him, then surprised everyone by climbing into his lap to get a better view of the judges. The easy way she trusted him made Lily's heart ache with a mixed feeling.

Across the room, Dominic's hands tightened into fists at the sight.

"And the children's division winner is..." the judge stated, "Emma Evans, for her red-nosed reindeer cookies!"

Emma squealed with excitement, jumping up and down. "We won, we won!"

As she ran to accept her little trophy—a wooden spoon painted gold—Lily noticed Victoria saying something to Dominic. Whatever she said made his face darken further.

"Trouble brewing," Ethan murmured, following her look. "Victoria doesn't look happy."

"She has every right to be upset," Lily said. "I show up with her husband's secret child, and now this... whatever this is between us."

"True mate bond," Ethan said simply. "It's not something either of us planned."

Emma returned, happily clutching her trophy. "Look what I won!"

"That's wonderful, sweetie!" Lily hugged her. "Are you feeling tired? Maybe we should head home soon."

"But I want to show Daddy my trophy first," Emma said innocently.

Lily froze. "What did you say?"

"That man said he's my daddy," Emma stated, pointing at Dominic. "He came over when you were getting napkins and told me. Is it true, Mommy? Is he really my daddy?" Fury rose in Lily's chest. How dare he? Telling Emma without talking it with her first!

Ethan tensed beside her. "That wasn't his place."

"No, it wasn't," Lily agreed, trying to keep her voice calm for Emma's sake. "Sweetie, we need to talk about this, but not right now."

"But why? Everyone has a daddy. Maya said mine was far away, but he's right here!" Emma looked confused, her lower lip shaking.

Lily knelt to her daughter's level. "It's hard, baby. We'll talk about it tomorrow."

Emma's eyes filled with tears. "But I want to show him my trophy now."

Before Lily could stop her, Emma darted across the room toward Dominic, moving through tables and people.

"Emma, wait!" Lily called, running after her.

She watched in fear as Emma reached Dominic and Victoria. The little girl held up her prize proudly. "Look what I won, Daddy!"

The room went quiet. All eyes turned to watch the drama play.

Victoria's face drained of color. She looked from Emma to Dominic, then to Lily who had just reached them, and finally back to Emma.

"Daddy?" Victoria repeated, her voice breaking. "He told you he's your father?"

Emma nodded, suddenly shy at Victoria's earnestness.

Victoria turned to Dominic, tears filling her eyes. "In front of everyone? You couldn't wait to claim her in private?"

"Victoria, please," Dominic started.

"No," Victoria stepped back. "Five years of marriage, five years of trying for a child of our own, and all this time..." She choked on a sob, then looked straight at Lily. "You win. You've always won."

Before anyone could react, Victoria grabbed a glass of red punch from a nearby table and threw it directly at Dominic's face.

The liquid splashed across his white shirt like blood. Gasps rang through the room.

"Merry Christmas," Victoria hissed, then turned and fled.

Emma began to cry, confused and scared by the scene. Lily pulled her close, staring at Dominic.

"How could you tell her without talking to me first?" she asked.

Dominic wiped punch from his face, his look unreadable. "She deserved to know the truth."

"That wasn't your decision to make alone!" Lily's voice rose.

"She's my daughter too!"

"Is she?" Mrs. Stone's quiet words cut through their argument. She stood nearby, watching them with knowing eyes. "The true mate bond changes everything."

Dominic's head snapped toward her. "What are you talking about?"

The old woman pointed to where Ethan now stood beside Lily. "When true mates bond, all past ties are severed. Including blood claims."

"That's impossible," Dominic growled.

"Check the ancient laws," Mrs. Stone answered calmly. "When an unmated female with a child finds her true mate, the child's lineage follows the bond."

"You're saying Emma is Ethan's now?" Lily asked, shocked.

Mrs. Stone nodded seriously. "By pack law, yes."

Dominic's eyes flashed dangerous Alpha red. "I will never accept that."

"The Christmas Choosing will decide," Mrs. Stone declared. "Tomorrow night. The Moon Goddess will determine the child's fate."

Emma tugged at Lily's dress, tears running down her face. "Mommy, I don't understand. Who is my real daddy?"