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“Right.” Jaxon rubbed the back of his neck. “So, what do you want to know?”
“Did you kill my mother?” He’d pretty much denied it before, but I needed to hear it again to discern the truth.
“God, no.” Horror etched across his face. “I loved Heather, Tori. I never would’ve harmed her. We were complicated, yes, but I wouldn’t have hurt a single hair on her head.”
“‘Complicated’ doesn’t even begin to cover it.” I recalled the twisted history between my mother and Jaxon. Part of me wanted to believe him, but trust was a fickle bitch.
“Look, I get that this is a lot to process,” Jaxon said softly, his eyes pleading for understanding. “But all I want is a chance to make things right. To be a part of your life, if you’ll let me.”
I fought to steady my breath as I looked at Jaxon. My inner wolf remained calm, which was odd considering the circumstances. But maybe it was a sign that I should at least hear him out. With a small nod, I decided to give it a shot.
“Thank you,” Jaxon said, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“Can I ask you something?” I blurted out before I could stop myself, curiosity getting the better of me. Both Ridge and Jaxon turned their attention to me, and I swallowed hard. “Why didn’t you try to find us? My mother and me, I mean.”
Jaxon’s face crumpled with sadness. “Believe me when I say there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by where I haven’t thought about Heather and wondered what might have been. But she made her choice, and I had to respect that. She wanted nothing more to do with me.”
“Because of who you were?” I asked, my voice barely audible.
“Because of who we both were,” Jaxon said softly. “But that’s all in the past now. We have a chance to start fresh, you and I.”
“Start fresh?” I snorted, unable to hold back my bitterness. “How can you expect me to just forget everything that’s happened?”
“Trust takes time, Tori,” Jaxon said, his expression earnest. “I’m not asking for you to forget or forgive overnight. All I want is the chance to prove myself to you, to show you that I can be the father you deserve.”
“Actions speak louder than words,” Ridge said, his hand resting protectively on the small of my back as he stared Jaxon down, making it clear that he wouldn’t tolerate anything less than the best for me.
“Then let me show you both,” Jaxon said, determination shining in his eyes. “Let me earn your trust, your faith. I know I have a lot to make up for, but I’m willing to try if you are.”
“All right,” I said cautiously, still unsure about this man who claimed to be my father. But everyone deserved a second chance, right?
“I won’t hesitate to kick your ass if you hurt her,” Ridge threatened.
Jaxon clenched his jaw. “I would expect nothing less.”
There were still too many questions. “All right, Jaxon,” I said. “If you didn’t send anyone to kill my mom, then who did? And how could you not know she was dead?” I tried to keep the raw hurt and anger from my voice.
“Like I said, it’s a long story,” he said. “I’ve been in hiding for years now, living on the outskirts of society. After escaping the hunters ten years ago, I’ve had to rely on others for help—bear shifters, lion shifters, vampires, and even witches.”
“Wait,” Ridge interrupted, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Why were you in hiding?”
“Someone sold out the Everwood Pack all those years ago,” Jaxon said with a grimace. “I have no idea who, but I couldn’t trust most wolf shifters after that. My entire pack was hunted down until there were just two of us left—me and my best friend, my second. He vanished five years ago, and I’ve been alone ever since.”
My mind raced as I considered the implications of what he was saying. Had someone really betrayed the Everwood Pack? If so, why? And could we trust this man?
“Living like that must have been difficult,” I said with a flicker of sympathy for his plight.
“You don’t know the half of it,” Jaxon said with a bitter laugh. “I survived. I’m still here, and now I’ve found my daughter. I never would’ve imagined I’d get this chance.”
My heart ached with conflicting emotions. “Neither did I.”
“Jaxon, do you think whoever sold out your pack could be responsible for Heather’s death?” Ridge asked cautiously, resting his hand on my shoulder.
“Maybe,” Jaxon said, his eyes darkening. “Probably. I can’t say for sure, but it’s more than possible. Someone in one of the other packs hated me enough to destroy everything I had, so who’s to say they wouldn’t have gone after Heather, too?”
“Whoever did this...” My voice trembled as I fought back tears. “They’ll pay. I swear it.”
“Agreed,” Jaxon said, his eyes meeting mine with fierce resolve. “We’ll find them. And we’ll make them answer for what they’ve done.”
