I swallowed thickly, looking around the empty shifter cemetery. The elders kept the place looking nice, the grass was mowed and flowers grew in abundance. The cemetery was located in the middle of the forest, near the elder’s headquarters. It was exactly like a human cemetery, but we chose to bury our dead here and not with other humans.
“A lot has happened since you left us, dad. I met my mate. Her name is Sophie and she’s the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen,” I smiled, running my fingers through my hair. “We’re having a baby. I’m going to be a dad…that really blows my mind.”
I sat down on the grassy ground and stared at the headstone.
“Any advice for me?”
Of course he didn’t answer. I wished he would though. I had no clue what I was doing. Being an Alpha, a husband, and now a father…it was all a bit much. My dad had been amazing father to Bryce and I, as well as an exceptional Alpha. He wasn’t groomed to be an Alpha, but when his best friend, Sophie’s dad, left the position to him, he never looked back. Everyone respected him. He could be tough when he needed to be, but at the end of the day he had heart. I knew I wasn’t as good of a leader as my dad had been, but I was trying. I hoped I made him proud, wherever he was.
I picked up a blade of grass and twisted it between my fingers.
“I miss you,” I admitted, plucking up more grass and getting more dirt under my fingernails.
I sat there for a while longer, before I stood and headed back to my Jeep.
I wasn’t ready to go back home—I knew that was wrong of me, but it was true. Reading book after book, hoping for some information was getting exhausting. Plus, I was worried sick about Sophie and the baby. I was trying to hide my worry from her, but I knew Sophie saw through my façade. She had always been way to perceptive. It was one of the many reasons I loved her.
I started up the Jeep, following the dirt road back out to civilization.
Since I wasn’t ready to go home, I headed to my mom’s house.
“Bryce?” She called out when the front door opened.
“No, it’s me,” I replied, heading into the kitchen. The scent of homemade fried chicken filled the air, making my stomach rumble.
She turned away from the counter and a big smile spread across her face when she saw me. “Are you here for dinner?”
“I wasn’t planning on it but,” I sniffed the air, “I’m reconsidering.”
“I hope you stay,” she turned back to the counter and continued battering the chicken. “Where’s Sophie?”
“Home,” I shrugged.
She glanced at me over her shoulder and her brows raised. “I don’t remember the last time you two have ever been without the other.”
“Ha, ha, ha,” I leaned against the doorway, crossing my arms over my chest. “She’s on bed rest.”
“Bed rest?” She washed her hands, wiping them on a towel as she faced me.
“Yeah,” I shrugged, pushing my hair out of my eyes. I really needed to get it cut, but since getting my haircut was my least favorite thing ever, I avoided it at all costs. “Apparently since I’m an Alpha, and Sophie’s an Alpha, it can make the baby really strong. Basically, she’s draining Sophie. Lucinda said Soph might lose the ability to shift.”
“She? The baby’s a girl? I didn’t know you could find out the gender this soon.”
“Well, we don’t actually know,” I admitted. “I just think it’s a girl.”
“What if it’s a boy?” She smiled.
“I’ll still be happy. But it’s a girl. I know it.”
She laughed at me. “So, if you’re not here to eat, why are you here?”
“I needed to get away for a while,” I scratched my chin.
She frowned. “Want to talk about it?”
I squirmed. I was a guy, I never really talked to my mom about anything. But it was pack business that had gotten under my skin, so I should have been able to talk to her. But I was too scared about the possibility of a mole that I just shook my head. I’d never thought I would keep secrets like this from my mom. Thanks to Travis, I trusted no one. Except Sophie. Despite what I told her, I didn’t trust Nolan. I was testing him, trying to find loose strands to his story. So far though, he was solid. I just couldn’t figure out if he really returned because we heard we were in trouble. From the time we were boys, Nolan had always been secretive, and he was my friend and I wanted to trust him, but he had to earn it first.
“Not really,” I finally answered after the lengthy pause.
“You know I’m always here for you,” she smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.