Page 38 of The Tiger's Secret Baby (Savage Shifters Special Ops 4)

“She always told me that my father was a great hero, fighting in the war. She never told me anything else, though.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I just kept quiet.

“Mom was always sad when I asked about you, so I stopped asking. I knew that Mom would tell me what I needed to know when she thought the time was right.”

“Did she tell you?” I asked.

Rose smiled. “No, I figured it out. We look the same. All the other kids were talking about it. And I’m a tiger shifter. Mom doesn’t shift into anything. Plus, I saw the way you and Mom looked at each other – all mushy like, just like on those movies.”

“You’re pretty smart,” I said. “Smarter than me. I guess everyone else figured it out, and I didn’t.”

Rose just smiled and bit her bottom lip. She was going to neither confirm nor deny.

“How do you feel about this?” I asked.

“I love it. I think you are a great guy. My brothers and sisters want to know if they can call you Dad, too,” she said, looking at me with her brown eyes that were flecked with the same green and gold as mine.

“Well, of course they can. They are your brothers and sisters, right?” I asked.

“Not by blood,” she answered, very seriously. “I’m the only one that came from Mommy’s tummy. The rest of these guys came along later,” she explained.

“Lucian, Gage, and Jared are my brothers. They aren’t my blood brothers, but I couldn’t love them any more than I do if they were.”

She nodded her understanding.

“Are you mad at Mama?” she asked.

I wasn’t going to lie to her. “I am angry,” I said. “I’m also sad because I missed out on ten years of your life. I’m hurt that she didn’t tell me right away.”

“Mama makes mistakes, sometimes,” Rose informed me. Then, she fixed me with a hard look. “But she always does what she thinks is right. I know she loves you and wouldn’t hurt you. Just like she loves us, and does things that sometimes makes us mad, but we know she is just trying to be a good Mom.”

“Oh yeah? What does she do that makes you mad?” I asked.

“She won’t let us have cell phones or play video games,” Rose answered, sticking out her bottom lip a little.

I had to chuckle at that. “I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”

“You’re talking like a dad, not a friend, now,” she said, matter of factly.

“I am a dad,” I said. “You’re dad.”

“Nope. Your our dad,” she retorted.

“So, I am. So, I am.”

I pulled my wallet out of my pocket and retrieved my business card. “Here is my cell phone number and my email address. If you need anything, or if you just want to talk, then you have this. I’ll be back in a couple of days so we can hang out,” I said.

I hugged her and started walking to my truck.

“Dad,” she called. “Don’t be mad at Mom. She loves us both. I love you, too,” she added shyly.

“I love you. I’ll see you soon.”

As I drove away, my mind was a tornado of conflicting thoughts and emotions. I didn’t know whether to be happy or angry.

What in the world was I going to do now?

The answer was very clear.Get to know your kids and love them the best that you can.

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