Page 64 of Secret Wolf Baby

“Here’s the offer,” Dad said. “You can get Claire back if you, your mate, and the rest of the Gold Wolves leave now and forget everything you know about Reacher and our plans. You make your report back to the council that everything is fine and there’s nothing to worry about. Then, everyone’s happy.”

“Here’s our counteroffer,” I said. “You give me my daughter and go to jail.”

“Not a particularly appealing offer,” Dad mused.

My fingers lengthened to claws as I kept my gaze locked on him. He started laughing. “You don’t have the guts,” he spat.

“I’m not afraid of you anymore,” I said.

He barked out a laugh, a mocking, derisive one that sent new rage coursing through me. “Is that so?” he jeered. “Prove it.”

Jackson tried to step forward, but I growled a warning at him. This was my fight. I wasn’t going to let Jackson fight this one. I had to do it myself.

Before my dad could react, I jumped forward, shifting in midair. Claire darted out of the way, running toward Jackson. Dad, however, gaped at me in disbelief, as if unable to believe that I would ever do anything this rash. He shifted just in time to avoid me clawing his face to ribbons. His paws lashed out, knocking me out of the air and slamming me into the table. It toppled onto its side with a loud crash.

Dad came to stand over me, growling, his eyes gloating as if he still assumed he would win, that I would cave and submit like I normally did. I growled back at him. That wasn’t who I was anymore.

My claws raked across his belly, and he yowled. Before he could stagger backward or react, I jumped up, my jaws snapping at his throat. He managed to recoil at the last minute, and my teeth clamped around fur.

Growling, his claws raked across my muzzle, drawing blood. I sensed Jackson taking a step forward when I yowled, but I snarled back at him, and he stayed next to Claire. Dad tried to make another move while I was distracted, but I darted out of the way just in time.

He barreled into me, knocking me off my feet. His jaws clamped around the scruff of my neck, and he bit down. Snarling at the pain, I shook him off, sending him to the side. I panted heavily, feeling my injuries but refusing to back down. He wasn’t going to get away with what he had done to Claire.

Thinking about her again sent new energy rushing through me. Howling, I jumped, this time landing on his back. My claws raked between his shoulders as my wolf and her protective instincts took over. She wanted him to feel the pain he had caused her by taking Claire and threatening her. I let her channel that rage, let out the years of pent-up terror and anger.

He dropped to the ground and rolled, shoving me off him. The instant we were back up, he lunged toward me, his claws outstretched.

I dashed to the side, avoiding the swipe. My back claws kicked out, slamming into his side and shoving him across the room. He slammed into the counter and crumpled to the ground. I rounded on him, waiting to see if he would get up and come after me again.

I looked down at his crumpled form with disdain and anger. All my life, I had never expected to stand up to my father this way. Now that I had, I couldn’t believe I had let him bully me my entire life. He had constantly put me down, called me weak and worthless. But in the end, he was the one who lay on the ground, whimpering. I should never have listened to a word he said.

I would have felt more triumphant had I not been filled with so much rage for all the pain he had caused me and Claire. Instead, all I felt was a grim determination.

Slowly, my father rose to his feet. His fur matted with blood, his breathing heavy from the injuries, Dad growled at me, baring his fangs. I snapped, lunging forward, and a savage satisfaction washed over me as he recoiled. I swiped at him again. He staggered back again, then raced out of the room.

I listened, waiting to hear if he was truly leaving. The instant I heard the front door slam against the wall as it opened, I finally relaxed, turning to face my daughter. Panting, I hurried over to Claire and licked her cheek, making sure she was all right. She giggled at the sensation. Relieved, I shifted back to human and pulled her close.

“Are you okay?” I asked, stroking her hair, wanting to keep touching her, to prove to myself that this was real, that she really was okay.

“I’m fine, Mom,” Claire said.

I hugged her again. I could have stayed like that forever, but a gentle tap on my shoulder reminded me that we were nowhere near done.

I straightened, taking a deep breath.

“You two need to get going,” Jackson said, ushering us into the living room and motioning toward the open door Dad had escaped through. “I want you to run to the car and drive home as fast as you can. Don’t look back.”

“What about you?” I asked. “If you think I’m letting you stick around for Reacher to find you on your own, you’re wrong.”

“I’m going to find the Gold Wolves,” he said. “When I meet up with them, we’ll be able to finish the rest of this off once and for all. Claire needs to get out of town, and she can’t go alone. And I don’t want you staying here in case Reacher finds some way of making you the bait.”

“That sounds like an excellent idea,” a sickeningly familiar voice said.

My stomach clenched with dread as I spun around to see Reacher leaning against the doorframe, two shifters flanking him. With a smug smirk, he sauntered inside, more of his goons filing in after him, some already massive wolves. Before any of us could do anything, three of them broke rank and headed straight toward me and Claire, cutting us off from Jackson. I gripped Claire’s shoulder as the wolves closed around us. My back hit the wall, and I realized too late that we’d been cornered.

Chapter 23 - Jackson

I stared, rage paralyzing me as the wolves blocked Audrey and Claire. I hadn’t even had the chance to get to them before I had my own circle of shifters surrounding me.

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