I crossed the threshold of the Tillman estate, Jared safely in my arms. My heart was already preparing for the bitterness I could feel coming. It hung in the air like the smell of a predator before a storm. And sure enough, Naomi's eyes got sharper as soon as they saw us. I could almost hear her growl under her breath.
Francis, on the other hand, didn't want any of it. He cast a scowl at Naomi, and his tone pierced through the tension. "Anastasia and her son just got here." Can you please stop being so mean for once? "Be polite," they said.
Naomi's lips moved, but she didn't say anything. Not much.
The sound of heels clicking on the stairs was all too familiar—Erica. Her smell came in before she even spoke, full of evil and curiosity.
"Who's the pup, Mom?" she said, stopping halfway down the stairs. She looked at Jared in my arms, and her nose wrinkled like she smelled something bad.
Naomi sighed, already annoyed. "Watch what you say." That's your nephew. Your sister had him while she was living in another country.
Erica blinked in shock. "What?" She stomped the rest of the way down, her voice cracking with incredulity. "You had a baby and didn't tell us? "Did you feel bad about it or something?"
Her comments were nasty and sharper than claws. I held Jared's small body tighter.
The room was filled with Francis's low growl. "That's enough, Erica." Now Jared is part of this family. "Have some respect."
Naomi's face got even worse, and the edges of her mouth twitched as if she wanted to snarl. I could feel the change in her. She didn't like that Francis had yelled at her daughter, who was very important to her.
Erica acted like she didn't know what was going on. "Dad, I'm just worried about her."
Francis didn't pay any attention to her and turned to Jared, speaking more gently now. "Come on, little one." "Let's go for a walk in the garden."
He held out his hands, and Jared effortlessly held on. My heart hurt as I watched them go away. It was the only thing that made this place warm.
As soon as they left, Erica came over to me with a smile that made my stomach turn. "Who's the father of that bastard, then? Let me guess: a wolf that is married? Did you really believe you could keep him hidden forever?
My wolf moved around under my skin, showing its teeth. I looked her in the eye and spoke like ice. "Your life is none of your business."
But the ache was burning inside. I remembered everything: how they cornered me five years ago, how they made me leave, and how they hurt my pride. I had buried that part of me. The girl who had ran away was dead. The lady standing here? She had claws.
Erica peered at me, as if she was trying to figure out why I appeared stronger. More risky. I noticed her face spark with envy. I could sense her jealousy in the air because of my curves, my skin, and my stance. She really despised it.
Naomi muttered, "Whatever game you're playing, Anastasia, stop it." She stepped up next to her daughter. "This family doesn't need you."
I tilted my head and let out a frigid laugh. "That's funny, because my grandparents helped build this family's legacy from the ground up." But here you are, acting like you didn't take advantage of all they made.
"You—!" Naomi's voice shook, but I didn't let her finish.
"Put it away. I came back just for my dad. Not for you. I answered, "Not for her," and pointed to Erica. "And whatever Dad does with his money has nothing to do with either of you."
Erica moved closer to me, trying to match my energy. "I kicked you out of the Tillman Pack once, and I'll do it again."
I grinned and showed my teeth. "Go ahead and try me." I've been through worse than you.
"Don't think that just because you have a puppy, you'll get a bigger share of the inheritance," Naomi said with a scowl.
My eyes hardened. "My dad is still alive, Naomi. And you both talk about his money as if he's already dead. I wonder, are you so desperate want him to die?
Naomi gasped and pulled back. But I moved forward, my voice calm and steady. "Don't worry. I promise to keep him around for a very long time so that you two never get to see a single gold coin of what you want.
"You—!" Naomi's face turned red with anger. She tried to get well by stating, "He's my husband!" Of course I want him to have a long life.
Like a lapdog, Erica rushed in to guard her. "What's wrong with you, Anastasia? My mom loves my dad!
I didn't bother to respond.
Let them bark.
I was no longer the prey.
I sat down on the couch's far end, holding my phone and running my fingers over the screen, but I wasn't reading anything. I didn't glance up when Naomi's strong perfume smell filled the room or when Erica's heavy footfall came behind it. I didn't have to pay attention to them. Not after all that.
The maid came in soon and started to arrange the table. The sound of dishes and cutlery clinking ripped through the tension like a knife. I assumed dinner would be calm, but then my dad grunted and told the maid, "Prepare two more dishes." Make sure they aren't hot. "Jared doesn't like hot food."
I saw the flash of anger in Naomi's eyes. Erica's nails hurt her palm. I didn't need to change into a wolf to smell the jealousy coming off them like smoke. They could see that my dad was getting softer with me. Toward Jared.
At last.
"What do you do for a living, Anastasia?" Francis asked, his voice calm but interested, as if he were attempting to put together the daughter he believed he had buried under years of silence.
I looked at him. "I learned how to design jewelry while I was living in another country. I am now a designer. At Bourgeois.
His eyes brightened up. "Not bad. Bourgeois has become well-known. "You must be doing well."
Erica leaped in like a puppy trying to impress everyone at the table. "Dad, I'm looking for work too! I'm going to be a model for an auto salon.
I didn't say anything, but the stillness after she said what she had to say was louder than a roar.
Francis frowned. "What kind of stupid job is that?" Stop before you make the family look bad.
Erica shrank back in her seat, and Naomi quickly stepped in with a phony smile. "Sweetheart, Erica is just looking at her choices. She'll work for the family business eventually.
He snorted, unimpressed and cold. "What could she possibly do for my business?" "Be a receptionist?"
I held back a smile. My wolf moved, laughing. Erica's cheeks were scarlet, and her anger toward me grew so strong that it was nearly obvious. She thought I made her appear horrible. But she was doing a good job of that on her own.
"Grandpa!" Jared spoke out, not knowing how tense things were. His small voice was full of pride. "My mom is the best. She even took part in the International Jewelry Design Competition!
Francis glanced to him and looked like he was melting. "Is that so?" he murmured, his features softening into something that made my heart race. "That's great." How about I get you a gift later today, Jared? You can have anything you want.
Jared smiled. "Really? Thanks, Grandpa!
I swallowed even though I had a lump in my throat. Seeing my dad take care of my son was a kind of healing I didn't know I needed. Jared had brought light back to areas I thought were long gone.
Naomi and Erica, on the other hand, looked like they had eaten something bad. Even though they weren't talking, their faces told me they were in danger. I could tell they saw Jared as a threat, not a child. My wolf got angry. They had no idea how strong our tie was or how passionately I would protect him.
Francis insisted on bringing us shopping after supper. We ended ourselves at the mall with the most stores. He got Jared robot toys, building kits, and a rare Alpha-Howler Lego set that made his eyes shine.
I responded, "Dad, that's too much," trying not to giggle as Jared almost danced next to us. "Don't spoil him."
Francis waved me away. "Okay, okay. That's all for today. But I'll get him more in a few days. That kid is worth the world.
Jared's eyes were wide as he stared up at him. "Don't worry, Grandpa. I have enough. I just want to be with you.
My dad blinked, smiled, and messed up Jared's hair. "What a kind dog."
He drove us back to our apartment later. I could see how long he looked at the building when we pulled up. I knew what was going through his mind. That maybe it was time for him to make things right after all those years apart.
I picked Jared up and hugged him when he left. His smell, which was warm, sweet, and like the smell of rain on the ground, calmed me down right away.
"Your grandfather really cares about you, you know?" I said it quietly.
"I like him too." Jared pouted a little bit and then asked the question I had always been afraid of. "Where's Daddy, Mommy?"
My heart hurt. I looked him in the eye and steadied my voice. "Jared, I don't know where he is. We might never locate him... But that's fine. Because I'm going to be here forever. "Darling, I love you so much."
He nodded slowly, and the innocence in his eyes pulled at something deep inside me. Then, like only puppies can, he raised his Lego box over his head. "Okay, I'm going to play!"
"Go on," I responded, smiling even though it hurt.
I let the calm wash over me as he rushed off to his room. I knew precisely how to find Jared's dad, though. I hadn't forgotten what Erica and Hayley did to me: they tricked me into mating with a stranger and then sold me off like I was nothing but a pawn. A male prostitute. A fake partner. The memory still made my skin crawl.
But Jared... Jared was real. Mine. The purest spirit I had ever known, even though he was born in fire and betrayal.
I would never let him carry the burden of something that wasn't his fault.
He was my light. And now that my dad had accepted him, even if just a little, I felt something unusual grow inside me—a weak, timid optimism.
Maybe, just maybe, we weren't the only ones.