Before I could even ask questions, Karter was out the door. I gave Ryan a confused look before I heard my daughter calling for me. Ryan and I raced up the stairs, me pushing him out of the way. The need to get to my daughter was stronger than anything. I know I have my boys and I love them so, so much, but they can look after themselves. Nova is so different and so innocent and pure that she doesn't know. She'd take sweets from a stranger thinking they were being nice.

As soon as I got to the bathroom, I saw Nova sat in the bath. Her hair sticking to her face with tears streaming down her cheeks. I didn't hesitate to kneel at the bath and pull her head to my chest where she simply broke. All she kept repeating was Karters name over and over again, like a broken record, his name came from her lips as she sobbed. Her hiccups made a horrible feeling set in my heart knowing she's hurting and wanted Karter, but not knowing what had happened, I can't get him.

"Baby girl what happened? Tell papa what happened." I said softly to not make her cry anymore than she already was.

"K-Karter l-leave m-me 'c-cause he t-touch me h-here." My little girl sobbed gesturing to her breasts.

"And why did Karter touch you there? Can you tell papa why he did that?" I asked knowing she just wanted to know things and it got out of hand. Karters a teenage boy, I was once and I know it all. He probably touched her and got hard, worried something will happen he left to sort himself out.

"I w-wanted him to. H-he s-say he never t-touch a p-person t-there so I get his h-hand like this," Nova grabbed my hand and said. "I p-pull h-him to feel then he leave me. W-why Karter leave me? H-he no like me anymore?" She cried more.

"Oh baby no. Karter loves you." I held her head to my chest again. "Karter loves you so much but you can't make someone touch you if they don't want to."

"B-but I say he c-can. A-and h-he d-didn't so I m-made him."

"I know baby girl but just because you say he can doesn't mean he wants to. See now Karter if very different from you darling, he has different reactions to what you do, different feelings. When you got him to touch you he felt something and needed to go. He'll be back and you can apologise for making him do something he didn't want to do."

"But papa he n-never did touch before. H-he s-said he wanted to." Nova told me.

"Nova tell the truth." I told her sternly.

"But papa-," she started.

"Nova." I said in the same stern tone.

She looked down with a pout and used her index finger to poke her breast. "It's squishy and I wanted Karter to feel." She whispered. "Papa why I have these and you don't?"

"It's because when you have pups of your own they drink the milk that your body makes. But you don't have to worry about that for a while okay. Come on sweetheart, let's get some food in that belly and get you to bed." I replied and left it at that. She'll know one day, she'll get her mate and she'll know.

I pulled the plug letting the water drain from the bath. I held the towel out for nova and she wrapped it around herself. My arms wrapped around her to get her out from the tub. A part of the towel on her head and the other keeping her body hidden. Ryan trailed behind us as I carried my little girl on my hip to her room where I could get her pyjamas on.

Once I quickly dressed her, I took her down for food. Kobe of course teased her but kept her close knowing his sister had been crying. It didn't take us long to eat and wash up our plates and cutlery before everyone went to bed. Tonight Nova wanted a story, so while Ryan put the younger ones to bed, I read our daughter a story.

Before I knew it, Nova was out like a light. Her soft breaths filling the room. Ryan stood by the door with a soft smile on his face as he looked at our baby girl. I got up pressing a kiss to Novas forehead and left the room. Ryan and I walked to our bedroom where I stripped to my boxers and climbed into bed, while my mate got naked.

"You didn't have to talk to her like that." Ryan muttered.

I huffed with an eye roll. "We've had this conversation before Ry. She's capable of being treated like everyone else. Just like her brothers, cousins, just like Karter. She needs to know her wrong doings and she won't know because you baby her. As soon as she's eighteen legally she's not our responsibility, she's her mates. She needs to know what's right and what's wrong, and what she did was wrong. Unless it's a mutual agreement then she gets scolded, just like the boys when they do wrong."

"You still didn't have to be so stern with her. She isn't like everyone else." He growled.

"Yes she is. Nova will always be our little girl but she can't be babied. It's wrong and no good for her, she needs to learn just like other kids her age. If you don't like it then-," I started.

"Then what?" Ryan interrupted me. "What is it that you will do?"

"Don't fucking start Ryan you know I'm right." I growled deeply.

"Yes but your forcing her to grow up. To be something she's not."

"No I'm letting her be her own person. I treat her like my equal, just like you, just like Theo, just like the boys. Nova is my equal not my baby anymore, she needs to learn because we won't always be here when she needs us. So don't you dare say I'm forcing her to be something she isn't when I'm not. Open your eyes and see that I'm trying to give her a life full of love and happiness, not keep her hidden and locked away like you and Kobe treat her."

After that, Ryan stayed silent. I growled again and laid down, facing away from him. My eyes closed just wanting to forget about this and start fresh tomorrow. And hopefully Ryan will see that Nova can no longer be babied, it's not right and she shouldn't be kept hidden like some fairytale princess.

Ryan snuggled his face into my neck while wrapping an arm around me, holding me to his chest tightly. "I'm sorry." He kissed my cheek. "I know I shouldn't baby her, I can't help it. I don't want to let her go yet. I don't want my baby girl to grow up, I'm scared okay. So fucking scared for her when the time comes. It's gone so so quick that I feel like I haven't had much time with her."

"I feel the same, she's got to big too quickly but we can't change that. She needs to learn and it's best coming from her parents not other people. Just promise me that from now on you'll treat her like her age, not her mindset. She'll always be our little girl, but soon she'll be with someone else."

"I know." Ryan sighed. "I'll try and I'll let her live. I love you."

"And I love you. So so much." I turned to look at him. Ryan kissed me passionately before I turned completely to cuddle into his chest. This is what I've always wanted, I just wish that Ryan didn't baby her as much as he did. Now she won't learn, but we'll make sure she knows everything before she leaves home to settle down herself.