“It’s nothing,” she replied with smile that sent warmth spreading through my chest. Her eyes met mine briefly before darting away, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. I’m just glad she’s okay. You have a beautiful daughter
“Thank you.” I found myself unable to look away from her, drinking in the details I’d missed during our formal introduction. The light dusting of freckles across her nose. The way she tucked her hair behind her ear when nervous. The wolf–paw birthmark on her left wrist–an unusual marking for a human.
Aurora leaned close to my car, whispering excitedly: “Daddy, I like her. She smells like little berries from the forest.
I bit back a smile. My daughter’s innocent observation matched Phantom’s assessment perfectly. The wolf in me recognized what my child had sensed instinctively–Aria belonged with us.
In the dining hall, påck members had already taken their places at the long wooden tables. I carried Aurora to the head table, setting her down in her chair before raising my hand for silence. The room quieted immediately.
“Good evening, everyone,” my voice carried throughout the hall without effort. “Tonight, I’m honored to welcome three new members to Moon Shadow Pack. Warrior Gabriel Silverbrook, his son Lucas, and his daughter Aria.” I paused deliberately, gauging reactions. “Aria is human, but she stands under our protection and deserves our respect. I expect each of you to make them feel welcome as they join our family.”
“Yes, Alpha, came the unified response, though I didn’t miss several curious glances directed at Aria.
Throughout dinner, I found myself seeking excuses to look in Aria’s direction. She sat with Gabriel and Lucas, occasionally scanning the room with the cautious awareness of someone used to assessing her surroundings. When young warrior Dominic approached her table, offering her a drink with an overly friendly smile, Phantom surged forward with unexpected jealousy. I had to suppress a growl that rose in my throat.
To my relief, Aria seemed completely uninterested in Dominic’s attention, focusing instead on her conversation with Gabriel and Lucas. Her smile was radiant when she laughed, yet there was a maturity and resilience in her expressions that spoke of experiences beyond her years.
I noticed Aurora had somehow migrated to Aria’s table and was now chattering animatedly, showing off her carved wooden wolf toy, Aria listened attentively, asking questions and laughing at Aurora’s elaborate stories. My chest tightened at the sight. For five years, Aurora had been without a mother’s influence. Seeing her so naturally drawn to Aria both warmed my heart and stirred a protective
concern.
What if Aria rejected our bond once she understood it? What if she wasn’t ready for a child in her life? At barely eighteen, could I expect her to embrace not only a mate bond, but also motherhood?
Phantom’s response was immediate and dismissive of my doubts. She is OURS. She will accept ALL of us.
I wasn’t so certain. Human relationships developed differently. They required time, courtship, patience. Foreing a bond on Ari would only drive her away–something neither the man nor the wolf in me could bear.
After dinner, I carried a sleepy Aurora up to our quarters. Once in her bedroom, she became suddenly animated again, talking non- stop about Aria and how she had “saved” her from the stairs.
“She was super fast, Daddy! Faster than your warriors!” Aurora exclaimed, her small hands moving expressively as she described the scene. “And her hair is so pretty, like fire!”
“Yes, she has very quick reflexes,” I agreed, smiling as I pulled the covers up around her.
Aurora’s expression turned serious, her ice–blue eyes–so like my own–studying my face with unsettling perceptiveness. “Can she be my new mommy?”
1/2
Chapter 10
The question caught me completely off guard. My heart thumped heavily in my chest.
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