Seven years have passed. Seven years since she left the man she loved the most in the world. Seven years of hiding from him. Ava stood in front of her mirror, dressing and lost in her thoughts.

She misses everything about him; his touch, his voice, the way he calls for her, the way his eyes fills with love and lust for her. A part of her yearned for Lucian's embrace once more, to feel the warmth of his body against hers. But another part of her wished they never crossed paths again.

She had left him shattered and broken. All alone in the darkness.

“Promise me one thing amore”. Luciano whispered in the middle of their love making.

“What?”. She moaned.

“Promise me you won’t leave me Because I can’t live without you Ava”. He begged.

She looked at him with tears in her eyes, hugging him tight as he thrust deeper into her.

And that was their last night together before she left him… with his seed in her.

“I’m sorry Lucian”. She wiped the tears in her eye.

She applied a light make up on her face, covering her now puffy eyes. Carrying her small hand bag, she walked out of her room.

In the seven years since she had left Lucian, she had managed to make a new name for herself. She had built her own fashion company, turning her dreams into a reality.

But her dreams had once included not only fashion, but also jewellery. Now, she had only the fashion company.

She had changed her name, from Ava Luciano Russo to Daisy Addams. She had scrubbed all traces of her former identity, as if it had never existed.

"Mom." A light, yet deeply resonant voice called out to her as soon as she stepped into the dinner room.

“How are you son?”. She asked, bending down to give her son a peck.

Her son, Nathan, sat at the dining table, his posture straight and proper, almost regal in its perfection. He was only seven years old, but he seemed wise beyond his years. He even looked older than he was, towering over other boys his age, his features already taking on a more adult appearance.

Nathan was the spitting image of his father, right down to the way he held himself and the tone of his voice.

The only resemblance he had of his mother was her oceanic blue eyes.

Nathan was incredibly intelligent, just like his father had been. And, like Luciano, he was fiercely protective of his mother. He was like a little bodyguard, always watching out for her.

Luciano had chosen the name Nathan for his son.

"If we have a son, let's name him Nathan," Luciano said, kissing her on the forehead. "And if it's a girl, we'll name her Aurora."

Ava blushed, embarrassed by his forwardness. “I am not even pregnant yet." she exclaimed, pushing him away playfully.

But Luciano just smiled, pulling her closer. "How about we make you pregnant right now?" he whispered, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Ava laughed, swatting him away.

Ava smiled as she recoiled those happy memories, it was fresh in her mind like it happened yesterday. Even though Luciano couldn’t be with his son, at least she had given him the name he chose for their first child.

“I’m fine mother”. Nathan responded.

“Come on, let’s eat”. She dished out his food for him.

“Where is your nanny?”.

Nathan growl.

“I sent her home mom, I told you I don’t need a nanny. I’m old enough to take care of myself”.

“Says the seven years old boy”.

“With ten million in his account”. He responded proudly.

Ava smiled.

Even at the age of seven, Nathan was a prodigy when it came to computers. He had a natural talent for programming and coding, and he was already helping to run the computer systems for Ava's company. In fact, his contributions had helped the company rise to the top five in the country. And as a reward, he requested a 30% share of the company profit.

“Nathan, I will be meeting some important client later, when you’re done with class. You can come meet me there. I will share you the location, make sure to text me before coming”. Ava said, taking the last bite of her pancake.

“I will get going now. Jeff will drop you off at school, I love you and take care of yourself”. She pecked him once more, cleaning her hands with a napkin.

“You too mom”. He responded.

She smiled and walked out of the house.

"Where to, ma'am?" Jeff asked, opening the car door for her.

Ava shook her head. "No need for you to drive me today, Jeff. I'll take care of myself. But please make sure Nathan gets to school safely," she said, climbing into the car and starting the engine.

**********************************

*AT THE OFFICE*

"Good morning, Miss. Addams" her staff greeted her as she walked through the office.

Ava smiled warmly, nodding and returning the greetings. She loved the friendly atmosphere at the office, and it always brightened her day to see her staff.

She made her way to her office, stepping inside and closing the door behind her.

"If it isn’t Miss Fashion herself" a voice called out from behind her, causing her to jump in surprise. She turned, a hand on her chest to see Derek grinning at her from the door.

“Oh my goodness.”. She jumped.

“You almost gave me an heart attack Derek.”. She smiled, giving him a hug.

“How are you daisy? Or should I say Ava?”. He teased, returning her hug.

She playfully hit his shoulder.

“Stop it, Derek”.

Derek had been like a godsend to Ava, helping her change her name and create a new identity, ensuring that the name Ava Russo disappeared from the world. He had even helped her move to a new city, helping her with a fresh start and a chance to start over.

Derek had a younger sister, Lucy, who had taken to Ava like a mother figure.

“How’s Lucy doing?”.

“She’s fine. But she misses you”. Derek pout.

“Nathan and I will come see her this weekend”. Ava responded with a smile.

"I also have a client I need to meet," Derek said. "It's a quick walk over to the jewellery company. Would you like me to walk you over? I can escort you to your meeting, and then you can follow me to mine." He requested nervously.

Ava laughed.

“Sure.”. She smiled.

“Alright, I will pick you up in two hours”. He gave her a quick peck before leaving

Ava called her design team into the office and they got down to business, discussing the new designs they were working on.

The discussion quickly devolved into an argument, with everyone having different opinions on what direction to take. Ava let them hash it out for a while, but eventually she had to step in and make a decision.

"Okay, let's save this for tomorrow," Ava said, cutting the discussion short. "I have another meeting to get to."

The team members all nodded, and began to file out of the room. Ava took a deep breath, relieved to have a break from the tension.

Just then, her phone buzzed with an incoming message. She pulled it out of her pocket and checked the screen.

"I'll be there in ten minutes," the message from Derek read.

Ava didn't bother to reply, simply sliding her phone back into her pocket and gathering her files. She stuffed them into her bag and hurried out of the office, not wanting to keep Derek waiting.

Ava stood at the gate, waiting for Derek to arrive. When his Lamborghini pulled up, she rolled her eyes as he executed a flashy three-point turn, stopping the car in front of her.

"I know you're wealthy , Derek, but you don't need to flaunt it like this," she teased, opening the passenger door and climbing into the car.

Derek laughed and shook his head, pulling out of the parking lot and onto the street.

“What is the use of wealth if you don’t show it off.”.

"Why are you partnering with the jewellery company?" Derek asked, turning his attention to the road.

"Well, I can't have my own jewellery company, so why not partner with the best?" Ava replied. "Besides, they're the top company in Paris. Partnering with them will only boost my own company's reputation and reach."

Derek nodded thoughtfully, considering her words. "That makes sense," he said.

The rest of the drive was silent. Shortly after they arrived at AL jewellery.

A gasped escape Ava’s lip, it was supposed to be a company but this is too gorgeous to be called a company.

Although she heard it belongs to a man whose identity still remains a mystery.

As they stepped inside, a staff member greeted them.

"We're here to see Mr. Alex," Ava said with a smile.

"Right this way, Miss," the staff member said, leading them to the conference room.

"Sir, your guests are here," the staff member announced.

"Let them in," a deep, hoarse voice replied from inside the room.

Ava froze in her tracks as she heard the voice. She knew that voice, and it couldn't be who she thought it was.

Ava's heart pounded as she stepped into the conference room, coming face to face with the man she had hidden from for the past seven years. She watched as he looked up at her, his glare softening, his eyes full of unreadable emotions.

"Welcome, Miss Daisy," Alex said, offering her a handshake. She took it, her hand trembling slightly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," she said, forcing a smile onto her face. Alex gestured around the table.

"This is Mr. Luciano, the CEO of the company," Alex said, introducing Luciano to Ava. "And this is the board of directors."

Ava nodded, taking in the faces around the table. She recognized some of them from her research on the company, and they all seemed friendly enough.

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you," Ava said again.

Alex gestured for them to take a seat at the table.

Alex cleared his throat and started speaking. "Miss Daisy has a lot of experience in the fashion industry, and she will be a valuable asset to our team. She has an eye for detail and a passion for creating beautiful designs. I'm excited to see what she can bring to the table."

Luciano's gaze lingered on Ava, his expression impossible to read. Ava shifted nervously, coughing to break the eye contact. Derek patted her on the back, causing Luciano's fist to clench.

Derek smirked, breaking the tension. "Shall we get started?" he asked, looking at Ava expectantly.

Alex nodded. "Go ahead, Miss Daisy. The board is all yours."

Ava took a deep breath to steady her nerves, and began to speak. She outlined her proposal, discussing the benefits it could bring to the company. She could feel Luciano's gaze burning into her, his eyes following her every movement.

The presentation went on for what seemed like an eternity, but finally it was over.

"That was excellent, Miss Addams," one of the board members said, breaking the silence. The others nodded in agreement, and a few even clapped.

"You may all leave now," Luciano said, his voice low and harsh. The other board members filed out of the room, without a word. They knew better than to defile his order.

Ava felt a shiver of fear as her eyes met Luciano's. She began gathering her things, wanting to get out of the room as quickly as possible.

"Alex, wait for me in my office," Luciano said, his eyes still fixed on Ava.

She hurriedly packed her things, her hands shaking. When she looked up, Luciano was right in front of her. She gasped, having no idea how he had moved so quickly.

"Mr. Luciano," Derek started to say, but Luciano cut him off.

He pulled out a gun out of nowhere, aiming it at Derek's head. Ava gasped, her heart racing.

"Tell him to leave," Luciano ordered, his voice icy cold.

"Derek, please go," Ava said, her voice shaking.

“But dais…..”

"For my sake." She cut him off, forcing a smile, hoping it would hide her fear.

Luciano's fist clenched as he watched Ava beg another man.

Derek glared at Luciano, his expression full of anger and contempt. He turned and left the room, the door slamming behind him.

Luciano lowered his gun, his eyes never leaving Ava's. A range of emotions played across his face, from anger to sadness to relief.

"Ava." he called, his voice trembling with emotion. His wolf was howling inside him, its joy at the sight of their mate almost overwhelming.

Ava’s mouth went dry and her words caught in her throat. She struggled to find her voice.

“Lu-Lu… Lucian.”. She manage to choke out.

She stared at him with her heart pounding in her chest. He still looked the same as he always had. He was even more handsome then she remembered. Tall and broad-shouldered, with a frame that was both muscular and lithe.

His dark hair was shiny and neatly coiffed, and his green-black eyes were mesmerising. From a distance, they looked almost black, but up close they were flecked with tiny gold flecks that seemed to shimmer in the light. They were beautiful. His eyes were the first thing she fell for.

Lucian stepped closer, placing a hand on her waist and pulling her close. She could feel his breath on her face, his lips only inches from hers.

The heat of his body radiated against hers, and his breath was warm on her face. His lips were so close to hers that she could feel the soft brush of his breath against her mouth. Her heart was pounding in her chest.

“Mr Lucian.”. She called, her hands pressing against his chest, trying to push him back a little.

“Ava.”. He called in a low but warning voice.

There was something in his voice that made her shiver, a note of authority that made her knees weak. She found herself unable to look away from his eyes, her heart pounding in her chest.

She bit her bottom lip nervously, not even realising what she was doing.

Lucian’s eyes immediately flashed with desire and want.

“Lucian, please let me go”. She pleaded.

“Why? Why should I let you go?”.

“So you can leave me again? Like you did seven years ago? Or is it because your new man is waiting outside for you?”.

Ava stared at him in shock.

“Answer me Ava.”. He yelled, tighten his grip on her.

A painful whispered escape her lips.

“Lucian you’re hurting me”. She cried.

“I’m hurting you? Do you have any idea how I almost lost my mind when I couldn’t find you beside me? Do you know how much pain I went through? Do you know how much I have missed you, long for you? Only to find out you’re safe and healthy but in someone else’s arm, reeking of his scent” His voice low and dangerous.

“Did you ever loved me Ava?”. His voice was low but filled with pain.

Ava's eyes flashed with anger, her jaw clenched tight.

How could he question her love for him

Before she could speak, another voice cut through them.

“GET. YOUR. HANDS. OFF. MY MOTHER.”

"Get your hands off my mother" a voice growled from behind them.

Luciano froze, a shiver running down his spine at the sound of the voice. The voice was low and raspy, like it belonged to a wild animal.

He turned around slowly, letting go of Ava as his eyes locked onto the small figure that stood in front of him.

"Mother?" he repeated, his voice hoarse. He looked from the boy to Ava.

"Nathan" Ava called, rushing forward to embrace her son. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Nathan?" Luciano called again, his voice a little louder this time.

Ava's heart skipped a beat, and she placed a hand on her son's shoulder, pulling him protectively behind her. She stood in front of him, facing Lucian.

"Mr. Luciano," Ava said, her voice shaking but firm. "I would like to leave now." She said, her eyes fixed on Luciano.

Luciano's gaze flickered between Ava and the boy, his expression unreadable.

Finally, he nodded slowly. "Very well," he said, his voice cool and detached.

Ava looked at him curiously, the Lucian she knows won’t just let things go like that.

She grabbed her son's hand and hurried out the door, her heart pounding fast in her chest.

As they left the room, she glanced back over her shoulder, catching a glimpse of Luciano's face. He was watching them go, his expression unreadable. She shivered, a chill running down her spine. Something told her that this was far from over.

Luciano reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He dialled a number and it was answered after the first ring.

"Daisy Addams," he said into the phone, his voice calm and dangerous.

Luciano didn't need to explain anything further. Drake knew exactly what to do.

"Now that I've found you," Luciano said, his voice low and dangerous, "I'm not going to let you go so easily."

"I want to see how fast you can run now, my little rose ."

********************************

Ava climbed into the car, her hands shaking as she buckled Nathan into his seat. "Let's go." she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

She held her sim closely, her arms wrapped protectively around him.

The driver, Jeff, started the engine and they pulled away from the curb.

Derek followed their car from behind frustratedly. His Lamborghini was designed for only two people.

"I won't let you take her from me this time, Luciano." he snarled, his voice low and menacing. "She's mine now, and you can't have her back." He murmured to himself.

He packed in front of Ava’s house, entering the house as he called after her.

“Daisy, daisy wait up.”.

“Why derek?? why did you call Nathan?”. Ava yelled.

“Mother….”

“You better stay out of this”. She warned.

“Daisy I didn’t tell Nathan to come, you weren’t picking his call and he called me. I have no choice but to tell him what was going on”. Derek explained.

“You shouldn’t have and you know why Derek”. Ava cried.

“Daisy”. He tries to touch her.

“Step away uncle derek. Do not touch my mother”. Nathan stood in front of her protectively.

Derek clenched his fist together angrily. Nathan was no different from his father.

“I want to be alone, you can leave now derek.”.

“Daisy…”

“Please”. She plead.

Derek stared at her, taking a deep breath to calm himself down.

He move close to hug her but Nathan blocked him.

“I said step away uncle derek.”. He growl angrily.

Derek glared hard at him before storming off angrily.

Ava signed and walked inside with Nathan trailing behind her.

Her seven years of hiding from him just got ruin in one day. Why didn’t she even think of it? How could she not know AL JEWELRY means Ava Luciano jewelry.

Now she herself walked into his den.

“Mother.”. Nathan called.

“Not now Nathan, I need to rest.”. She shut him up and walked to her room.

Nathan clenched his teeth angrily, how dare that man put his mother in bad mood.

******************************

LUCIANO

"She's Ava.” Derek said from the other end of the line. Luciano couldn't help but smile.

"I know," he said, his voice low and amused. "Send me all the information you have on her. I want to know everything”.

"Luciano, the only thing you need to know is that she has a seven-year-old son named Nathan.”

"Tell me everything you know about him," Luciano demanded.

"He's seven years old, and he owns 30% of his mother's company," Derek replied. "He's also a top-ranked hacker, one of the best in Paris.”. He added

Luciano was silent for a moment, trying to process what he'd just heard.

“And he’s seven??”. Lucian repeated surprisely.

“Yes”.

"If Ava's company is one of the top five, how did you not notice her or her son's existence until now? You're telling me a seven-year-old boy outsmarted you?”. Luciano asked.

Drake said nothing.

Luciano let out a dry, humourless chuckle.

"Send me everything you have on them," he said. "Everything without missing a single detail." Without waiting for Drake's response, he hung up the phone.

“Nathan”. Lucian called repeatedly.

“We wanted to give our child that name Ava, but you gave my child’s name to someone else’s son.”.

“Daisy Addams”. Lucian called chuckling.

“And who gave you the right to call my mother’s name?”. Nathan said, stepping into his office.

Lucian cocked his head to the side studying Nathan with interest. A smirk found its way to his face.

“You sure do have some courage young man. I must say I’m impressed.” He let out a low chuckle.

“Why won’t I? After all, I'm my mother’s son.”. Nathan responded, settling into the seat across Lucian.

Lucian could hardly believe he was just a seven years old boy. The way he carried himself was like an eighteen year old. And his body does look like that of eighteen.

“Aren’t you scared? Walking into the lion’s den all by yourself?”. Lucian said, trying to create fear in him.

Nathan smirk.

“The only thing I fear is my mother’s anger. After that I fear no man, not even you, Mr Luciano..” He responded confidently.

“So yeah, you may be intimidating, but I ain't shakin' in my boots. To be frank, I’m quite impressed by you. No man as ever made my mother sad before, not to the extent of her not talking to me and you just broke that record. I gotta give you props for being the first man to get under my mother's skin like that. I’m very impressed.”. Nathan smirk, using the same tone Lucian used on him.

"What can I say? I love breaking records.". Lucian said, trying not to sound surprised at the words coming out of a seven years old boy.

If he was a wolf then he won't be surprised because werewolf are naturally more smarter than human, most especially a lycan.

But this little guy is a human. Lucian couldn't smell any wolf scent on him. Nor is he a vampire.

"Why are you here?". Lucian said, getting all serious.

"I have a deal for you".