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Tristan
Tristan could not help it. He was smitten with Violet, even after everything she had done.
He knew she planned to leave. And he followed her. He didn't even really mean to. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable or push her. But he had to see her one last time, especially if she was leaving.
If she actually leaves the state, I'm not going to follow her.
He knew that was easier said than done. His wolf was pushing at him, trying to take over. His wolf wanted to see her one last time.
So he followed her, and then he got the shock of his life. She was rushing down the sidewalk toward a bus stop. There was a little girl with her. Not just a little girl, but a pup, a young wolf shifter.
She looked between the ages of five and seven; Tristan was only sure of that because of Eliza.
It was obvious that the child was his. He wasn't sure how he'd missed her presence earlier. He could feel a steady warmth in his chest from his wolf that said: mine mine mine.
That was his flesh and blood. He recognized her with every fiber of his being.
Now he understood. He knew he should be enraged. Part of him was angry. Angry that she kept the child from him. But the rest of him understood. She had been trying to protect her daughter. She'd grown up in a terribly repressive pack and did not want the same fate for her daughter. She must think that he would inflict that kind of abuse.
Of course, he wouldn't.
He had to get closer. He let go of all the frustration and put a small smile on his face. Then, he stopped near the bus stop a few feet away. "Hey."
Violet jumped, obviously startled. She must've really been in a fog if she had not felt him coming. She was a bright spot in his mind, and his daughter was a close second.
She immediately shoved her daughter behind her back. “What are you doing here?”
He instinctively held up his hands. “I just want to talk.”
The little girl peeked around her mother’s legs. Her round eyes looked exactly like Tristan’s sister’s eyes. He already knew she was his, but that just confirmed it.
“Hi,” he said to her.
“Hi,” the girl said back.
“Do not speak to her!” Violet snapped.
“Violet. Come on. I can tell.” He made a face that he hoped showed that he knew she was his daughter, and that Violet couldn't keep hiding that fact.
Violet’s face paled. She’d clearly thought he wouldn't put two and two together. Did she think he was an idiot? Maybe she did.
“I’m not going to do anything crazy. I just want to talk,” he insisted. “Do you want to take her home first, or do you want to go to a park so she can play while we talk?”
“I want to go to a park,” the girl said. “Mommy!” She bounced up and down, tugging on her mother’s arm.
Violet glared at him, shooting him the most acidic look he’d ever seen on her face.
"Thanks a lot,” she mouthed, glaring at him.
He didn't care how angry she was. He did not enjoy upsetting her, but he was going to speak to her, and he was done letting her dictate the rules. When it was just the two of them, he could accept that. But now that he knew there was a pup involved, his perspective had changed drastically.
"There's a park not far from here. It belongs to a school so there won't be anyone there right now, most likely."
"School!" the little girl said. "I want to go to school."
"Well, most schools are out for the summer,” he said. “But there are some camps around."
"I want to go to a camp. Can I, Mom?"
