Page 26 of Taken By the Wolf Daddy

Without wasting any more time, I swiftly shifted back into my wolf form, my senses sharpening as my lupine instincts took over. I knew that moving in my wolf form would be faster, and time was of the essence.

Every step toward Marie’s home felt like a battle, a race against time and my own mounting fears. I couldn’t shake the nagging worry that Ophelia had somehow tracked down Marie, and I needed to ensure her safety at all costs. I couldn’t let anything happen to her.

My mind raced with a barrage of worst-case scenarios. Had Ophelia discovered my connection to Marie? Had she come to exact her revenge on the woman who had, in her twisted mind, stolen me away from her? The thought of Ophelia anywhere near Marie and Belle filled me with dread.

As I closed in on Marie’s house, my heart pounded in my chest, a frantic rhythm that matched the pace of my thoughts. I couldn’t allow any harm to come to them, especially after the danger we had already faced. My sole focus was on reaching Marie’s doorstep and ensuring her safety, no matter the consequences or the secrets that might be exposed.

Finally, I reached the front door and shifted back into my human form before approaching her front door. My heart pounded in my chest as I knocked urgently, hoping beyond hope that she would answer. I hoped there was a reasonable explanation as to why she hadn’t picked up the phone.

Seconds felt like hours as I stood there, the rain still pouring down around me. The tension in the air was palpable, and I couldn’t help but worry about what I might find inside.

The relentless rain continued to drench me as I stood at Marie’s front door, my knuckles turning white from gripping the doorknob tightly. The fear gnawed at the edges of my mind like a persistent predator, and it wasn’t just Ophelia I was concerned about.

The close-knit nature of our small town made it nearly impossible to keep secrets hidden for long. If Ophelia had discovered my connection with Marie, who was to say others hadn’t as well? The possibility that Mike, Marie’s father, might have found out about us hung heavily over my thoughts.

Mike was protective of Marie, and rightfully so. I couldn’t blame him for wanting to keep his daughter safe and away from any potential danger, especially considering the recent turmoil with Ophelia. If he had indeed learned about our feelings for each other, it could lead to complications and confrontations I wasn’t prepared to handle.

As I hesitated at the door, I couldn’t help but wonder if my actions had placed not only me but also Marie and Belle in harm’s way. In a town where everyone knew everyone else’s business, secrets were fragile and easily shattered. If Mike had indeed discovered our relationship, confronting him would be inevitable. And in that confrontation, I could very well find myself facing an angry, protective father with a heart full of concern for his daughter.

FIFTEEN

MARIE

The front door slammed shut, sending shivers down my spine as the sound reverberated through the house. I could hear my father’s heavy footsteps approaching, each one echoing louder in my ears. Dread washed over me, drowning me in a sea of anxiety. I knew that the inevitable confrontation I had been dreading was about to unfold.

As the night had worn on, my conviction grew stronger. My father knew everything. He had sensed the change in the atmosphere between Jesse and me, the unspoken connection that had flourished into something far more profound. And with my father returning from the chapel, there was no escaping it. The time had come to face the music, to confront the truth that lay hidden just beneath the surface.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself for what was to come. There was no way to avoid this conversation any longer, no way to prevent the storm that was about to descend upon us. All I could do was brace myself and prepare to navigate the uncharted waters of a confrontation I had hoped to delay indefinitely.

But it was here, I knew it the moment Dad stormed into the living room, his face contorted with anger. “Marie, we need to talk,” he said, his voice stern.

I rose from the couch, my heart pounding in my chest, ready to face the storm that had been brewing since Jesse and I had grown closer. There was no avoiding it any longer.

“Dad, we do need to talk,” I replied, my voice steady despite the fear bubbling within me. “I know you’re upset, but I need you to hear me out a bit about this.”

His eyes narrowed, and he folded his arms, clearly preparing for a battle. “Marie, you’re my daughter, and I’ve watched you grow up. You can’t just spend the night with Jesse without warning me in advance. It’s not right. I called you a lot last night, worrying about you, at a time when people are dying, and you just ignored me.”

“But you knew where I was.”

“I also knew who you were with.”

I took a deep breath, summoning all the courage I could muster. I couldn’t deny it, I wasn’t going to push it down anymore. He knew anyway, so what was the point? “Dad, I love you, but I’m not a child anymore. I’m a grown woman, and I deserve the chance to make my own choices and live my life. Jesse and I care about each other, and I won’t let anyone tell me I can’t be with him. I can’t be controlled.”

My father’s face turned an even deeper shade of red, his anger palpable. “So, you really are with him. Fuck. You’re being reckless, Marie. You don’t understand what you’re getting into. You don’t have a clue. This is messy, and it can only get worse.”

I held my ground, refusing to be intimidated. I wasn’t sure if it felt good or terrifying to finally be speaking my truth. “I’m not being reckless. I’ve thought about this, Dad. I know Jesse, and I trust him. I won’t apologize for wanting to be with someone who makes me happy.”

Dad’s frustration was evident as he ran a hand through his hair, his features hardening with a mix of concern and sadness. “You can’t see it, Marie. You’re too young. But I already know how this is going to go. It isn’t going to work out, it can’t.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I blinked them back, determined to stand my ground. “I appreciate your concern, Dad, but you can’t protect me from everything. And trying to control my life isn’t the answer. I need you to understand that.”

We stood there, locked in a tense silence, both of us grappling with our emotions. My father’s love for me was undeniable, but so was my desire to live life on my terms. The words hung heavy in the air, painful accusations that cut deep into my heart. My father’s voice was laced with anger and hurt, and I couldn’t bear the weight of it any longer.

“You’re only doing this to get back at me, Marie,” he shouted, his face contorted with a mix of emotions. “Is that why you’re doing this? Trying to take my friend away from me because I didn’t want you to go to college? That’s messed up. I’m just trying to keep you safe.”

“By keeping me here?” I snapped. “In Wolf Mountain where there is a killer on the loose? Good job, Dad. And you know it has nothing to do with revenge. It’s about me wanting to live my life. I don’t know why you’re so against that.”

My father shook his head, his frustration clear in the lines etched on his face. “You know how I feel about you and Jesse, and you’re doing this to spite me. It’s obvious.”

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