Page 61 of Daddy Wolf's Secret Baby

Elias.

The letter fell to her lap and she flipped open the lid on the box. It was a huge diamond engagement ring. She sucked in a huge breath of air, trying to calm her nerves. Zahra bit her bottom lip until she tasted blood.

“Did you recognize the man?” she asked, trying to control her voice.

“I thought that he looked familiar, but I can’t be sure. I didn’t know his name or anything.” Jace grabbed her hand. He looked terrified. His face was pale and his eyes were wide. “Mama, are you okay?”

“Yeah, Baby, I’m okay and so are you.”

She folded the letter up and put it back into the envelope, then put it and the box in the console. Zahra worked hard to control her breathing and heart rate as she carefully drove back to the house. She tapped the code for the garage door and made sure it was completely down before she let Jace get out of the car.

Once inside, she immediately called Zac.

I’m sure Zac’s about tired of hearing from me about this by now, but he’d be furious if I didn’t tell him about something this big.

When Zac answered, she asked him to hold on and called Josiah, so she could tell them both what happened at once.

“On my way,” Zac said.

“Me, too.”

She and Jace sat on the couch. He reached for her hand and Zahra knew that Jace was scared but was trying not to show it. Neither of them spoke while they waited.

Even though she was expecting them, she nearly jumped out of her skin when the doorbell rang. She ran to the door, peeked out the peephole, and saw Zac standing there. Breathing a sigh of relief, she unlocked the door.

Josiah pulled into the driveway a second later.

“I’m so sorry to call you guys all the time. I’m pretty sure you’re about tired of hearing from me every time someone says ‘boo.’”

Zac looked her in the eyes. “Baby Sister, I expect a phone call if someone so much as breathes wrong in your or Jace’s direction. Not only is it my duty to protect you as a brother, but it’s also my job as the Alpha.”

Josiah growled at her. “I’d be so pissed if you didn’t call me the second you or Jace felt anything was off.”

The two men inspected the letter and ring.

“I recognize the box. The jeweler is my friend. I’ll go talk to him and see what I can find out,” Josiah said.

After he left, Zac looked at her and sighed. “I really wish you would reconsider moving in with Mom and Dad.”

“Zac, I can’t and it wouldn’t make any difference. I’ve thought about having Jace stay with Josiah or Mom and Dad for a while, but the more I thought about it the more I realized that it wouldn’t make a difference. The guy today went to the office to talk to Jace. But if he had wanted to, he would have found a way to take him.”

“That’s true,” Zac admitted. “I’m worried about you, though.”

“Me, too. However, I have you, Josiah, and Callie on speed dial. I have a great alarm system, and I always have bear spray in my pocket.” She smiled at her brother. “I know you think that I’m being stubborn for the sake of being stubborn. I’m not,though. If I move because of him, he wins. I won’t let him dictate my life.”

Zac growled at her but decided to change the subject. “What are your future plans?”

“I intend to stay in Angel’s Creek, even after Mom is all better. This is our home. I wouldn’t take Jace away from his father or the rest of the family and pack. The reason I left was because I didn’t want Josiah to think I was trying to force him into being with me. That’s no longer an issue.”

“What’s up between the two of you?”

“Honestly, I’ve always known that he was my fated mate on one level or another. I guess that’s why his rejection hit me so hard. It was more than just a schoolgirl crush. Hopefully, he’ll figure it out, sooner, rather than later.”

“I hope so, too, but he’s a bit hard-headed.” Zac looked at her and smiled. “Just like you. No wonder you two are meant for each other. You both will likely be trying to out-stubborn each other for the rest of your lives.”

“Could be,” she said.

Josiah called. “The jeweler said that he sold the ring this morning and described the man who bought it. His description matches your depiction of Elias perfectly. He’s in town. You are in even more danger than we thought.”

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