Page 43 of Alpha's Secret Baby

As we approached Dylan’s small house, I whispered, “Let’s tuck her in at your house, then we’ll go see your parents.”

But as the cab halted, Fern sat up, wide awake. Her head cocked curiously, “We’re here,” she announced.

Her tone wasn’t a question, and I wondered if she felt a connection already to the land round about her like Dylan said she would. Dylan nodded at his daughter, a sober expression on his face. And I knew Nuu-Chah must already be guiding our daughter in the way that the Moon God did all those in the Alpha line.

Outside, I followed Dylan the short distance to the old Luna and Alpha’s house. The past didn’t assault me as much as I’d expected. As we passed through the large hallway in the converted barn, I recollected that awful night that Dylan had drunk too much when he’d struggled to deal with our mating bond, but instead of the memory darkening my mood, it buoyed me up. That night had resulted in Fern, who in turn had helped bring Dylan and me back together again.

Dylan’s hand grasped mine, his other holding Fern’s as he led us into his parent’s kitchen. Both of his parents stood at the breakfast bar, staring at us in surprise. Dylan hadn’t told them that we were coming. He’d confided that he thought that if he did, the old Alpha would disappear and refuse to see us.

Anxiety prickled over my skin as I looked at Chris, then Heather. But both of Dylan’s parents had eyes for Fern alone.

Dylan fixed his dark stare on his father. “I’ve brought my true mate home because she is the love of my life and the only woman suitable to be my Luna.”

I knew it was important for my mate as the new Alpha to get his father’s respect, and I hoped Chris wasn’t about to disregard him. Not just because it would hurt Fern and me, but as I knew this was the first step for Dylan to win the pack’s approval.

Finally, as neither the old Alpha nor Luna spoke, Dylan acknowledged their attention was stuck on Fern. With a smile, Dylan explained, “This is Fern, your granddaughter.”

Unlike me, who had told my dad about Fern, Dylanhadn’tshared Fern’s existence with his parents. He’d told me he’d felt guided by Nuu-Chah’s insight to keep our daughter a secret until we arrived back.

And judging by the slack look of wonder and joy on both the old Alpha and Luna’s faces, he’d been correct.

Heather hurried towards us and swept Fern into her arms. “I’m your grandma. You can call me Nanna if you like.”

Fern returned her Nanna’s hug, and then she looked at the old Alpha.

“And what do I call you?” Fern asked Chris, her keen eyes just like Dylan’s and Chris’s.

Fern’s direct tone provoked a winning smile from the old Alpha too. “I always used to call my granddad Pops. How does that sound to you?”

“Pops, I can work with that,” Fern said, parroting a phrase she’d learned from Dylan in the last few weeks.

We all laughed at her grown-up sounding phrase, and soon, the rest of us were hugging and making up.

Heather crushed me to her and whispered, “I’m so sorry you’ve been taking care of Fern all these years by yourself.”

I shook my head. “Don’t be. It was my decision.” I looked deep into her eyes and owned up. “I was confused back then about what I wanted, but I’m not now. I love your son, and I always have. I want to be his Luna and for Fern to be his heir.”

Chris and Heather looked years younger with excitement in their expressions as they started to discuss plans.

“You’ll have your bonding ceremony then in a month,” Heather said decisively. “That’ll give us enough time to plan but not enough for anything else to get in the way,” she joked.

I left Dylan with his parents, knowing he had a good deal of pack business to take care of too.

I drove to my dad’s house in Lake Horizon. We got out of the car, and I told Fern happily. “This is where I grew up, Sweetie.”

My daughter took in the street and the view of the park with interest.

Then her attention was fastened onto the large man, wandering down the garden path towards us. “And that is your other pops, my dad,” I explained, beaming at him as he came to meet us.

When my dad stopped before us, Fern exclaimed, “My other Pops doesn’t have a beard.”

A smile twitched beneath my dad’s bushy beard. “Do you think you could like me, beard and all?”

My daughter considered his comment with a serious expression. “I think so. But if not, you can shave it off like my daddy does.”

We all laughed, and my dad swooped in to hug Fern. Relief washed over me to see my daughter surrounded by family and receiving the love she’d missed out on in her early years. And I knew unequivocally that I’d made the right decision in coming back.

With my dad and Fern getting on like a house on fire, I left them and set out to meet Maisy at my new store in Central Seattle.

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