AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jaxon hesitated for a moment before answering so quietly, I almost couldn’t hear him. “I don’t know, but I promise you this: I will do everything in my power to help you find out the truth. And if it means bringing whoever is responsible to justice, then so be it.”
“Fine,” I hissed. “But don’t think for a second that I trust you. Not yet.”
“Understood,” he said solemnly. “I wouldn’t expect anything less. I never thought I’d get the chance to meet you, Tori. I only wish it could’ve been under better circumstances.”
“Better circumstances?” I snorted, my voice laced with sarcasm. “You mean, like not finding out my mother’s killer could be my own flesh and blood?”
Ridge wrapped an arm around my waist protectively. “Let’s not jump to conclusions here,” he whispered in my ear.
Jaxon raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Sorry, I don’t want to start off on the wrong foot. But I have to say, learning that I have a daughter and a son-in-law all in one day makes me feel extremely blessed.”
“Son-in-law?” Ridge raised an eyebrow, but he was trying to suppress a smile. I swatted his chest.
“Engaged, not married,” I corrected, though my cheeks warmed at the reminder. “And we’re still figuring things out. So maybe hold off on the fatherly advice for now, if ever.”
“Fair enough,” Jaxon agreed, his eyes flicking between Ridge and me. “But I just want you both to know how happy I am that you found each other. I never got the chance to experience love like that, and I would not wish that loneliness on anyone.”
“Especially not your daughter.” The thoughts of what could have been threatened to consume me. If only things had been different.
“Especially not you,” Jaxon confirmed, his eyes filled with a sincerity that I couldn’t bring myself to doubt.
“Okay.” I drew in a deep breath, trying to keep my emotions in check. “But just so we’re clear, we’re not one big happy family. There’s still a lot we need to know, and there are some serious trust issues to work through.”
“Understood,” Jaxon nodded. “I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your trust, Tori. You have my word.”
“Your word?” I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. “That’s not worth much around here, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“Give him a chance, Tori,” Ridge said softly, his fingers tracing soothing circles on my hip. “We can’t hold everyone to the same standard. People can change.”
“Fine,” I huffed, though there was a part of me that wanted—no, needed—to believe that Jaxon was being genuine.
Ridge stepped forward, his posture protective as he placed himself between me and Jaxon. “Before we go any further, I think proper introductions are in order. I’m Ridge Blackwood, alpha of the Northeast Pack.”
“Blackwood,” Jaxon repeated, his eyebrows raising in surprise. “I’ve heard of your family.”
“Of course you have,” I muttered, anticipating the judgmental tone most people used when talking about Ridge’s family. But instead, Jaxon simply extended his hand.
“Jaxon Hyde.” He shook Ridge’s hand firmly. “Your reputation precedes you, Alpha Blackwood. I respect what you’ve done for your pack.”
“Thanks,” Ridge said cautiously, still on guard but visibly easing up a bit. “What brought you here, Jaxon?”
“Dean told me the news as soon as he could. I had to come to Blackwood Creek right away.”
“Did he now?” I raised an eyebrow, glancing at Dean, who was grinning like a maniac.
“Sure did,” Dean said, clearly enjoying himself. “I even got him this ‘You’re a Papa’ badge. Thought it was spot-on with the delivery.”
“Very funny.” Jaxon rolled his eyes in a way that was eerily similar to my own. He turned back to Dean, his tone shifting to something more serious. “Why don’t you head into town, Dean? We’ll catch up later.”
“Sure thing, boss man.” Dean winked at me and Ridge before sauntering off, leaving the three of us alone in the woods.
Ridge’s gaze locked onto mine, silently asking if I wanted to continue talking to Jaxon. The wolf inside me didn’t sense any threat from him, but trust was hard to come by these days. I hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.
“All right, then. Let’s get this conversation started.” I tried to look unfazed despite the tornado of emotions inside me.
“First off, I want to say how happy I am to have found you, Tori,” Jaxon began, the sincerity in his words making it difficult for me to stay guarded. “I never knew about you, and the thought of having a daughter is…overwhelming, to say the least.”
“Save the father-of-the-year speech,” I snapped. “We have more important things to discuss.”
