Page 79 of The Alpha Wolf’s Secret Baby Boy

I turn around slowly, lifting my chin as I look back at all the devastation left behind by the dark witches. One of the wolves catches my eye with her russet-red fur, and standing beside her is one of Damian’s oldest friends, Killian.

Damian wasn’t lying when he told me I had nothing to worry about. It’s true—Roxanne and Killian are mates, and that’s why they don’t leave each other’s sides as they approach us.

My authority begins with them—Valley Walker werewolves from Cedar Valley—and that’s why they don’t hesitate when I give them instructions.

“Take your alpha to the Nightclaw clinic. He needs to rest.”

The two wolves nod their furry heads before stepping on either side of me, no questions asked, and I turn back to Damian to find that the torn skin from his wound has already begun to knit together, his breathing no longer labored.

Even then, his eyes remain closed, but relief washes over me because he’s alive.

The alpha of Valley Walker is alive.

My fated mate, the man I love, is still alive.

And even if I don’t know what these newfound powers mean, or why I was chosen to have them, I am just content with having Damian around to help me through this new phase in my life.

If there was one thing I can trust, it’s that I don’t have to do it alone anymore. I did for ten long years, but it’s time I trusted him and let him in.

Chapter 21 - Damian

“Which one do you like better, Danny?”

“Ah, I don’t know, Ma. It’s so hard to choose. They’re all good,” Daniel groans, staring at the platter full of desserts on the table suspended across my lap. He uses his spoon and points to the tiramisu as if he’s finally putting his sword down.

“This one,” he says reluctantly, and a smirk grows across my face.

“That’s my favorite, too,” I chuckle, glancing at Poppy and seeing her eyes twinkling as she stares at our son.

“What about you, Ma? Which one do you like?”

“Hm…” Poppy narrows her eyes at the range of desserts spread out on the table, brought over by my mother this morning.

“I’ll put my bet on the passionfruit cheesecake,” I whisper, throwing a wink at Poppy when she looks up and blushes.

She smiles playfully as she nods slowly. “Yes. That is my favorite. Especially the way Luna Diane makes it.”

Ten years later, some things haven’t changed. Heat crawls on my face as I stare at Poppy, recalling those memories from the past when I used to grab a bowl of Mom’s cheesecake before meeting Poppy on the cliff for a night out.

We’d gaze at the stars as I’d feed spoonfuls of her favorite dessert to her. The only pang of regret I have is that last night on the cliff, when I hesitated to make the obvious choice and claim her as my mate.

There’s also more lingering regret about the weeks leading up to that night, when I’d been pulling away from her without realizing it.

I notice she’s staring at me with confusion etched in her brows, and I clear my throat, turning to Daniel.

“Hey, Danny,” I tap his arm, “have you shown your mom that thing you’ve been keeping for her?”

“Oh, yeah!’ Daniel exclaims, reaching into his pocket before producing the gold chain with the dangling pendant. He holds it out to Poppy. “Here, Ma. I found this when those bad women got you to the warehouse. They ripped it off your neck and threw it aside. The clip is broken.”

Poppy’s lips tremble, her eyes instantly welling with tears as she reaches for the chain. “Oh, Danny…” she whispers. “You found my mother’s necklace. I thought I lost it for good.”

Daniel shakes his head. “Well, I had it with me this whole time. It’s what gave me strength and hope that Dad was gonna save us.”

Poppy lifts her eyes to him as she closes her hand on the necklace, another reaching out to touch his cheek.

“I am so proud of you, Daniel,” she tells him. “And I am so sorry that I didn’t tell you about your father sooner.”

Daniel proudly puffs out his chest as he throws me a smile. “Oh, I kinda knew he was my dad when I met him outside the pack center that one day.” He shrugs. “I dreamt about it that night. That’s why I wasn’t worried when you went missing. I knew you two needed time to talk things through.”