Page 63 of Secret Wolf Baby

I didn’t answer, just leaned against him, trying to take some of his strength.

After what felt like an eternity, we pulled to a stop a little ways outside of Rowen. Clambering out, the familiar scents of my old pack washed over me. They were just over the ridge.

We moved through the woods, trying to catch a fresh trail of either Claire or Reacher. Knowing Reacher, he wouldn’t takeher directly into town. Too many people knew her and would wonder what she was doing there. They’d likely snuck her in from somewhere around where we had parked.

It took some time to find Reacher’s scent just outside of town. My stomach lurched when I smelled Claire and Dad mixed with it.

The Gold Wolves noticed the scents as well. Each of them stiffened, their nostrils flaring.

“Let’s go,” Jackson said, pushing to the lead. I followed right behind him.

For a moment, I harbored a hope that we could resolve this quickly, that we would find them all and be able to take them in a flash. That hope was dashed after five minutes, when we came to a halt.

“Reacher’s and Claire’s scents diverge here,” Declan said.

“Shit,” Chris grumbled.

“They’re trying to split us up,” Will said.

“Reacher is the priority,” Declan said. “If we get him, we’ll be able to get Claire.”

“Screw that,” I scoffed. “You don’t know them. We need to get Claire out of there as quickly as possible. You can handle Reacher after she’s out of harm’s way.”

“Audrey—” Declan began.

“We’re wasting time,” Jackson interrupted with a growl. “You guys go after Reacher. Audrey and I will go after Claire.”

A rush of gratitude flooded through me at his words, and I let out a slow exhale. Declan looked as though he wanted to argue, but one look at me and Jackson told him how pointless that would be. His jaw set as he gave us a short, curt nod.

“Once you get here, take Claire to the cars. We’ll rendezvous later,” he said. “Good luck.”

I barely heard those last words because I was already racing through the woods toward my daughter and my old home. I heard snapping branches and crunching leaves behind me as Jackson followed.

Tracking Claire’s scent took us the exact route I had expected. It seemed to take no time at all before we stood in front of my old house, the location of so many of my unpleasant memories. Part of me recoiled, wanting to run away. But the other furious part of me wasn’t about to let that happen, and neither was my wolf.

I almost didn’t wait for Jackson as I charged up the front steps, grabbed the spare key from beneath a nearby rock, and flung open the door. I could smell both Dad and Claire, and I heard movement coming from the kitchen. I raced over.

Claire sat at the kitchen table, staring stony-faced ahead of her. Across the room, leaning against the counter, my dad stood, arms folded as he watched her. Both of them turned to look at the door as I appeared. Claire’s face broke into a relieved grin. Dad’s contorted into an even deeper scowl.

“Mom!” Claire tried to run toward me, but Dad reached her first and grabbed her by the shoulder, holding her back. She rounded on him and snarled, showing teeth. “Let me go,” she snapped.

Seeing our cub fight back gave my wolf a savage pride.

“Shut up and listen to your elders,” Dad barked at her as she glowered at him.

“Give me my daughter,” I hissed.

“She’s my blood, too,” Dad responded in an almost mocking tone that made me want to tear out his throat. “I’m within my right to make sure she stays safe.”

“By locking her in the house?” I growled.

He shrugged, still digging his fingers into Claire’s shoulder as she tried to get out of his grip. “She was being obstinate. Like mother, like daughter, I suppose.”

“If you don’t give me my daughter back, I don’t care if you’re my father,” I said. “I will tear you to shreds.”

“No, you won’t,” he drawled.

My eyes narrowed. “I’m going to give you one last warning, Dad.”

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