Page 2 of Daddy Wolf’s Secret Baby (Fated To The Wolf #10)

1

Zahra

Current day

“ I can’t believe how much he’s grown,” Ruthie said.

Jace ran by the three women and grinned at them, as though he knew they were talking about him.

“I know. He’s fast, too. When we go to the mountain to shift, he can run circles around me.” Zahra sighed. “He’s incredibly mature for a ten-year-old, though. Gentry told him that he was the man of the house and had to act like it. Jace took that talk to heart.”

Emma shook her head. “I can’t believe Gentry retired as our alpha. We all love him and no one is sure about Elias. He is very self-centered and a lot of us don’t think that he’s capable of having the pack’s best interest at heart. He has the mindset that he’s some kind of royalty and what Elias wants, Elias gets.”

“Gentry has faith in him and Elias is his son. Maybe Elias will step up to the plate and show us how wrong we all are,” Ruthie said.

“I hope so,” Emma said doubtfully.

Jace squealed and jumped up and down as one of the boys on his team made a point. He and a few of the neighborhood kids had decided to play soccer, and Zahra’s backyard was the largest. She preferred having the children over at her place, anyway. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust other parents in the neighborhood, but Jace was her world.

“The tradition for our pack is that the alpha chooses his luna right after he accepts the title,” Emma said. “I think that half of the women in our pack are drooling over him and hoping that he picks them.”

Zahra nudged Emma gently with her elbow. “What about you? Don’t you want to be the next Luna?”

“Ah, hell to da naw, naw, naw.” Emma sang the key phrase to Bishop Bullwinkle’s song. “Elias is like a beautiful cake made of salt instead of sugar. It sure looks good on the outside but is nasty on the inside.”

Zahra and Ruthie laughed. Zahra had to agree. The few times she had encountered Elias, her body broke out in goosebumps, and the hairs on the back of her neck went up. She got the creeps every time she came in contact with him.

Finally, the group of kids called the soccer game. Jace’s team lost, but everyone congratulated the winners with huge smiles.

“I ordered pizza and ice cream for the soccer stars,” Zahra called out. “Wash your hands and I’ll bring the food out to you.”

The two picnic tables were instantly full of kids with huge appetites. She always ordered at least five large pizzas when Jace’s friends came over. A couple of them were shifters, but all of them could eat twice their weight in food.

Emma and Ruthie went inside with Zahra to help her carry out the food, drinks, and paper plates.

Ruthie shook her head. “You’re going to go broke if you keep feeding the neighborhood.”

“Maybe, but at least I have the peace of mind of knowing where my kid is. The other parents know their kids are here and are safe.”

“True enough,” Ruthie said. “In this dangerous world, that’s worth a lot.”

Everyone trickled back home after lunch. Zahra and Jace hung out together, playing card games and watching movies until it was time for bed.

Just like many nights before, she sat outside, with a glass of wine, staring at the stars, thinking about Josiah.

“Quit being such a ninny. That is way in the past and you are mooning over a man who rejected you. I was nothing more than a piece of ass for him, and even though I’m certain he’s my fated mate, I meant nothing to him.”

This was the same speech that she had given herself a million times, but that didn’t stop her heart from beating a little faster when she thought of him. The fact that Jace looked and acted so much like Josiah was a double-edged sword. At least she could have a little piece of Josiah, but at the same time, he was a constant reminder of the man Zahra couldn’t get over.

Even though Zahra always played true crime podcasts when she went to bed so she could try to focus on something else, her mind went straight to Josiah. She fell asleep remembering his touch.

The next morning was busy. The Dark Claw Wolf Shifter Pack was having a picnic, and while Zahra wasn’t a member, she was invited. She made a ton of chocolate-covered Oreo cookies to share with the others.

It was a beautiful day. The air was warm and a slight breeze teased Zahra’s long, blond hair as she sat with Ruthie, Emma, and several other women. The pups ran around naked, changing into their wolf form and back again over and over again.

“It’s a good thing that they don’t get a restricted number of shifts per lifetime,” Ruthie said, laughing. “I know a bunch of kids who would run out before their next birthdays.”

Zahra giggled. “That’s the truth. I just wish I had half their energy.”

The sun was starting to set and people were leaving. Zahra was just about to call Jace when Elias walked up to Zahra and put his hand on her arm.

“Let’s talk.”

Zahra had the idea that it was more of an order than a nice request. She nodded at the tall, handsome man.

“I have to choose a Luna, and I’ve chosen you.”

Her jaw dropped and she stared at him dumbly. Certainly, she hadn’t heard him correctly.

“I beg your pardon?” she finally managed to squeak out.

“I’ve decided that you will be my Luna.”

She shook her head. “I’m not a piece of property and you can’t decide that I’ll be your mate. I’m not interested.”

“Why not?”

“For one, I’m not a part of your pack. I belong to the Nightshade Wolf Shifter Pack. My brother, Zac, is the alpha. Second, I don’t have any feelings for you like that. I’ll not go through a mating ceremony with anyone unless I truly love him.”

Elias looked at her in surprise. Zahra was pretty sure that no one had ever turned him down before. He was a very handsome man, at least on the outside. She was pretty sure that there were a lot of women who would do anything to be in her position.

“It doesn’t matter that you aren’t a part of the pack right now. Once you go through the mating ceremony with me, you will be. However, I’ll make you love me. You’ll beg me to go through the mating ceremony with you. I might even let you keep your son.”

Zahra’s heart lurched and she shook her head, certain that he hadn’t just said those words.

“What do you mean?”

“In the wild, when an animal takes a mate, he kills any offspring that aren’t his. Jace won’t ever be the alpha, but you can keep him.”

“I don’t even know what to say to that ridiculous statement. I’ll be clear. We will never be mates, I will never be your Luna, and you need to stay the hell away from Jace.”

“You’ll change your mind,” Elias called after her as she stalked away.

That evening, John called.

“Hi, Daddy. How are things?”

“Well, not great.”

Instantly panicked, Zahra’s heart sank. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just get to the point. Your mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The prognosis is good and she’s starting treatment this week. However, she could use your support, and with cancer, you just never know.”

“We’ll come home,” Zahra said. “I’ll start packing tonight and hire movers to clean the place out. You can sell the house from there, can’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. I love you, Daddy, and kiss Mom for me.”

She went down to the basement, grabbed the few boxes she had brought with her from Angel’s Creek, and started packing. Zahra managed to get her room cleaned out, except for the bed sheets she would sleep on that night. She was also able to pack most of the kitchen.

“Tomorrow, I’ll go buy a bunch of packing boxes and get Emma and Ruthie to help me with the rest.”

She was exhausted when she finally made it to sleep about three. It seemed as though she had only gotten a minute of shut eye when her alarm went off.

Jace was up as soon as she started making breakfast.

“What’s with all of the boxes?”

“Your grandma has cancer. Grandpa called me last night. We’re going to move back to Angel’s Creek.”

“What about all my friends?” he asked.

“You can keep in touch with them. You have email and video chats, and we might even come back to visit. I know that I’ll miss Emma and Ruthie, too, but Grandma needs us.”

Jace stared at her as though he was going to protest, but he simply nodded. “A man always takes care of his family, first, no matter what. That’s what Grandpa and Alpha Gentry said.”

“It’s the same for women,” Zahra assured him. “You know that you will be the center of attention for a while. Your Uncle Zac and Conner have mates and a passel of pups. There are other members of the pack who will gush over you, too.”

“I know.” He paused for a second and asked, quietly, “Will I get to meet my dad?”

“Yes. You look just like him, so I imagine that everyone will figure out the truth right away. Remember, he is a good man. It’s just that things didn’t work out between us, and I had to leave before he knew about you.”

“I understand.”

Even though Jace said he understood, Zahra wondered if he really did. It was hard enough for an adult to comprehend, let alone a child, however mature he might be.

After they ate and she put the dishes in the dishwasher, they stepped outside. Just then, Elias pulled up in front of her house in his Maserati.

“Good morning, Zahra. Hello, Jace,” he said pleasantly.

Although he was being pleasant, Jace instinctively stepped closer to Zahra until he was touching her. Zahra briefly wondered if her son was getting ready to defend her.

“It’s a beautiful day out. I was hoping that the two of you might join me for a trip to the zoo. The polar bears are amazing.” He looked at Jace and smiled. “You can have all the cotton candy and Dippin’ Dots you want.”

“Thank you for asking. That’s kind of you. Unfortunately, we have a lot of errands to run and we simply can’t today,” Zahra said.

A dark cloud passed over Elias’ face for a moment, and Zahra was afraid that he was going to say something nasty again. However, he simply nodded at her. “Soon, then, right?”

Zahra got the feeling that he wasn’t asking.

“Sure. Soon.”

He strutted back to his car and peeled away onto the street. The smell of burning rubber made Zahra sneeze.

“I don’t like him,” Jace said.

“Me, either. Let’s go get those moving boxes.”

As soon as they got back, Zahra called Emma and Ruthie, who insisted on helping her pack. She also called the moving company, who promised they would have her and Jace’s belongings in Angel’s Creek by the following Monday.

“I think we’re going to leave tonight,” Zahra said. “After it gets dark. You can call me paranoid, but I honestly think that Elias will try to stop us from going if he knows we’re leaving.”

She had told them about their encounters at the picnic and this morning.

“I think you might be right. It would be too much of a blow to his pride to think that someone actually had the audacity to tell him no and walk away from him,” Emma said. “He’s used to getting what he wants, no matter what.”

“If he asks you guys where I went, please don’t tell him. It won’t take him long to figure it out, but hopefully, we’ll be settled in when he does. Maybe he won’t come after me.”

Emma made the zipping motion across her lips. “We wouldn’t tell. I don’t know if he’ll come after you or not. It might be too much effort and he’ll pursue someone else. On the other hand, he might take it as a challenge, insult, or both. I’d watch my back.”

Zahra smiled. “The men in my pack won’t let anyone hurt us, that I can promise.”

“Still,” Ruthie said, putting her hand on Zahra’s leg.

“We’ll watch out,” she said.

That night, after the sun set and darkness settled on the town, Zahra and Jace hugged Emma and Ruthie, promising to keep in touch. Then, making sure that Elias wasn’t around, she and Jace hopped into her packed car and headed west.

Jace fell asleep soon after and she drove the next eight hours, listening to podcasts, although her mind whirled with their reception when they arrived – especially from Josiah. The closer they got to Angel’s Creek, the more anxious she was. More than once she had to almost force herself to relax her grip on the steering wheel.

Finally, fifteen hours later, after several stops for potty, meals, and snacks, they pulled into her parents’ driveway. She sat in the car for a minute and just breathed. Her parents rushed out of the house a minute later.

Jace knew them well since they had visited often. He hopped out of the car and into their arms. She opened the car door and slowly walked toward them.

“I’m so glad you’re home,” Isabel said, hugging Zahra tightly. “It will make everything so much easier.”

“Of course, Mom. I was ready to come home, anyway, to be completely honest.”

“Good. Come inside.”

They grabbed bags and boxes and toted them to Zahra’s and Zac’s old rooms.

“As you can see, we have plenty of room. You guys can stay as long as you want until you find your own place,” John said.

“Or, you can just live here with us,” Isabel added.

“I love you guys, but I don’t think that I can live with my parents again. I’ll start looking for a house in the next day or so.”

“Don’t be in a rush,” John said dryly.

Zac and Conner knocked on the door an hour later. She embraced her big brothers tightly. They hadn’t seen each other since she left. Zac was getting ready to become the alpha and Conner had been moving all over the country since he was in the rodeo. When they both settled down, they had been so busy with their lives, they never managed to visit, although they had kept in touch.

They stopped dead in their tracks when they saw Jace. Of course, they knew Jace existed and had even talked to him on the phone a couple of times. However, they had never seen a picture of him.

“He looks just like Josiah,” Zac said.

“Exactly like him,” Conner agreed.

They both looked at Zahra for an explanation.

“Josiah and I had sex the night of the party after graduation. The next day, he told me that he didn’t want to be a couple because it might ruin his friendship with Zac.”

She didn’t mention that he had also been worried about his position in the pack.

“I didn’t tell him that I was pregnant because I didn’t want him to be forced into a relationship with me. Please give us a chance to settle in before you say anything to anyone.”

“I’m going to beat his ass to a pulp when I see him,” Conner growled.

“You can’t. He was honest with me about his feelings. Forcing him into a relationship would have made everyone miserable. I made the decision to leave.”

“He’s going to figure out that Jace is his son,” Zac said. “It’s kind of obvious.”

“I know. But at least give us a couple of days to settle in.”

“Fine,” Zac said.

Conner nodded in agreement.

Relieved that she had a little bit of time, she hugged her brothers. They all sat down in the living room and talked for a while. Gradually, Zahra relaxed, feeling more and more at home.

The next day, John hosted an outdoor barbecue so that Jace could meet Zac’s and Conner’s families. Zahra loved them all and had a great time. Jace and his cousins formed an instant bond and soon, they were running all over the place, playing a frolicking game of freeze tag. She smiled and sat back in her chair, a sense of peace washing over her.

It’s great to be home, but it’s going to be hard seeing Josiah again. I’ve never stopped loving him .