Page 27

27

JOY

Because of the crazy night, Remy slept late. So did we. In fact, we didn’t stir until she came in and climbed into bed with us. She didn’t comment that I’d slept in her father’s bed again or that we were naked. No, she commented on Marina’s t-shirt she was wearing and how she loved it and wanted to wear it all day. The mind of a four-year-old was so sweet and simple.

Thirty minutes later, Remy and I were outside on the back deck eating bowls of yogurt with granola and fruit. I’d put on my old jean cutoffs and tank top against the heat and because I was going to work in my studio for most of the day. Remy was still in the t-shirt. Her “fancy dress.”

Wes was inside starting a new pot of coffee.

The back door was open. The sun was shining. Birds were chirping. I felt like my life was like a Disney movie. Maybe I was the princess that Remy spoke of.

I got my prince. I set my hand over the spot on my breast where Wes bit me. God, it sounded like we were into kinky shit. Maybe, being all hot for a guy who turned into a wolf was the ultimate kink. No, it was letting him bite me. Mark me–because when I’d put my bra on earlier, I saw the red marks of the puncture wound. It didn’t hurt although when I pressed on the spot it was a little bruised.

So was my pussy from being railed into the headboard.

Both made me smile.

“I like this crunchy stuff in my gurt.” Remy said, waving her spoon around and pulling me from my thoughts.

“Granola,” I said. She repeated the word, but it came out as “grola.”

Whatever.

A cell phone chimed from inside. It wasn’t mine, and Remy was four, so it had to be Wes’.

“Yeah?” The sound of that one word was rough and unpleasant. Like he knew who the caller was and spared no good attitude on them.

“What? Why?”

I stared at Remy who was busy spooning up more of her breakfast, who didn’t even notice her father was now cranky.

I booped her on the nose as I stood, and she giggled.

In the kitchen, Wes was leaning against the counter in jeans and a snap shirt. I went to him, and he tucked his arm around me.

“I’ve talked to my region’s Shifter Council member. He agrees Remy is mine, so I’m coming to get her tomorrow morning.”

Oh God. Remy was hers? Was this Soraya?

“You’re not getting my daughter, Soraya” he snarled, confirming my suspicions.

His hold loosened, and he stepped away, pacing the room.

I glanced out the back door and saw Remy happily talking to herself. She was on her knees at the table, not ten feet away. She was safe.

“ Our daughter,” I heard through the phone.

“Why are you doing this?” he demanded. “Why the fuck are you doing this now?”

She gave a humorless laugh. “Because you’re with a human.”

I sucked in a breath and met Wes' green gaze.

Me. Soraya wanted her daughter because she wanted the child away from me.

Me. This was happening because of me. Tears smarted my eyes.

Soraya showed up after the storm. After I moved into Wes' house. Wolves were possessive about their mates and pups–so even if she didn’t want Wes, it probably pissed her off to have me around. It was my fault. If I’d stayed at my place, she would never have known Wes and I were dating.

“What the fuck does that have to do with anything?”

Wes didn’t swear in front of Remy. I hadn’t really heard him swear that much at all. This definitely was a bad word moment, though. I wanted to grab the phone from his hands and give her a few choice words or two. But I’d lose. Because she had the edge here. I was human.

“I won’t have my shifter daughter tainted by a human. What is she going to teach her? How is she going to help her grow into a strong and powerful shifter female?”

His gaze flicked to mine then out the door to Remy.

I did the same, staring between the two.

“How have you been teaching her anything these past four years?” he countered.

“I’m starting now.”

“You’re not taking her.”

“You’re shacking up with a human . I am taking her. I already have the council behind me. I’m the mother, and it’s agreed Remington isn’t in an environment where she can thrive.”

Wes' eyes widened, and he tugged at his hair. He spun in a circle and stopped right in front of the back door, so he could stare at his child.

This was heartbreaking to watch. To hear someone ready to rip Wes' daughter from him. God, he’d told me last night that losing Remy was his biggest fear.

I couldn’t let that happen.

“I’ll be there tomorrow morning at ten. Someone from the council will be with me to ensure you comply.”

With that, the call ended.

Wes threw his phone onto the granite counter, and it skidded across the surface with a clatter.

Soraya was a bitch. I didn’t like to use that term too often, but like the swearing, this was the appropriate time. The reason swear-words existed was for the purpose of catharsis. I never expected everyone to be my friend. That was fine. But she hated me. I’d said only a few sentences with her, and with one sniff, she hated my guts.

She was forcing Wes to choose between me and his daughter.

It was horrible.

I was afraid to touch him; he seemed like he was ready to erupt. As if his wolf needed to come out and run or fight or something.

“Can she do this?” I whispered.

He stared at Remy, scrubbing a hand across his red beard. “Yes,” he spat. “If she really has the council involved.”

“What is the council?” I wondered, my shaky fingers going to my lips.

“It’s like a governing body. Judges, with members from the biggest packs in the region. They hear intra-pack issues or things that affect our kind as a whole. Their rulings hold. Punishment is dealt with by council enforcers. One of our pack members serves the council as an enforcer–Johnny.”

“Johnny?” I asked, stunned. “He’s like… twenty-two.”

Wes nodded. “It was Clint before him, but he gave up the role after Lily was born.”

“So if she’s bringing a council person with her, then–”

“Then it won’t be Johnny. It will be someone who can speak for the council and whose ruling holds. It means she’s taking Remy, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”

“Take her. Run!” I suggested, starting to panic for them. No way was he letting her go with that psycho bitch.

“Rob would have to send Johnny after me. He’d have to” –Wes swallowed hard– “kill me, and he’d be forced to take Remy to Soraya.”

“What? All of this because of me? ”

Wes’ face contorted into a dangerous scowl. “Not you. Her .”

“Then I’ll go. We break up. If I’m the problem, we eliminate me from the equation. If we’re no longer together, then there’s no reason for Soraya to give to the council to take Remy away.”

Wes spun around to face me. “You’re my mate ,” he growled.

I pointed out the back door and let the tears fall. “She’s your daughter. ” I swallowed hard and tried to breathe them back, but it wasn’t working. “We’ve known each other less than a week. This–” I waved my hand back and forth between us, “–isn’t enough. I won’t let Remy suffer between warring parents like I did. And I certainly won’t let her be taken from you. I won’t be the reason you’re ripped apart.”

“No.” His growl was ferocious. If I didn’t already trust him to my bones, I might have been scared.

I shook my head. “No. It’s over. You told me last night you’d let me go if I asked. I’m asking you now.”

“Joy,” he pleaded.

“Just grab the things of mine I have over here and throw them into my yard. That way, when they come, they won’t smell me.”

“Your house has holes in it!” His hands clenched into fists.

I shrugged. “I’ll go to my mom’s.”

That was the last place I wanted to go, but there was no choice here. This wasn’t about me. Remy deserved her dad. Needed him.

I went to him, kissed his cheek, then fled, sobs choking my throat.

I wouldn’t risk her for anything. Not even love.