Daddy's Precious Little Girl

Different Dynamics

Ethan's POV

I leaned against the far wall, watching Ashlynn laugh with her sisters. Her face was lit up with joy, her hands gesturing excitedly as Rachel described some elaborate pirate adventure. Claire sat beside her, nodding along with a small smile, her calm presence grounding the room.

It should have been a perfect moment, but my chest was tight. Not because of Ashlynn—seeing her so happy warmed something deep inside me. No, my unease came from the two men who had shown up with Marcus and his daughters. Claire's Dom, Malcolm, and Rachel's Master, Aaron.

I hadn't been told they'd be here. That fact alone put me on edge. They might have been polite when we were introduced, but I didn't know them. As far as I was concerned, they were unknown shifters around Ashlynn, and that was reason enough for my hackles to rise.

Ashlynn's laughter pulled me momentarily from my thoughts. "Daddy, did you hear that? Rachel said I get to be Captain Milly! She's my first mate."

I forced a smile, nodding. "I heard, sweet girl. Sounds like you've got the best crew."

She grinned before turning back to Rachel, who was dramatically pretending to steer a ship. I tried to focus on her happiness, but my tension only grew as I glanced back at the men.

Malcolm was standing by the fireplace, his arms crossed and his posture relaxed. He exuded calm authority, the kind that reminded me of my father. Still, I didn't let that fool me. Relaxed or not, he was an unknown. Aaron, perched on the arm of the couch, had an easygoing demeanor, but his sharp gaze occasionally flicked toward Ashlynn, assessing. Protective, maybe. But it didn't sit well with me.

Marcus approached, his expression guarded. "You're upset," he said quietly, keeping his voice low enough that only I could hear.

I turned to him, my jaw tight. "You didn't tell me they'd be here."

Marcus sighed, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't know until this morning. When Claire and Rachel got to my house, they said they wanted Malcolm and Aaron to come along."

"And you couldn't tell them no?" My tone was sharper than I intended.

He shook his head. "You don't have daughters, Ethan. When your girls ask for something—especially something that makes them feel safe—it's not easy to refuse. Malcolm and Aaron are extremely protective of them. I couldn't fault them for that, and I wasn't going to fight my daughters on it."

I crossed my arms, glancing toward the men again. "That might make sense for you, but you're not responsible for Ashlynn's safety. I am."

"I know," Marcus said firmly. "And I understand why you're upset. I should have called, given you a heads-up. But they're good men, Ethan. I wouldn't have let them come if I didn't trust them completely."

Trust. That word stuck in my throat. Trust wasn't something I gave easily, especially not when it came to Ashlynn. Still, Marcus's tone was sincere, and the way he looked toward his daughters made me pause. He wasn't just being a father—he was being careful. Intentional. Like me.

"They're your responsibility," I said, my voice low. "But Ashlynn is mine. If I see anything that makes me uncomfortable—"

"You won't," Marcus cut in, meeting my eyes steadily. "I promise you that."

I let out a slow breath, forcing myself to ease some of the tension in my shoulders. Marcus hadn't been careless. He hadn't put Ashlynn in harm's way. If anything, he'd done what I would have done in his position—prioritized the safety and comfort of his family. That didn't mean I liked it, but I could respect it.