?


    - Cleo -


    I reach for my phone without hesitation, Jace was a half of this story.


    This child was his and he has a right to know.


    "Can Ie by the hotel, it''s important? x" I write the text message out, taking in a deep calming breath of air before pressing send.


    With all the attempts from numerous people to get a hold of him and with no response, most think he has changed numbers...but something is telling me to trust my gut.


    That he has kept the same number that he is just choosing not to respond to them.


    I move back into my bedroom, catching my side profile in the mirror.


    I can''t see any signs of a bump yet, but it was still early days. It would perhaps exin why my wolf has been more tired ofte..thinking of it, I haven''t actually shifted for a while.


    There hasn''t been the need, not even during training. It is wet season and all training has been inside in the gym.


    My mobile beeps, a notification of a message...I reach for it, not expecting it to be Jace so soon but as his name lights up on my home screen...I have to sit down on the edge of my bed.


    "Hey, I''m actually home. Back at the Dark Phantom pack, here for a few days."


    He was back?


    He was back at the Dark Phantom pack...and didn''t tell me?


    If I hadn''t of text, would I have even known.


    It doesn''t matter, I need to see him, I need to tell him the good news...the hard part was over with, he was back.


    Somehow the universe had been able to get him home for me.


    Now the news I have might be able to make him stay, make him realise he has responsibilities to his parents, to his pack...that he needs to ept his birth right and im the alpha title of the Clear Waters pack.


    "Where are you going in a hurry?" My brother Ares calls out as I pass him on the stairs. Hearing themotion, Dad stops heading towards his office and waits for me at the bottom of the stairs, cing his hand out to take mine just as I spring off thest step.


    "I''m going to Maya''s, I''ll be backter." I hated bringing Maya in as an excuse but I know she is good for it.


    She''ll have my back and with her pack being neighbouring to the Dark Phantom, it was easier to bring her name in, than the real answer.


    To say that I was going to the Dark Phantom pack, it would just open a whole world of questioning from Dad and Ares...and I didn''t have the time right now.


    "Take the car outside, I''ve just filled it up with fuel."


    "Thanks Dad, you''re the best." I tip toe to his great height, nting a kiss on the side of his face. Tattoos littered across his skin, something that even in middle agepletely suits him. I couldn''t imagine him any other way.


    “I know that, just drive carefully and text me when there.” He responds, cing the thin cigarillo cigar from the signature spot of behind his ear and moving it to his lips in preparation of lighting.


    "I''ll be fine.." I call out, ignoring his inquisitive dark stare as I feel it burn into the back of my head.


    I always found bending the truth to Dad difficult, he always had a way of getting the truth out of me. Maybe it was his alpha instincts.


    The drive always took a couple of hours between the Red Thorn and Dark Phantom pack, usually fitting a stop in-between but I couldn''t find it in myself to break.


    I wanted to get to him as soon as possible, wanted to share this exciting news.