Page 57 of Secret Wolf Baby

“Sweetie… Jackson’s your father. Your biological one.”

Claire blinked in surprise. She turned to look at me, a wariness in her expression as she looked me up and down. I could tell she was trying to note the similarities between us, just as I had.

“Really?” she asked.

Audrey nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I just wasn’t sure how.”

She turned to me. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked. I couldn’t miss the hint of hurt in her voice. A pang of guilt jabbed through me.

“He didn’t know,” Audrey said. “He found out last night.”

“Oh.” She stared at me again, her expression unreadable. “So what now?”

“You don’t have to call me Dad or anything like that,” I assured her. “But I do want to get to know you better as your father. You’re a great kid, and fun to be around. I just want to spend time together.”

“Okay,” she said, though her voice was a little flat. It was clear she was still processing it.

“Is that all right?” I finally asked.

Claire didn’t respond at first. “I mean, I guess,” she finally muttered. She glanced at Audrey. “Can I go out for a bit?”

Audrey nodded. Claire gave me one last speculative look. Not distrusting, more curious. But she hurried out of the room. The front door opened and closed.

“That didn’t go as well as I had hoped,” I muttered.

“I think she just needs time to get used to it,” Audrey said. “If she’d been really mad, she would have yelled and screamed.” She gave an amused smirk. “She did inherit that old fire I used to have. This, I think, is more her getting over the initial shock. I wouldn’t worry too much about it.”

I nodded, hoping that she was right. “I’ve got to go do some work in the home office.”

I worked for about an hour, trying to go over some memos Rose had sent me but constantly thinking about Claire and hoping Audrey was right about her reaction. I could only wait and see.

Eventually, I heard the door open and close—probably Claire coming back inside. I expected her to go back upstairs and waited for the echo of footsteps climbing upward. Instead, the footsteps grew louder, coming closer to me. When they stopped, I knew they were right in the doorway of the office. Taking a deep breath, I swiveled around to see Claire staring at me.

A long pause followed.

“So, you’re really my dad?” she asked.

I nodded. She looked me up and down. “I guess our hair is the same,” she said.

“You also have my mom’s ears,” I said. “You’re lucky you didn’t get my father’s. They stuck out like this.” I held up my hands, cupping my ears to make them seem massive and as if they stuck out.

Claire giggled.

“I know it’s a shock,” I said when she’d stopped giggling. “Nothing has to change between us unless you want it to. Your mother just felt like it was time you knew.”

“Nothing’s going to change?” Claire asked.

“Not unless you want it to,” I repeated.

She nodded. “I like it here. Since you’re my dad, does that mean we can stay?”

“You can stay here for as long as you like,” I promised.

Claire stared at her feet, biting her lip as she shuffled. After a moment, she glanced back up. “Can you teach me some more hunting techniques?”

I let out a snort, both amused and relieved. If I’d had any remaining doubts about whether she was really my daughter, she’d just thrown all of those out the window.

“Yeah,” I said. “Anytime you want.”

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