Page 21 of The Tracker's Rage

Chapter 8

Jake was still speechless, and all he seemed able to do was play with his leather bracelet. It was brown, about an inch thick, with a metal motif in the shape of an arrow. It reminded me of the new tattoo he’d gotten around his left biceps, an arrow that wrapped around his arm’s circumference. It was nice.

I had explained everything, leaving no detail out. Almost. I still had to tell him that I was an alpha, but I was afraid about what that could mean, and not for the first time, I wished I understood more about his world, wished that I would have grown up knowing all the little nuances that came with being a werewolf.

We were in my office, Jake sitting across from me. I had fetched a pair of sweats and a T-shirt from the loft, not the best office look, but I was my own boss, so screw it.

He rubbed his forehead, looking overwhelmed.

A nervous flutter started building in my stomach. “Say something, Jake.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“There’s only one thing I really want to know, so maybe you can answer this... does this change anything for us?”

His grave expression didn’t budge as he peered up to meet my gaze. I felt my heart squeeze painfully because what I perceived in his features didn’t give me any hope.

“Who is your father, Toni?” he asked.

Huh?I did a double-take. This was what he chose to talk about?

“What does that matter?” I asked, my irrational anger making my voice quiver.

“Just tell me who he is.”

I set my jaw and refused to answer for a few beats. At last, I said, “I don’t know.”

One of Jake’s eyes twitched. “How can you not know? Your mother didn’t tell you?”

“No, she didn’t volunteer the information, and I didn’t care to find out.”

“You didn’t care to find out?!” He sounded appalled.

“I was too busy mourning for my dad. You knew him, Jake, and you saw how close we were, how much I loved him. I don’t want any other father but him.”

“You have to find out who sired you.” His statement rang with finality as if no other alternative existed—especially the one I preferred.

“Why is it so important? Why did you ask that instead of answering my question?”

Jake stood and walked to the door. I thought he would leave, but he stopped at the threshold and looked out into the lobby. “I want to know if he belongs to one of the local packs.”