Page 18 of Taken By the Wolf Daddy

I watched as they spoke, my chest tightening with an unspoken truth. The burgeoning feelings between Jesse and me had taken root, and while we had confessed our love, there were still unanswered questions and uncertainties. Would our newfound connection be accepted, or would it remain hidden, a secret we dared not share openly? It seemed like I wasn’t about to get any answers any time soon.

As the food cooked and we started to eat all around the table together, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Jesse, my heart aching with the knowledge of what we were both denying ourselves. It was as though our unspoken feelings had become a heavy burden, dragging us further into a tangled web of emotions. It was painful. I liked him so damn much that it actually hurt, but it seemed like he was pulling away. He didn’t want to dive into danger with me, even if we were in love.

“Hey, Jesse,” Dad suddenly said in a slightly more serious tone of voice, making my blood run ice cold. “You want to come and have a cigar with me? We can leave Belle and Marie playing down here.”

Hmm, I was definitely being left out on purpose which was very unnerving. I wasn’t sure if Jesse had picked up on that edge as well, but it didn’t seem like it when he nodded easily and rose to his feet to follow my father to the porch. A thick ball of emotion lodged itself at the base of my throat and wasn’t going anywhere. They left, and all me and Belle could do was play. The sounds of Dad and Jesse’s hushed conversation reached my ears, but I tried to focus on keeping Belle entertained and oblivious to the tension that had been brewing.

My father’s protectiveness had always been a defining trait, and though his intentions were rooted in love, they often felt suffocating. I grew up knowing his watchful eye was always upon me, and now, as an adult, I yearned for the freedom to make my own choices. That couldn’t have been more evident than at this moment.

“I’ve seen the way you two have been making eyes at each other,” Dad accused, his words cutting through the evening air like a knife. “Come on, Jesse, don’t deny it.”

I turned around to watch Jesse to see how he reacted. He had always been a pillar of strength and composure, but now he shifted uncomfortably under my father’s scrutiny. His brows furrowed, and he seemed torn between defending our connection and respecting my father’s wishes.

My father’s demand hung heavily in the air. “Back off, Jesse,” he warned, his voice firm and unwavering. “If you can’t do that, then you’ll have to look for another nanny and another best friend. Because this is something I can’t put up with.”

The weight of my father’s words pressed down on me like a crushing weight. I couldn’t believe he was putting Jesse in such a difficult position, forcing him to choose between his friendship with my father and the undeniable attraction that had grown between us. I was starting to understand the reason behind the barbeque, and it made me feel sick.

Jesse, ever the honorable and dependable man, tried to reassure my father. “Mike, my intentions are honorable,” he began, his voice a blend of sincerity and frustration. “I care about Marie, and I would never do anything to hurt her...”

“You’re supposed to be a loyal friend to me.” He shook his head. “Don’t do this to me, Jesse.”

The atmosphere shifted subtly as Dad continued his grilling, and I couldn’t help but notice a growing unease in Jesse’s demeanor. He seemed uncomfortable, a hint of tension in his features, as if he were wrestling with a decision.

Jesse’s voice, tinged with reluctance, broke the momentary silence. “I think it’s time for us to head back,” he said, his gaze briefly meeting mine. He gently lifted Belle into his arms, her giggles momentarily filling the air.

I watched him, uncertain about what was unfolding. It was as if a cloud of uncertainty hung over us, obscuring the path forward. I yearned for clarity, for a sense of direction, but the unknown future left me feeling both excited and anxious.

Dad nodded understandingly, although a hint of concern flickered in his eyes. “Of course, Jesse. You probably need to get Belle to bed, right?”

As they turned to leave, I remained behind, my thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. What did the future hold for Jesse and me? Only time would reveal the answers to the questions that lingered between us.

I wanted to be quiet, I wanted to just let this slide because that was what I had always done, but I couldn’t hold back any longer. My frustration, my longing for independence, and my exasperation with my father’s overprotective nature had reached a breaking point.

“Dad,” I began, my voice steady but laced with frustration as I turned to face him, “when are you going to stop treating me like a child?”

My father’s brows furrowed, and he seemed taken aback by the directness of my words. He had always been my protector, but it was time for him to see that I needed more than just his sheltering embrace.

I continued, my emotions pouring out. “I can’t keep putting up with this, Dad. I’m in my twenties, and I need the freedom to make my own choices, to live my own life.”

His gaze softened, and I could see the pain in his eyes. He cared about me deeply, and his protectiveness had always been a reflection of his love, but I needed him to understand that smothering me was not the answer.

His voice, when he finally spoke, was filled with vulnerability. “Marie, I lost your mother, and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you, too. You’re all I have left, and I just want to protect you. You know that. I don’t want you to make any silly decisions. I don’t want you breaking your own heart.”

I felt a pang of guilt as I looked at him, realizing the depth of his fear and his love for me. But I couldn’t let that fear continue to control my life. Softening my tone, I reached out to touch his hand gently, to let him know that I cared, but that I still needed to be heard.”

“I know, Dad, and I love you for it,” I admitted, my heart aching with empathy for his pain. “But smothering me won’t keep me safe. It won’t bring Mom back, and it won’t make me happy. I need the freedom to live my life, to make my own choices, even if it means taking risks.”

Tears welled up in his eyes, and he nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his expression. It was a painful realization for both of us, but it was a necessary one.

As we stood there, father and daughter, we shared a moment of understanding and acceptance. The path forward would not be without its challenges, but at least we were taking the first step toward allowing me the independence I so desperately needed. I didn’t know if this would lead to me and Jesse being together, but even if it didn’t, even if it led to me leaving Wolf Mountain. I would be happy because something had to change.

TEN

JESSE

The days that followed were filled with tension and unease. Our pack intensified the search for the rogue wolf that had claimed the life of the hiker up on the mountain and all the other victims as well. Every lead, every trace, led us deeper into the wilderness, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Ophelia could possibly be the one we were hunting.

Part of me didn’t want to believe it. Ophelia and I had been deeply in love once, bound by a connection I thought was unbreakable. But time had shown us a different truth, revealing her manipulative and unfaithful nature, which had shattered our relationship and left me with a bitter taste of betrayal. I couldn’t deny the possibility that Ophelia had become something darker, something dangerous. It was a painful truth to confront, one that stirred conflicting emotions within me. I had loved her once, and a part of me still held onto the hope that she could find redemption, that she could change.

---