Page 12 of Daddy Wolf's Secret Baby

“He’s been reading everything he can get his hands on since he was three. He readBlack BeautyandCall of the Wildwhen he was six. Don’t let him snooker you into a game ofTrivial Pursuit,and if you do, don’t take any bets.”

Jace threw his hands up in the air. “Mom, shsh. How am I supposed to pay for a horse if you tell them all my secrets?”

After breakfast, Zahra took Jace to the mountain to shift. As they loped around the mountain, they talked telepathically.

“Am I going to start spending time with my father?”

“Yes. Since we are back home, it’s only right that you get to know your dad. He’s a good man. I’ve always told you that he was.”

“He was sure mad today.”

“Yes, he was. He was very shocked to find out about you. He never had a chance to know that I was pregnant. I think that he was also a little upset because I didn’t tell him about you, even after we got back. He either figured it out on his own or someone mentioned to him that the two of you looked a lot alike.”

“When were you going to tell him?”

“In the next day or so. It seems that the universe beat me to it.”

Zac stopped by the house after lunch. “I was wondering if Jace could come to the house this afternoon and hang out with his cousins. They are curious about him and want to get to know him better.”

“Mom, can I?”

“Of course.”

At least here, Zahra wouldn’t have to worry about her son’s safety like she did in other towns and cities.

Jace hugged her and then ran over to Zac. “See you later, Mom.”

“Bye. Have fun, and make sure you mind Aunt Olivia and Uncle Zac.”

“I will.”

Zahra watched them leave before joining her mother on the sofa.

“I’m so glad that you guys are here. I was terrified when the doctor said that I had breast cancer, even though he said that I had a great chance of survival. Some chemo, radiation, and he probably won’t even have to do a mastectomy.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. I might be almost thirty, but I still need my mommy.”

Isabel laughed. “I need my daughter, too. Zac and Conner are great, but there’s something about a daughter that’s special.”

“Thank you,” Zahra said. “I’ve been thinking about coming back for a long time, anyway. I miss Angel’s Creek and my family. I just wasn’t sure how I was going to handle the Josiah issue.”

“It seems to me that it handled itself.”

“True enough.”

They talked for a while and then Zahra’s phone buzzed. Josiah had texted her.

Hi. I was wondering when I could spend time with Jace.

Zahra thought about it for a minute, anxiety taking her breath away.

Why don’t the three of us go out for dinner tonight?

The response came quickly.I was hoping to spend some time alone with him.

When Jace is ready and comfortable with you.

Zahra braced herself for more comments about how it was her fault that Jace and Josiah didn’t know each other. However, he simply replied,I’ll pick you guys up at six.

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