by Megan Linden
There was knocking on the door. One second Connor was in the forest, trying to cross the line of trees to finally see who he was running with and the next he sat up on the bed, arms tightening around Rosa on his chest. She huffed but didn’t wake up. Connor wanted to lean back on the pillows and ignore whoever was at the door, but the person knocked again, louder this time.
Then he sensed her. The Alpha. Fuck. She’d had to have dialed up her scent, because he shouldn’t be able to smell her from upstairs. She wanted him to know it was her so he would be forced to face her.
Connor got up slowly from the bed and looked down at Rosa in his arms. He could leave her here but it didn’t seem right. You kept her away from the Alpha long enough, he told himself.
With a sigh, he went downstairs. In the silence of the house, he could almost hear his rapid heartbeat. Rosa fussed against his chest, probably reacting to his stress, so he took a deep breath and tried to relax. He kept rubbing her back all the way to the door.
Then he opened it and came face to face with his Alpha. He tilted his head to the side, showing her respect, and she nodded at him.
“It’s been a long time, Connor Warsen.”
He stepped aside. “Yes, it has. Please, come in, Alpha.”
“Thank you.”
She looked around the hall and the living room he pointed her to. The room was a mess, but she didn’t comment on it, thankfully. This was all on his father, not him. Connor hadn’t spent more than half an hour in this room since he’d returned.
“What can I do for you, Alpha?” he asked and from her raised eyebrows, he realized it hadn’t been the right thing to say. He winced, glancing down at Rosa.
“There are a few things I feel we need to discuss, but first, I have to say, I cannot pretend that this—me coming to you—is how things should’ve been handled.”
Connor nodded, keeping his gaze low. His wolf cowered, sensing his Alpha’s displeasure, and Rosa frowned in her sleep.
“I gave you over two weeks, because I’d assumed you would come to me before the Full Moon Run. But you didn’t. I’d like to know why.”
He took another deep breath before he looked up at her. “I thought you would have no wish to see me.”
She narrowed her eyes as if she were trying to decide if he was telling the truth, so he forced himself not to look away.
“I’m the Alpha of the pack, Connor. Regardless of what you thought my personal feelings toward you might be, you should’ve contacted me.”
He nodded. He’d known he’d messed up. And the more time had passed, the more difficult it had been to reach out. “I am sorry, Alpha. You’re right. I shouldn’t assume things and forget the proper pack etiquette. I had no wish to disrespect you.”
“Good.” She nodded and, just like that, the tension seemed to ease exponentially. “Keep it in mind in the future. Whatever you may think, when it comes to you, I’m the Alpha first, anyone else second.”
He wondered if she’d made a slight pause before ‘anyone else’ or if it had just been his imagination. But he translated it in his head, anyway—Alpha first, Jack’s mother second.
“My mistake.” Connor tilted his head to the side again.
“Now, since we’ve gotten that out of the way, tell me—is there any other reason why you didn’t reach out to me about the new addition to the pack?” She looked down at Rosa, who was miraculously still asleep, before raising her gaze to meet his again.
“I didn’t—”Think you’d want her. I wouldn’t be able to handle you rejecting her. I couldn’t just show up at Jack’s family house with her. Connor couldn’t say any of that to the woman sitting across from him, because for all that she claimed to be his Alpha first, she was still Jack’s mother, and Connor didn’t know how to untangle that yet. “The reason was pretty much the same,” he finally said.
“You need to put that aside for your daughter’s sake,” she said, shaking her head, and the flare of irritation ran through him.
“I came back here for my daughter’s sake.” He wouldn’t have done it for anyone else.
She narrowed her eyes and his stomach tightened with unease. He didn’t want to anger her more than he already had. Damn it. He seemed bent on messing things up.
“If she’s the reason you came back, you wanted the safety of the pack for her,” the Alpha said after a moment. She glanced at Rosa again and her face softened. In that moment, she was a parent, just like he was. It allowed Connor to breathe more easily. “You wanted to give her a stable environment. I commend you for that. But hiding her from the pack won’t make it happen.”
“You’re right, of course. I wasn’t planning on…hiding her forever.” He’d known he’d have to reach out at some point. He’d just been…dragging his feet. He wished he could have waited until he was ready, but the pack customs—not to mention his father’s ultimatum—hadn’t allowed that to happen.
“Good.” The Alpha nodded. “You know how much happiness the new baby brings to the pack as a whole.”
The pack as a whole. At least she didn’t try to pretend that everyone was over the moon about his daughter. He remembered Jack’s shock and misery at the sight of Connor and Rosa before he’d managed to rein it in and shut down. It was something that haunted his dreams.
“I do. And if you wish and allow it, I’d be honored to bring Rosa to the next Full Moon Run for the Joining Ceremony.”
“Very well. Please, do bring her. I will let the pack know we’ll officially welcome her next month.” The Alpha smiled as she looked down at Rosa. “She seems healthy and well cared for.”
Connor felt a burst of pride and he smiled, too, rubbing his daughter’s back. “Thank you. I’m trying my best.”
“That’s the best strategy a parent can have,” she said softly. “I want you to know that if you ever need anything, we, as a pack, will gladly offer our help. Don’t let your…worries stop you from reaching out.”
He took a deep breath. Now or never. “Thank you. There is actually a problem I’m facing right now.”
“I’m listening.” Her gaze was suddenly sharp and focused on him, and the intensity of it was disconcerting.
“My father… He doesn’t want me—us—here, in this house. When I came back, he told me I could stay here for three weeks, and my time runs out Wednesday night.” Connor glanced around the room, at the mess of his father’s things everywhere. It was just one more item on the long list of stuff his father didn’t care about. “I thought he might change his mind, but he hasn’t and, at this point, he isn’t going to.”
“I’m sorry,” the Alpha said when he paused.
“Yes, well, I shouldn’t be surprised by that, really.” Connor rubbed Rosa’s back again. “My father and I have never had an easy relationship.”
She narrowed her eyes and surveyed the room. “Did he throw you out last time, as well? Is that why you left town?”
Connor shook his head. “No, no. I always intended to leave. It was my decision.”
“I see.”
“The house is half mine. It was stated in my mother’s will,” he went on. “My father knows how long it could take if I sue, and the only other option is—”
“The Alpha’s Tribunal,” she finished for him. She was every inch an Alpha in that moment. Lost was the soft smile she’d given Rosa, and, in its place, there was a fire in her eyes and a wave of fierce power that seemed to reverberate through Connor. Suddenly, he truly remembered what it meant to be a part of the pack, what it meant to be protected and looked after.
Damn, how he’d missed that. He hadn’t cared for it much when he’d left, feeling trapped in this small town with the only bright thing in his life being his relationship with Jack. It hadn’t been until he’d become a father overnight that he’d realized what he’d lost—not only Jack, but also the invisible safety net of the pack. He’d never felt so alone, not even when his mother had died.
And now, back in Harrington Hills, he’d still kept himself away
until the Alpha had to come to him. But she came, the voice at the back of his head told him. She came, and you’re not alone anymore.
“Yes.” His voice, when he spoke, was breaking at the edges.
She glanced around the room again. “And he didn’t think you’d request my aid?”
Connor bit his lower lip. “You are not the only one who noticed I hadn’t come by to see you.”
“Oh, I’m sure more people noticed.” She made it sound as if she were stating the weather, but he still winced. His wolf wanted to cower in shame for disappointing the Alpha.
“I am sorry for my behavior. I realize now that not only did I disrespect you, I did it in a way that put you in a difficult position.”
“I believe you didn’t have bad intentions, and that’s what I care most about in this case. And I think most of the pack have a pretty good idea of why you did that.”
Connor hung his head. He hated the idea of the whole town knowing about—and certainly commenting on—him and Jack. He hated the idea of them looking at Jack with pity after he had left. He’d never wanted it to happen, but he also realized now that he hadn’t let himself think about it then.
“But, coming back to the issue at hand…”
The Alpha’s voice brought him back from the downward spiral he’d found himself falling into—again.
“I will, of course, assist you in the dispute with your father. I’m going to notify the councilmen, and they’ll contact your father. We will organize the tribunal and pass the verdict on the same day.” She glanced down at Rosa, who squirmed on his lap before settling down again. “But, as you probably know, we must give both sides up to a week to prepare, then up to a week after the tribunal to implement the change. If your father insists on being difficult, he may drag it out to the limit.”
He slumped in the chair, careful not to dislodge Rosa. “He will definitely drag it out.”
“In that case, I will offer you sanctuary.”
Connor met her gaze with raised eyebrows. Surely she didn’t mean…
“It won’t be at my home. Don’t worry,” she said with a tense, humorless smile, and Connor felt stupid. He couldn’t afford to be picky and, if that had been his only option, he’d have sucked it up, but he should know better than to assume she’d put her own son through that. “One of the resident suites at the school center is what I think would be best. The boarding students live in one wing, but the resident suites are in the other, so you don’t have to worry about noise or getting in the way.”
“I know the center pretty well,” he told her. Jack had showed him around numerous times. That place was Jack’s greatest passion, the one he shared with his other mother.
“Good. Then you know what to expect. We offer boarding and food in exchange for working around the place, but since you’ll be busy with the baby, I’m sure we can—”
“I’ll gladly work. And if it turns out I can’t, I’m getting the rest of my inheritance in a few months. I will pay you back every dime.”
The Alpha shook her head. “It’s not about money, Connor. I want to offer you a place where you can stay and be a part of a group that supports each other, because, trust me, you’re going to need support,” she said, nodding at Rosa. “One of the rules of the community is that everyone chips in their time or skills. That’s what I meant by working.”
“I know.” Connor ran a hand up and down Rosa’s back. At this point, he was pretty sure it was to calm himself, since she was still asleep and hadn’t stirred. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t want you to think I wanted to take advantage of you.”
“You were away from the pack for too long if you think I’d see that as taking advantage.” She paused. “Or maybe I hadn’t been doing the proper job as the Alpha while you were here. Whatever the reason, I hope you’ll soon see that’s not how we do things.”
“Thank you.” An enormous weight dropped from his shoulders. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
“I know this is most likely a short-term solution, but, even in the future, you can always come to the center when you need help. Remember that.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
Then they discussed the arrangement for moving Connor’s and Rosa’s things the next day and the Alpha promised to send someone to pick them up and help. After that, she announced it was time for her to go.
Connor walked her back to the door, where she paused with a hand on the knob. His heartbeat sped up. Here it goes. She’s going to switch to being Jack’s mother first and—
“One other thing.” She turned to him. “Do you expect any issues with the other side of Rosa’s family? Should we prepare ourselves in any way?”
It took a second for Connor to figure out what she was asking. He blamed the lack of sleep for that. “Oh, no, no. Rosa’s mother is human, but she didn’t want to care for her. And her family didn’t want a werewolf among them, even if Rosa’s half their blood.” He lowered his voice, as if that could shield Rosa from ever knowing. “They won’t be a problem.”
The Alpha nodded. “Okay. Let me know, immediately, if there’s any sign of trouble from their side.”
“Of course, I will. There won’t be, but if there is, I will.”
With another nod, the Alpha left and Connor leaned against the closed door. He kissed the top of Rosa’s head and breathed out. Maybe they were going to get through it after all.
Chapter Three
Jack sat back and crossed his arms. “What do you want me to do, not go to work at all? It’s insane.”
Mom A frowned at his tone, but Mom B just shook her head. “We’re not talking about you not going to work and you know it.”
“No, I don’t. You’re putting all these restrictions on me as if I’m going to run to him the first chance I get.” Then he remembered that was exactly what he’d done during the Full Moon Run. Thankfully, no one pointed it out. “I’m not actually looking forward to him being there, you know,” he added, slouching a bit in his chair.
“Then why didn’t you say anything?” Mom B asked. Even Kevin, who up to that point had tried to pretend he wasn’t there, looked up at that.
“Because he deserves to get help—both of them do—and the center is the best place for it.” Jack glanced around the table and sighed. “I appreciate that you care about my feelings and whatnot, but don’t act like every small thing involving Connor’s going to break me. It won’t. I’m going to work and that’s it. If, for some reason, we bump into each other there, by accident, then I’ll be civil. I’m not going to cry, for Moon’s sake.”
“I didn’t say you’re going to cry.” Mom A put her coffee cup down. “I’m just worried about you.”
“Don’t be. I’m going to be fine.” He had a plan in place for how to avoid Connor. He’d figured out the routes that were least likely to make them cross each other’s paths. He’d decided to stay in the staff room for lunch every day for the next two weeks, and he had to avoid the little ones’ play area at all cost. He was as ready as he was ever going to be.
Jack was glad his siblings weren’t there. Julia would see right through him and call bullshit, and Taylor would just get pissed at Connor again. Staying pissed off at Connor wasn’t productive or helpful, Jack knew. He had tried.
“Okay, we’re going to leave it for now,” Mom B said, “but please come to me if it turns out to be worse than you imagined. I’m not the principal for nothing,” she finished with a sad smile.
“I will come running,” he told her, trying to lighten the mood. Then he got up. “I need to grab my stuff from upstairs, so I’ll see you in the car in five minutes,” he told Mom B. Working at the same place meant she and Jack drove to work together most days.
The only thing he needed to get from his room was his bag, and he didn’t need so much time for that, but, the truth was, he needed to catch a breath away from his family. They were really great and supportive, but they could get suffocating at times when they went into overprotective mode.
Jack rolled his shoulders and neck, standing in the middle of his room. He was going to be fine. Everything was going to be all right, and there was nothing to worry about. He closed his eyes. Connor was set to arrive with the baby—Jack couldn’t bring himself to use her name—around noon, and Jack would not step a foot away from the staff room unless the building was on fire.
The last thing he wanted was a repeat of their previous meeting. He’d made enough of a fool of himself then and that had only been in front of a few people. Jack hated the mere idea of something like that happening at the center, where there were always a lot of people around.
You’re not doing this to yourself again, he told himself, not even sure if he meant his extreme reaction or the Connor thing, as a whole. Possibly both.
* * * *
A few hours later, he was going crazy holed up in the office, but at least he was getting through the paperwork that had been piling up for weeks now. The reports, progress cards and detailed lesson plans were the worst part of being a teacher, but Jack loved every other aspect of it, so he dealt with it.
Well, usually he’d dealt with it by shoving it to the side then scrambling to get them all done when there was a deadline he had to meet. Usually he wasn’t hiding from his ex-boyfriend and said ex-boyfriend’s baby.
He sighed as he rubbed his eyes. It was fine for today, but there was no way he would make it through the next two weeks like this. Even he didn’t have that much paperwork to catch up on.
Just as he was considering another cup of tea, the door opened and Susan, the teacher handling the youngest kids, entered the room.
“Oh, hi, Jack.” She walked to the coffee maker then poured herself a cup before dropping onto the closest chair. “I thought you weren’t here today. I haven’t seen you at all.”
“Yeah, I’m under a self-appointed house arrest until I have all of those done.” He gestured at the pile of progress cards, and Susan winced.
“Ugh, I don’t envy you at all.”
“It sucks,” he easily agreed. “But you look like the kids are making you crazy today.”