Chapter Fifty-One - Jessica

Dad opened the coffee shop’s door and allowed me to walk inside first. There was hardly anyone inside because it was Thursday in the middle of the day.

But what would a trip to the bookstore be without coffee?

I knew Dad was attempting to distract me from the drama surrounding us. I appreciated it. A day out of the pack house felt nice. It made life seem more real.

I’d bought a few old romance novels to bid my time, though I knew what I’d read when I got home.

Grandmother’s diary.

There was something in there that would help me. I just knew it.

Dad cleared his throat loudly, bringing me out of my stupor and to his outstretched hand. Had I told him what I wanted? I didn’t remember. I took the coffee

in his hand and inhaled the cinnamon. I hadn't even noticed him ordering our food.

“Thank you,” I said.

Dad sat down across from me. “Are you okay? You seem…distant.”

I gave him a look.

He laughed before sipping his coffee. “I know you have a lot going on but you seem so in your head. Do you want to talk about it?”

Did I? What did I need to say that hadn’t already been said? I wouldn’t tell him about the diary yet. Not unless I found something useful. It was private, I felt

like a creep reading it. I didn’t want to bring anyone else in if I didn’t have to.

“I don’t know what to say. How did you keep this from me growing up?”

Dad’s eyes smiled as he sipped his coffee. “It’s easy when you don’t have monsters chasing you. And the fact you had no knowledge of werewolves growing up."

I snorted. “Right. Did you ever let your wolf out and just…run?”

I’d come to realize that a wolf becomes stir-crazy if they don’t. How had Dad gone so long without shifting?

Dad leaned back and drummed his fingertips against the table. “I did on occasion. When you were at sleepovers or school sometimes. That’s why I went on

so many hikes as you grew older.”

“Makes sense. No one ever seen you?” I asked.

Dad shook his head. “Once a hike came upon me, but I got away before any pictures were taken. I was really careful and went into the mountain to shift most

times. I managed after your mom passed.”

I nibbled on my bottom lip. “Was Mom involved with any other…wolves?”

Dad halted his coffee mug close to his mouth. “Why would you ask that? You think I’m not your father?”

I shrugged. “You’re a wolf, Dad. That mark on Mason’s neck didn’t come from a wolf.”

Dad rubbed his temple. “She wasn’t involved with anyone else, Jess. I’m your dad.”

“Okay then. It has to be something else, right? I wasn’t attacked by an animal when I was a child and suppressed the memories?”

“No. I’m just as clueless about all of this as you are.” He reached across the table and touched my hand. “But, it doesn’t matter the outcome. Whatever we

find out, you’ll always be my child. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I said.

Dad downed his coffee and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Well, I need to check in with my job. We need to head back unless you need

something before we go.”

I grabbed my coffee. “No, I’m fine. Let’s go.”

Dad drove us home with the windows down and music playing. It felt almost like we were back home in Denver. No drama. No werewolves. Nothing but a

normal day living in paradise.

I walked upstairs without speaking to the pack. I didn’t want to get dragged into a conversation or questions. I felt a tight tension between us since I

attempted to attack Mason.

My wolf had hardly moved since then. At times, I wasn’t sure if she was even in there until she stirred briefly when Mason neared.

I shut the bedroom door, grabbed Grandmother’s diary, and walked inside the bathroom. I kicked off my shoes, sank down and leaned against the bathroom counter.

I opened it where I left off.

A few months had passed and the writing seemed urgent. Even the handwriting seemed hurried.

November 1976

Donovan isn’t human. I’m sure of it. Everything makes sense now. The moonlight strolls, the changing of his eyes…his inability of fear.

I followed him. I knew it was not a good idea but I did. He normally seemed to know when I was near, but today, he didn’t.

He walked to a giant house in the middle of the woods. A few other boys from our school, his friends, were there. They walked inside and shut the door

behind them.

I hadn’t lived in Louisiana for long, so I wasn’t sure how known this place was, but it seemed so ostracized. Maybe it was a secret. Why would Donovan be

there?

I planned to find out soon. I sat down on the edge of the woods surrounding the house and waited. At one point, I felt silly and walked halfway back, only to

come right back to my spot in the woods.

If we were going to date I deserved to know what he did in his spare time, especially when it was suspicious. When I woke up, the sun was low in the sky, and I felt the eerie feeling of being watched.

I stirred in the dead fall leaves and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. When I stood on shaky legs, I dusted myself off and saw him.

A wolf. He was giant, bigger than I ever imagined a wolf could be. His eyes intently watched me as I scurried toward the nearest tree. My fingers clutched the

bark as he stepped closer and barred his teeth.

I was going to die today. I could feel it in my bones. I’d never been so scared in my life. Fear snaked its fingers around my throat and squeezed.

“Please,” I begged as if this wolf could hear or understand me.

The wolf stepped closer when a loud howl sounded from my left. Another giant wolf stood in the front yard of the house Donovan had gone into.

What in the…

Then I heard it clear as day.

Leave her alone. Don’t you dare.

I looked around for the culprit of the voice when I realized it had come from these wolves.

The one in the yard moved, tossed his head back and he shifted into Donovan. Seconds passed, when I felt reality slipping from me. Everything went black.

When I woke again, I was in my bed with a single yellow rose sitting on my stomach. It was from my mother’s rose bush outside of the estate.

I blinked, rubbing my eyes with the heels of my palms. Donovan moved from the corner of the room. A scream shifted in my throat but he was fast. He

covered my mouth. He said we had lots to talk about, and invited me to the house. The one with the giant wolves.

I’m not sure I should go, then again, I felt as if I belonged there.

I shut her diary with wide eyes. I could hear Mason’s truck outside, and I knew I wouldn’t have time to read another before he came inside.

Grandma heard the wolves in their mind link.

What did that mean? Was she was werewolf?

I stood up and stared at myself in the mirror. None of this made sense. No one seemed to think she was a werewolf. What would it mean?

I blinked back at the stars in my eyes from reading for so long. Our bedroom door opened and Mason walked inside.

“Hey,” he said, stopping in the doorway. His gaze swept me from top to bottom. “You ok?”

“I’m good. What’s going on?” I asked, sliding the diary onto the bathroom counter behind me.

“We’re having a meeting downstairs. One of my coworkers was marked by a lycan.”

I lifted both brows. “Is he ok?”

Mason shrugged, his big fingers swiping through his hair. “I’m not sure. He didn’t even know he had it.”

I blinked at him, not surprised by anything at this point, and said, “That’s new.”