Page 84 of The Alpha Wolf’s Secret Baby Boy

“So, it’s true, then. Jackson wasn’t working independently.”

I nod. “But Cyrus has been keeping an eye on the abandoned building. They put up surveillance all around town.”

Poppy shakes her head slowly. “They’re hiding behind ancient runes and wards somewhere on the outskirts of town. I saw a waterfall, and a very dark cave…”

I press my lips into a firm line, clenching my jaw. “We’ll need to take this information to the council.”

Poppy agrees with a firm nod. “They’re planning something big, Damian. I just couldn’t see it. They’re afraid of me for some reason, and they won’t come out of hiding any time soon.”

“We need to be prepared.”

I go around the room, picking up our clothes, and take them back to her. Poppy lifts her eyes to meet mine.

“Damian…”

“Yes?”

“For some reason, I’m not afraid,” she whispers.

Smiling gently, I lift a hand to her cheek. “It doesn’t change things. It is still my duty to protect you and Daniel. You never have to do anything alone again.”

She touches the top of my hand, closing her eyes as she nuzzles into my touch. “I know.”

I smirk in satisfaction, then press a kiss to her lips, feeling her necklace still in my pocket.

“Then let us work as a team from now on.”

“A team?” She looks up and smiles at me. “I think we can do that.”

As our lips meet again for a soft kiss full of promise, my heart swells with pride.

Maybe it was hard to be the alpha of Valley Walker only because I thought I needed to do it on my own.

But with Poppy on my side, I feel like anything is possible, because we’re a team.

Poppy, Daniel, and me.

Epilogue - Poppy

One Week Later

There’s a fine line between love and hatred, and it’s not as clear as two red lines on a pregnancy test.

But this time, when I meet my reflection in the mirror, it isn’t fear that trickles down my spine, or dread that twists in my gut.

I see myself differently now, through the eyes of a lover who isn’t afraid to love me out loud, and through the eyes of the Moon Goddess who has shown me who I truly am.

That’s why I’m wearing a pleased smile at the breakfast table, watching my mate and our son flip pancakes, their laughter filling the kitchen.

My tummy rumbling finally pulls me out of my thoughts.

“Are you two ever gonna be done?” I giggle playfully, and Daniel turns around with a broad, charming smile. With every day that passes, he looks more and more like his father.

“Almost done, Ma,” he assures me and holds up a plate for Damian, who slides a pancake onto it. That’s when Daniel hops off his chair and comes skipping toward me with the agility and finesse that belong to someone carrying both alpha and witch genes in his blood.

I don’t exactly know what that means right now, but I’m just happy to see Daniel adjusting to his life here in Cedar Valley with his father and grandmother under the same roof. He doesn’t seem to remember much about the kidnapping, but I suspect that it has to do with who he is, and how strong and resilient he’s growing up to be.

I still haven’t figured out why I have these powers. Aoife and the Golden Raven Sisters seem to think that I display the signs of some prophecy amongst the coven, especially after that vision I had that showed me where the dark witches are hiding, but I refuse to accept such a weighted claim.