“Is that the wolf form of a purr?”
Dominic rolled his eyes. “No, we aren’t cats. To be honest, it’s a wolf shifter’s adaptive form of licking. An older wolf’s lick can soothe pups when they are scared or hurt. She was screaming she was scared.”
“She didn’t make a sound.”
“Her wolf did, and I could hear it.”
Watching Dominic hold his daughter to his chest, rocking her back and forth as he cradled her head with his large hand, was one of the most beautiful sights Zoey ever had ever seen. Being a mother made all the fear, pain, and stress of the last few months of her pregnancy and delivery worth it.
She’d do it again, instantly.
And his love for Isadora made her heart so happy.
“I think I want another baby.”
Dominic jerked. “What?”
Oh, I said that out loud. “I just like seeing you hold her.”
He laughed. “I’d rather make sure we know what’s going on with her before we have another.”
“You sure? We could practice right now while no one is here.”
“Zoey,” he growled. “I’m not forgetting about the Blood Pact you told me about. Don’t mistake my not taking you against the nearest surface until you scream the truth to mean I won’t ask about it.”
Wow, that’s a nice visual.
“Well, there’s not much more to tell. During the delivery, Zahara linked us to make me stronger so I could survive the birth. By doing it, she unlocked Isadora’s Witch Doctor gift, hence her telekinetic show.”
“Wait, are you saying my daughter is an Alpha-born female and a Witch Doctor?”
“That’s what I’m saying, yes. The Witch Doctor gift is to help keep her wolf in check as much as possible. As she gets a bit bigger, Zahara will teach her to use it to control her wolf’s urges as best she can.”
Dominic pinched his nose and stood with Isadora in his arms. She was asleep now, her head resting on his shoulder. Once he had her laid down, he turned back to Zoey.
“She’s unlike anything ever born before, Zoey. The Council … they’ll look into her.”
Zoey’s heart dropped to her feet. “They can’t. Remember what they did to Kalinda? They like that sort of power.”
“Kalinda is the leader of the Trinity Council, so we can keep this quiet for as long as possible, put her in school with only shifters. But if word gets out, it’s the National Council I worry about. There’s never been a wolf and mage union. The fact that I am a wolf and child of a mage will cause enough problems as it is. It’s proof our kinds can mix, Zoey. Proof there is no real separation between us and what that could mean for the power balance.”
Zoey shivered. “She’s just a baby.”
Dominic pulled her into his arms. “I won’t let anyone come for her. Ever. But we have to be smart. She’s going to have to be our best-kept secret for as long as possible.”
Without meaning to, Zoey linked with Dominic, wanting that deeper connection to soothe her. His unflappable belief he’d do anything to protect them blasted across their tie. She relaxed, burying her face in his chest.
“Wonder if you’ll feel what I do if you connect while I’m inside you,” Dominic whispered in her ear.
“Want to go try that out?”
Daddy, hungry. Kill something.
“What was that?”
Dominic sighed. “Our daughter, who seems to be hungry. I suppose we’ll have to wait until later to experiment.”
Chapter Five
