Chapter Twenty-Four
Graham took a deep breath before turning toward Jensen. He walked up, his hands in his pockets.
“Well?” Jensen asked. “Did you know?!”
Graham scoffed. “Of course I didn’t.” He sat down in the chair with a sigh. This was not how the meeting was supposed to go. “I knew she had alpha blood, I could scent it on her. I noticed her eyes, who couldn’t? But she’s half wolf? Born across the country in a wolf pack? Plus I never figured you as the kind to abandon your child on an orphanage doorstep.”
Jensen growled and his eyes glowed bright. “She was abandoned?!”
“Yes, at a few days’ old the best I could find. She lived in the orphanage until she was six.”
Jensen sat down, looking defeated. He couldn’t deny the connection. It was something you felt in your gut. You recognized your own. He leaned his head back and laced his hands together. “What year?”
“She was born October 9, 1998.”
“And she’s half wolf.”
“Yes.”
Jensen sighed. “Fuck, Isobel. What did you do?”
“You knew?” Graham asked, his anger flaring in his chest.
“Check your rage, Boy. I would never abandon my child!”
Graham scoffed.
“What else have you learned? What pack was she a part of?”
Graham took a deep breath before meeting his alpha’s eyes. “Moonstone.”
“Fuck. Dominic.”
“Yes. That’s why she became rogue. She ran when he overthrew Lionel. I have Lucas there now trying to gather any other information he can.”
Graham waited for him to say anything, for an explanation but knew he probably wouldn’t get one. Not yet anyway.
“Get a paternity test done,” Jensen said.
“You’ll deny the connection?” Graham asked in disbelief.
“I need to know for sure, as do you! This doesn’t just affect me and her. This will change everything. Do you understand?” He stood up and used his alpha aura against Graham. Graham was strong and had grown accustomed to the pressure of his command, but now with the full weight of it on his shoulders he bowed his head, though he bared his teeth.
Graham stalked from the room, anger radiating off his skin. He glanced around and spotted his mate down the hall. He exhaled at the sight of her. Rebecca was hugging her and patting her back in reassurance. Rebecca looked up at him and smiled. She ushered him over, as if he wasn’t on his way to take her anyway. She whispered something to Catherine.
Catherine looked up and her tear stained face struck him. He rushed forward and took her in his arms. He dipped down and picked her from her knees and held her against his chest. She gripped his shirt in her little fists and started to cry anew. He placed her delicately in his passenger seat and got in without a word. She stared out the passenger window. Eventually he made a turn and she sat up straighter.
“Whe-where are we going?” she asked.
He took her hand. “We’re going to the hospital.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Why?” she asked, slumping in her seat as if she already knew the answer.
“Jensen wants a paternity test,” he said low. He gripped her hand as the tears came again.
The paternity test went by quickly. Jensen called ahead of time so the doctors were expecting them. They would have the test within two days. Graham took the rest of the day off and took his mate home. He helped her strip out of her dress and climb into bed. He joined her a few minutes later and brought her to his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair as she traced his tattoos with the tips of her fingers.
“What do they mean?” she asked. He blinked, having been only a few heartbeats away from dozing off.
He glanced down to see her still circling the various tattoos on his chest. “They all mean something different.”
“I see a lot of the men with them. Juno said it was for each person you’ve murdered.”
Graham chuckled. “You get them when you’ve accomplished something: won a battle, defeated a rival, saved a life, helped your pack get through a hard time, basically whenever you’ve done something noteworthy.” He shrugged.
“You have a lot of them.”
He shrugged again. “I’m good at what I do.”
“I’ve never seen anyone else with as many as you, yet you hide them.”
He brushed her hair back to look at her face. Was that pride he heard in his little mate’s voice? He smiled at the idea. “I’ve never felt the need to show them off. Some people feel like they have to, like Stuart.” She scoffed at the name. Little did she know how ridiculous that tattoo was. “Everyone in my pack knows of my accomplishments. Most packs already know my name and what I’m capable of.”
*Then why get them? Tradition?”
“Yeah and, well, they’re enchanted.” He flexed his arm and twisted it for her to inspect though he knew she wouldn’t be able to see the magic kept within
them.
“Does it make you more powerful?” she asked in awe.
He chuckled slightly. She was definitely proud and he flushed with pleasure. “In a way. When I shift, they show on my coat. It allows those I’m up against to know who I am and what I’m capable of. It helps me stand out while shifted.”
“Do you have the most tattoos in your pack?” she asked, smiling. He sighed knowing his answer would change the mood in the room.
“There’s one other person who has more than me,” he said.
“Who? I can take them out so you can be all powerful,” she laughed.
“Alpha Jensen.”
“Oh.”
As predicted the room grew quiet as she became lost in thought again. She continued to trail her fingers along his ink. He’d never felt much pride in the artwork but having her ask all those questions made him feel more confident. Like he could give her another reason to feel lucky to have him as her mate. Maybe he should strive for more?
“Do you think he’s my father?” she asked, pulling him from his thoughts.
“Did you feel it? In your heart?” he asked.
She nodded into his chest. “Did you know… before?”
He shook his head. “No, Baby, I didn’t know. I don’t care either. You’re who I care about, not your parents.”
“What’s going to happen?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
He sighed and ran his hands down her arm. “I don’t know. What I do know is you are my mate. I won’t ever let anything happen to you. I’ll be with you. I won’t let you go.”
He kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him and brought her lips up to meet his. She pulled back and he ran his thumb across her cheek,
“It’s probably too early to say this. Perhaps it’s a mistake but… I love you, Graham,” she whispered, her cheeks turning pink. “It’s not just the mate bond either. It’s you. I’ve only known you for a couple of weeks but I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
He couldn’t stop the smile that pulled at his cheeks. Her eyes glowed at the sight. “It’s not too early, Baby. I love you too.”
Surrendering to Destiny
