Chapter Two

James

I wait in the black pickup truck with a shifter named Godrick. He is a mountain of a man, and I would love to see him in his wolf form someday. I am sure he is an asset to his pack even though I still can't comprehend having more than one Alpha with his kind of power in a single pack. And yet, they seem to have quite a few strong Alphas here.

"Is she in there?" I ask softly, not sure what else to say but keeping my gaze locked on the building in front of me.

"She is," he replies stoically. "Just give Caine a minute to prepare her. She thought you were dead, so this will be a shock for her."

I nod, knowing he is right. "I haven't seen her in years."

"She's a fine woman and a great Luna," Godrick says with a smile. "I would be dead if it weren't for her and Caine."

"That's good to know. I'm happy she is doing well."

Silence descends on us as we both return to our own thoughts.

A door slams against a wall and there she is. She looks so much like her mother, I can't help but rub at the center of my chest with my palm, an old pain flaring to life once more. We stare at each other through the pane of glass as a tear streaks down her cheek. Moments later I have her in my arms, holding her to my chest just the way I did the day her mother died. Sobs wrack her frame as she clings to me.

Caine and another female watch us from the doorway, both curious but respectful of this moment between us. Something niggles at the back of my mind, a memory, but it is fleeting and gone before I can grasp it.

For the first time in years, my heart beats for something other than the simple function of keeping me alive. I can finally make sure Peyton knows I love her and didn't abandon her.

"Hey, Cupcake," I say, cupping her face in my hands and staring at her.

She laughs freely at my use of her old nickname before wrapping her arms around my waist and hugging me tightly. I can feel the love she pours into that hug, and I do the same.

"Come in," she says, grabbing my hand and pulling me behind her.

Her mate chuckles softly, shaking his head as we move past him. "You'll get used to it."

Inside the house, the scent of fresh tomato sauce hits me and my stomach grumbles. I can't even remember the last home-cooked meal I had. There is something else, an underlying scent I can't place, but I push it to the side and focus on this moment.

"Sit, let me get you something to eat," Peyton says, rushing around the kitchen.

I take in everything around me. It's a beautiful house with a kitchen big enough to cook a feast. Even as a little girl, Peyton was always fascinated with cooking and baking. Her mother was great at both.

It only takes a moment before a large helping of pasta, drenched in steaming tomato sauce, is placed before me.

"I hope you like it," she says nervously. "If you want something else, I can whip it up."

I chuckle. "I'm sure it will be delicious. What I want is for you to sit with me. Tell me about your life and your pack. Where is Slade? And the Hatcher pack?"

An uncomfortable silence descends on us. Caine and Peyton share a glance while the other female looks at her feet. She seems familiar but I can't quite place her. Taking a bite of the food, I moan as the tangy tastes explode across my senses. Peyton smiles brightly at my reaction before speaking.

"There are things I need to tell you, things you won't like," Peyton explains. "A lot happened after you left."

"What happened to my pack?" I ask. I'm already tense just hearing her words. She's worried and I can sense her nerves from where I sit.

"James," Caine cuts in before Peyton can reply. "I need you to calm down. I don't care whether you are her father or not, if you endanger my mate, I will take you out."

My gaze cuts to him but he isn't looking at me. He is staring at my hands where they are curled around the edge of the wooden tabletop. Looking down, I see what has him reacting protectively. My talons have extended and are digging into the sturdy top.

Taking a deep breath, I fight to control my animal, forcing him into submission. He doesn't want to allow me to control him but eventually I gain the upper hand.

"I'm calm," I say slowly. "But I want—no, I need—to know what happened to my pack."

"Talon, why don't you join us? This is going to be a long conversation and you can fill in some of the blanks," Peyton sighs. "We will tell you everything, but you need to eat."

I nod, waiting until everyone sits. I am finally able to place the other female, Talon. Her father was my Beta for many years before he passed. I am glad to know our girls are still friends, that they have each other in this life.

Everyone stares at me, waiting until I return to the delicious food that has been prepared. The moment I resume eating, Peyton launches into her story.

"Six months after you left, Slade took control of the pack," Peyton starts. "There was a power vacuum and he stepped up. No one questioned it. He was the most powerful shifter left, even if he wasn't an Alpha, and everyone simply fell in line." She frowns, remembering her past. "He moved into our house and restructured everything. He chose a new Beta, started treating his friends like royalty, and the other pack members like slaves. He was nothing like you, and the pack suffered for it. Slade kept me around to take care of him and his lieutenants."

A low growl builds in my chest after I swallow my food. "Take care?" I ask lowly.

She shakes her head, dispelling my worst fears. "Cooking, cleaning, stuff like that. Until I turned eighteen, I was nothing more than a servant in his pack. But then the mate bond kicked in and Slade was my fated mate."

A tear tracks down her cheek, her gaze locked on the table as her fingers trace the grain. Caine reaches for her, entwining their fingers and offering his support.

"He refused me," she whispers. Her pain is palpable, tangible in the air around us. My wolf howls in the corners of my mind, rage enveloping both of us. He could have killed her, and I never would have known. "I thought I was going to die but the moment I could stand, I was running."

"I'm going to kill him." My voice is menacing as the words slip out.

"You're a couple of years too late for that. Peyton already took care of him," Talon says. "After she left, he figured out that all the power he wanted lay with her. He came here to bring her home, but she was already mated to Caine."

"He attacked us," Caine adds. "Challenged me for Peyton. I won the fight, but he stabbed me in the back. By the time I woke up again, he was dead."

I stare at my daughter in dismay. A strange surge of pride flows through me knowing she killed the monster that hurt and mistreated her.

"And the Hatcher pack?" I ask.

I need to know if I have somewhere to go and if my pack still needs me.

"Most of the members joined us here," Peyton explains. "Caine opened the pack to anyone willing to pull their weight. Some stayed behind and tried to make it work but soon enough no one was left."

I nod, relieved that most of my pack found a new home but sad at the same time, because my home no longer exists.

****

April

I know this is going to be an emotional day for Peyton. As far as I knew, she thought her father was dead. To find out he is still alive and waiting outside is amazing, albeit a major shock to the system. I can't imagine what she is going through right now, but she is going to need privacy and time alone with her father.

Without a word, I slip out the back door and walk around the outside of the house, leaving my friends alone in Caine's house. I am almost in the forest when the smell of freshly baked bread hits me. My knees give out and I fall to the green meadow grass.

This is more than just a scent I love, this is a scent that reaches into my soul and begs me to go back to Caine's house. It can only mean one thing. My fated mate.

My mind reels with this new development. How can this be possible? I know I was looking forward to someday finding my mate, but I know all the males, all the shifters in this pack, and the three closest packs. The only explanation is that it must be the man they brought in today.

Peyton's father.

My heart breaks at the realization. I can't imagine that she will be even remotely happy with this new development. She just got her father back in her life and now this. She will never allow someone like me, a throwaway, to be with her long-lost father. My own parents didn't even want me, why would they?

This is a fucking mess.

Taking deep breaths, I wait until I feel more like myself before pushing off the ground. I let my weak legs carry me to the only place I can think of. It only takes me a few minutes to reach Sapphire and Marc's house, but as I stand on their front porch, I don't know what to do. Do I knock? Should I tell her what is happening? Will it make any difference at all?

I don't get the chance to make any decisions before the door swings open. Marc smiles when he sees me before calling out to his mate.

"Hey, babe, April is here!" he shouts.

"I'm in the kitchen," she calls back. "Send her through."

Marc waves, his smile changing to a frown as he takes me in. I walk slowly down the hallway, my thoughts a jumbled mess. In the kitchen, my friend is pulling a batch of freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies out of the oven. Normally, I would be burning my fingers trying to steal one but not today. My stomach revolts at the idea of eating anything right now, the stress and impossibility of the situation bearing down on me.

Falling into one of the wooden chairs beside the counter, I watch her putter around. I know she is speaking but I'm not hearing a single word. There is a ringing in my ears that simply won't quit, drowning out everything around me.

A hand lands on my shoulder, and I lift my head to stare blankly at Marc as he towers over me. A moment later, Sapphire's worried face also enters my line of sight.

Marc kneels taking my hand in his. "What happened?"

I can't form the words because I simply don't know what to say to my friends. How do I explain this to them? How can I put my fears and doubts into words that this perfect, happy couple will understand?

"You're scaring me, April," Sapphire says, panic evident in her tone. "You need to tell us what is wrong. Did someone hurt you?"

"My mate is here," I whisper, the words sounding foreign to my ears.

"That's great news," Sapphire exclaims, clapping her hands excitedly but Marc is still frowning at me.

"Babe, she looks the way you did when you found out I was your mate," he says softly. "This isn't necessarily a good thing."

"Shit." She drags one of the other chairs closer before sitting in front of me, our knees touching as she takes my other hand. "Why don't you tell us what is going on? Maybe we can give you some advice."

"It's a mess. I don't even know where to start," I say dejectedly. I can already feel tears burning in my eyes.

"Why don't you start by telling us who he is?" Marc suggests.

"I can't even do that. I don't know his name. Hell, I didn't even see him."

"How do you know it's going to be a problem?" Sapphire chimes in. "Maybe this could be a good thing."

"He's Peyton's father!" I announce loudly. "The father she thought was dead is sitting in her kitchen right this minute."

Cupping my face in my hands, I allow the despair I am feeling to take over, the tears finally finding their way down my face. This entire situation is messed up and I don't know what to think, much less do.

"Fuck," Marc whispers. "That certainly complicates things."

"No shit," I mutter.

"Well," Sapphire interjects. "We need to work through this and formulate a plan. Marc, go over to Caine's house and see what the situation is. Don't say a word about this to anyone."

"Babe—" he starts but she cuts him off.

"Just do what I say."

We sit in silence, listening to his footsteps as he walks out the front door to do his mate's bidding.

"I hated him so much," Sapphire says softly once I stop sobbing. "Marc was the bane of my existence. Did you know that?"

My gaze collides with hers. "What?" My tone is laced with disbelief.

She nods with a soft smile. "He bullied me for years and made my life a living fucking hell until my father moved us away. I was finally free of his torment. But my brother moved us back to the Katu pack when our parents passed. And there he was, the Devil himself, my fated fucking mate."

"How did I not know this? You're mates. Happy. What happened?"

Sapphire laughs loudly and I watch her. She really is one of the happiest people I know. "I kicked him in the nuts. That's why Calum and Max are terrified of me."

"Damn, girl," I say with a grin, remembering how those two sometimes act around her. "But now?"

"It took us a while, but we worked it out. When Fate picks a mate for us, she does it for a reason," she says with conviction. "The Goddess knows exactly what we need even if we don't. If Peyton's father is your fated mate, then he's what you need in your life."