Page 51 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
We’ll definitely be returning to that question.
Jarrod turns to look at me, and I can’t stand the hurt in his eyes. “But you knew,” he says to me. “You must have known from the first moment you saw him, and you didn’t tell me!”
“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry,” I say, holding his shoulders and giving him a big hug. “I couldn’t. You know how things were back at our pack, don’t you?”
Jarrod nods, wiping his nose as he holds back tears. “Uh-huh. Everyone was really mean to us.”
“That’s right. If I had suddenly told everyone that the man I’m marrying is actually your father, it would have made things a whole lot worse.”
Actually, it would have been an all-out brawl, if not a lynch mob.
“But… you wanted to run away,” Jarrod says.
I see Rex react to this information, but I just keep my focus on Jarrod. “Yes, I did, but I didn’t know who I was marrying. I just knew that it was extremely dangerous for us in Eccles, and I wanted to keep you safe.”
Jarrod looks between us, his face swiveling back and forth. “You could have told me,” Jarrod says, looking into my eyes. “Ever since we got here, you could have told me at any time, but you didn’t.”
“I didn’t know how!” I cry, tears pouring down my cheeks as I finally lose my cool. “I’m so sorry, Jarrod, I really am. But I didn’t know how. I was so hurt and confused, and I—”
“Mom,” Jarrod whispers as he puts his arms around me and hugs me tight. “It’s okay. Please don’t cry.”
I feel Rex’s arms go around both of us, and even though my heart is still full of suspicion over Rex’s secrets, I can feel his love, and I genuinely believe he didn’t want to hurt us.
Jarrod pulls back and looks up at Rex, his smile brightening his eyes.
“I just can’t be mad,” he says. “I’m too happy that you’re my dad!”
“I know what you mean, kiddo,” Rex says, hugging him. “I wish I had been there for the rest of your life, but I can tell you this right now—I’ll be there for every single day from here on out!”
“That sounds great,” Jarrod says, hugging him back. “I like it here in Rose Hollow, and I love having you as my dad!”
My fears melt away as I watch Jarrod hugging his father. It’s clear that the two of them truly love each other, and it’s evensweeter that they loved each other before they found out they were related.
“Okay, kiddo,” Rex says. “Do you want that hot chocolate now?”
“I sure do!” Jarrod answers.
The three of us make breakfast, sitting down at the table together to eat and talk. Rex and I steer the conversation far away from any of the difficult topics, and for a while, it feels like we’re a real family.
Rex has planned to take us out for the day and help us get to know the town, so after we get dressed, we will go out and start with a walk down Main Street. Rex takes us inside most of the shops to meet the owners and staff, and I get to know the guild leaders and what they do. People stop in the street to introduce themselves and welcome us, and I start to feel overwhelmed by it.
For years, I’ve walked down the street, and people go right by me as if I’m invisible. Now, I’m the center of attention, and I don’t know how to handle it.
I end up holding Rex’s hand, smiling and nodding politely, trying not to show how out of place I feel. I’m truly touched by the way the pack accepts Jarrod, and how Rex often introduces him as his son and heir.
We can just leave out the little part about us actually meeting five years ago. Why not?
I can’t deny I’m still troubled by Rex’s secrets, but it helps a lot to see Jarrod so happy, and for the pack to take him in as their own.
We have lunch at a café, then move on to the school, where Jarrod meets the teachers and other kids. Mrs. Florenceassures him a position in the art class, and by the time we leave, Jarrod is completely exhausted but beaming from ear to ear. Rex takes us out to a local diner for burgers, then we finish up at the ice cream parlor, where Jarrod attempts to eat his weight in double chocolate chip.
When we get home, Jarrod is sound asleep, and Rex carries him inside to put him to bed. The moment feels bittersweet to me because I often dreamed of it, and even though it’s finally happening, there is still so much I don’t know.
After we tuck Jarrod in, I go to get changed and freshen up, finding Rex sitting up in bed when I get there. Even though I can feel the tension in the room, I also feel like it might be finally time to share some of our secrets.
As I get into bed, Rex takes my hand, and I squeeze gently, turning to face him and keeping my hold on him.
I may not fully trust him, but I’m completely done denying my attraction to him. It hurts too much to lie about that, and we have to move forward somehow—and we are moving forward. Jarrod is safe here, and the pack adore him. I feel more accepted here than I ever did at home, and I think we could have a real future…
