Page 71 of Taming of a Wolf

Unless… has Jamie had enough of me? He was so happy to see me yesterday. Clearly, he’s keeping something from me, but if I weren’t pleasing him, he would tell me. Right? Deep within me, my berserker howls in fury and despair, sharpening my fangs and claws even without my furs. Something is wrong with ourmate. I’m going to find whoever hurt him and make sure they don’t live another day.

I’ve lost my pack, and that was hard enough. But I can’t lose Jamie. To distract myself, I go to the kitchen and gather ingredients for a cheese and bologna sandwich, helping myself to a few pieces of bologna.

“Can I help?” Jace pulls a step stool up to the counter beside me.

“Sure.” I move over to give him more room to assemble his sandwich.

Jace says, “Don’t forget you’re helping me with my presentation today.”

A piece of bologna goes down my throat wrong. Coughing, I sputter, “Hel below! W-what exactly must I do?”

Jace grabs a jar of mayo and slathers some on both slices of bread. “Just tell them stories about cool stuff from your time. What kind of books do you like, Anders?”

I tilt my shoulder. “I enjoy all kinds of stories, but my favorite have dragons, gods, and epic battles.”

Jace smiles. “Yeah, those stories are awesome. I always loved reading comics with my mom.” There’s an odd crack in his voice, sadness souring his scent.

Jace’s words inspire a memory of my own. “My father used to take me on walks in the woods. We’d hunt together,” I continue, handing him some bologna, “and he taught me everything I know about surviving in the wilderness.”

“What about your mom? What’d she teach you?”

My chest tightens painfully. “She passed when I was very young. I don’t remember much of her, except that she was kind and loving.”

Jace clears his throat and looks away, the scent of sadness wafting from him.

A similar sadness to Jace’s rushes through the bond connecting me to Jamie. It’s heavier, like storm clouds. I wish I could go to him and offer him comfort, but in the mood he’s in, I worry he’d reject me.

Tossing some cheese in my mouth, I say between chews, “I wasn’t an especially good hunter, but when I caught my first prey, my father was so proud.” Knowing I’d pleased him remains my happiest, most cherished memory. “He supported me in everything I wished to do, without judgment.”

Jace smiles sadly. “That’s what parents do. It’s how you know.”

“Know?”

He shrugs, staring down at the counter. “That they loved us.”

My father loved me.

This simple truth, buried underneath all my feelings of jealousy, grief, and rage, is like a ray of dawn breaking through a long, dark night.

Of course he loved me.

Even if I wasn’t an Alpha, even if I’d gotten jealous when he’d spent time in the woods training Wulfric. I’d drowned in bitter feelings of envy for so long, I’d forgotten such an important fact. My father had loved me for who I was and all I wasn’t.

Emotion clogs my throat. I used to get so mad I’d lash out at my father for spending time with Wulfric. I’d accuse him of playing favorites. The shame burns me to my marrow, and I have to close my eyes to force the memories away. I wasted my father’s final years being so angry and bitter, and I hate myself for it.

I loved him. So much.

Had I ever told him? Had he known?

“Are you okay?”

When I open my eyes, they’re misty and hot with unshed tears.

Jace’s eyes widen. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to make you sad.”

“I’m fine, lad.” I cough and duck my head to discreetly wipe my eyes on my sleeve. Ever since I arrived in this timeline, I’ve become a soft, weak mess.

“I miss my parents too. All the time,” Jace admits. “Especially today.”

---