Daphne and I chat amiably on the way to breakfast, her telling me all the things she wants to see in the city, me giving my own recommendations. But when we turn into the breakfast room, I go a little still to see that it’s just my dad sitting at the head of the table, having a quiet cup of coffee w
“It wasn’t…hard,” dad says, leaning back in his chair and thinking about it. “But it was different. It wasn’t like yours – I met your mother long after I met Lydia, and we had enough trouble figuring out that your mom was a wolf before we ever figured out that she was my mate. I think that had I met
My dad sits quietly by me as I finish telling him what Jackson and Luca have asked of me, as I wipe a few stray tears from my eyes. Dad is strong and stoic as I speak – the rock in my life that I always need him to be, letting me feel my pain and sitting quietly by me as I do. And when it passes, he
I burst into a grin and then I’m out of my chair, reaching for my dad, who pulls me into a warm bear hug as he laughs. I hug him back, likewise laughing, so grateful that he always knows the right thing to say. “Thanks, dad,” I murmur, tucking my face down against his neck. “I love you, baby troub
Luca’s gym is…loud. My eyes go wide as Conner and I step inside, as I take in the dozens of people all working out. There three boxing rings spread out across the long room, and then at least fifteen large punching bags hang from the ceiling in the area to my left. Weaving in between them are a gr
My eyebrows go up, because Luca’s told me about his uncle – the man who raised him, kept him out of trouble, turned him into the champion he is today. “Uncle,” Luca says, grinning at the older man and slipping his hand out of the first glove, starting on the second himself now that the first is go
Luca, true to his word, showers quickly, continuing to tell me about his morning and how his uncle kicked the crap out of him, not impressed at all by anything that he learned at the Academy and taking the day to drill back into him all of his old techniques. “I mean,” Luca says, turning off the s
“Ariel,” Luca sighs, shaking his head and smiling as he turns back to me, buttoning his pants. “It’s not going to happen like this.” “What’s not going to happen!?” I ask, tossing out a hand. “It’s…” Luca says, his emphasis on the word, and his raised eyebrow making it very clear what he means, “