Page 3 of Taken By the Wolf Daddy

The growing tension between the clans weighed heavily on my mind, a constant source of concern that seemed to be escalating with each passing day. There was the Crescent Moon, my own clan, the formidable Blackpaw Clan, and the enigmatic World Walkers, each vying for control and territory. It was a powder keg waiting to explode, and I couldn’t bear the thought of it all descending into chaos.

Our one saving grace in this tumultuous landscape was the Patron, a reclusive figure who had offered us the use of his land. I had my suspicions about him, as did many others. It was almost impossible to believe that he was merely a human landowner with no connection to the supernatural world. My gut told me otherwise. I couldn’t fathom why he would be so willing to assist us unless he had some deeper tie to our kind. Perhaps he was a wolf shifter himself, or maybe a wolf blood, someone with shifter ancestry, like those humans who carried the blood of our kind from a shifter parent or grandparent. Whatever his true nature, he had extended his hand to us in a time of need, and I was determined not to let him down.

The responsibility weighed on my shoulders as the Alpha of the Crescent Moon Clan. I had to find a way to ease the tensions, bridge the divides between our people, and maintain the fragile peace. We needed to deal with these issues immediately.

But despite the importance of the meeting, my attention kept drifting away, and it wasn’t because of the pressing issues we needed to address. It was the adorable whirlwind of chaos named Belle, my three-year-old daughter, who was currently the center of attention in the room. Just as she always was. An attention seeker and receiver.

Belle had always been a spirited child, full of energy and curiosity. Her tiny frame darted around the cabin like a lightning bolt, her laughter ringing through the air as she played her mischievous games. It was tough to keep her out of trouble, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Big Ed, my loyal Beta, had shifted into his wolf form and was playfully chasing Belle around the room. He’d always had a soft spot for her, and it showed in the way he interacted with her. They were both having a grand time, and their antics brought smiles to the faces of my pack members.

Lissa and Daniel, the Blake siblings, were trying their best to keep the meeting on track, but even they couldn’t resist Belle’s infectious enthusiasm. They exchanged amused glances as Belle managed to elude Big Ed’s pursuit.

“Alright everyone, let’s get back to the agenda,” Lissa said, attempting to regain control of the situation. I respected that, and I was grateful for someone taking control because it was hard for me to do when Belle was around. She really was my world, and I tried my hardest with her as a single father.

But Belle had other plans. She spotted a stack of papers on the table, her curiosity piqued. In the blink of an eye, she had grabbed a handful of documents and scattered them like confetti, her giggles filling the room as if she had just pulled off a great prank.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her antics, even though I knew this needed to stop. My pack members shared knowing glances, fully aware that Belle’s presence had a way of derailing our meetings. They all believed that she would “show her wolf” as soon as she hit puberty, but I had a more relaxed perspective on it. Whether she became a shifter or not, she would always be my daughter, and I would love her no matter what.

As Big Ed transformed back into his human form, picking up the scattered papers with a grin, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. Belle might make it challenging to conduct our pack business, but her presence was a constant reminder of the joys and responsibilities of parenthood. She also reminded us of what we were fighting for. To protect those who couldn’t look after themselves.

“Okay everyone,” I said, attempting to regain some semblance of order, “let’s refocus and continue our discussion on security. We have a duty to protect this mountainside, and we can’t afford to be distracted.”

The atmosphere in the cabin shifted from the lighthearted chaos of Belle’s antics to a more somber tone as we delved into the pressing matter at hand–the unsettling news of disappearances on the mountain. It was a topic that had weighed heavily on my mind, and it demanded our immediate attention.

Over the past month, reports had been trickling in about people going missing in the vicinity of Wolf Mountain. The numbers were relatively small, but any disappearance in our close-knit community was cause for concern. The Patron had made it clear that he wanted a thorough investigation into these incidents, and as his trusted protectors, it was our duty to carry out his wishes.

I leaned forward in my chair, my brows furrowed in thought, as I addressed my pack members. “I know we’ve been dealing with our own challenges and territorial disputes, but this issue cannot be ignored. We have a responsibility to ensure the safety of this mountainside, both for the shifters and the humans who live here. We can’t have people going missing. It isn’t right. This isn’t normal. We need to work it out.”

Big Ed, Lissa, and Daniel nodded in agreement, their expressions mirroring my determination. We were a team, and we would do whatever it took to keep our home safe.

“We’ll start by gathering as much information as possible,” I continued, my mind racing with the possibilities. “Interview the locals, review the evidence, and keep a close eye on the area. We need to find out if these disappearances are connected and, if so, who or what is behind them.”

Thankfully everyone was in agreement. No one wanted to have unsolved murders in our hometown. Of course, we were all worried that it was going to be one of the other clans involved, igniting the tensions already simmering beneath the surface and threatening everything. This would only make it erupt, but if it saved lives then that was all we could do.

“We’ll get on it, Boss,” Lissa insisted as the meeting came to an end. “This won’t keep happening.”

I hoped that she was right. I didn’t want there to be issues on the land I considered ‘ours’. As the Crescent Moon Clan, we were deeply rooted in the local land and had a history entwined with the Eastern Shoshone, who were the original claimants of this territory. We were the oldest, most traditional clan in the area, but we were also the smallest in terms of numbers, with just three Packs to our name. Our belief in an ancestral claim to this land ran deep, and the determination to protect it was a fundamental part of our identity.

Within our community, we were fortunate to have a significant number of Wolf blood members. These individuals, with their mixed heritage, played a vital role in supporting the packs. They shared a unique perspective, straddling the line between human and wolf shifter, and their contributions were invaluable.

Our clan was distinct in its governance structure. We operated under a triumvirate, led by the alphas of each of the three packs. This arrangement allowed us to maintain a balance of power while making collective decisions that impacted our territory and our people. Unity was our strength, especially in a world where rivalries and tensions simmered beneath the surface.

Our perspective on the World Walkers was a mixed one. While many of our members were sympathetic to their plight, viewing them as refugees seeking a new home, there were others among us who regarded them as potential colonizers, encroaching on our ancestral land. Decades of rivalry and competition had sowed the seeds of mistrust between our clan and the World Walkers, so I really hoped that this had nothing to do with them. That would end up being very problematic. The situation with the Blackpaw tribe was another thorny issue. Old grievances and misunderstandings had festered over the years, resulting in bad blood between our two groups. I held a lot of worries that we were going to have a lot of problems up and coming, which wouldn’t help the Patron at all. We really didn’t want to upset him.

As soon as I left the meeting and settled into my cabin, my thoughts were consumed by the disappearances. I wasn’t going to sit back and do nothing. I needed to tackle this now. I was in the midst of reviewing some security reports when my phone suddenly rang, jolting me from my thoughts.

“Hello?,” I answered, confused.

“Hi, Jesse. It’s Marie Oldfield. I saw your ad for a nanny on the community bulletin board. I was wondering if we could talk about it.”

A sense of relief washed over me as Marie expressed her interest in the nanny position for Belle. It was a tremendous weight off my shoulders, knowing that I wouldn’t have to seek out a stranger to care for my daughter. Belle had always been spirited and full of energy, and I knew she would adore having Marie around. It just took me a moment to figure out the best way to answer.

“Wow, Marie, thank you,” I replied, a genuine smile forming on my lips. “I’m actually quite glad you called. I could definitely use the help, and I think Belle would enjoy having you here.”

“Amazing, thank you. Do you want to text me when you need me?”

“Will do. Thanks, Marie.”

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