Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“I want to know that, too.” I crossed my arms over my chest mimicking Rob.
“There is no statute of limitations on being a good mother,” Soraya said.
“No, there isn’t,” I agreed, giving her a pointed look.
“See, he agrees.” Parker pointed my way.
“I agreed on her statement,” I snapped. “Her statement doesn’t indicate that she, personally, is in fact, a good mother.”
Soraya’s green eyes narrowed, and she looked murderous. “She’s coming with me. You can’t stop me. If you try, there’s a council member, an alpha, and an enforcer here to witness to what we can all agree is against pack rules.”
“Not this pack,” Rob growled. “And you’re in my pack territory.”
“I am a council member,” Parker snapped back. Council members comprised shifters’ governing law. They were the judges of our kind. They outranked alphas.
“Your council doesn’t rule this territory,” Rob continued.
“I had a feeling you’d pull this kind of bullshit,” Soraya huffed.
It was my turn to narrow my gaze at how she had me cornered. I hated this woman. I wanted to wish I’d never laid eyes upon her, let alone fucked her, but she gave me Remy, and for that, I wouldn’t change a thing.
“That’s why I stopped at the sheriff’s office before I came,” Soraya bit out. “The human law enforcement. I filed kidnapping charges on you for taking my daughter. They should be here any minute to arrest you and ensure I get custody.”
32
JOY
I felt no better today than I had after crying myself to sleep last night, but I wasn’t my mother.
I wasn’t going to stay in bed with my covers over my head for days at a time.
So I dragged myself out of bed at Mom’s and went to my studio to work on a replacement platter for the shipment that had broken.
There was a strange truck and car parked in front of Wes’ house.
Soraya would be over there now, arguing her right to take Remy.
God, it took everything in my power not to run over there and back him up. To tell her what a wonderful father Wes was. How much he cared for Remy. How she was his entire world.
But I would only make things worse. I would only hurt his case.
So I perched on my stool at my painting table. A paintbrush was in one hand, the once-baked platter in the other. It was time to get it glazed, along with the few other pieces that were ready, before I gave them the final fire in the kiln.
“Joy!”
I spun around at Remy’s little voice.
She ran to me and wrapped herself around my legs in an awkward hug. I set my things down and hugged her back. My chest constricted like a tight band was wrapped around my ribs.
“What are you doing here?” I asked her.
It had only been a day, but I missed her.
“Does your dad know you’re over here?”
She shook her head against my thighs. I picked her up and plopped her on the table. One of her rain boots fell off and dropped to the concrete floor.
“Sweetie, you aren’t allowed to be here without your dad’s permission. Remember how scared he was last time?”
“That smelly lady is here,” she said, cutting me off.
Right. I looked up but couldn’t see through the garage wall to Wes’ house. Were they trying to take Remy? Was she over here hiding?
“Soraya?” I didn’t know if Wes had told her that she was her mother.
Remy’s eyes filled with tears. “Her. She says I have to go with her. You have to come and tell them you’re my real mommy, and I don’t need her.”
Oh boy. Instantly, tears sprung to my eyes. “That’s not how it works, sweetie. She is your mommy.”
Remy shook her head, and her eyes filled with tears. “SHE IS NOT!” she shouted. “I WON’T GO WITH HER!”
I didn’t blame her one bit. If there was a moment for a tantrum, this was it.
“Your daddy is making it right. Don’t you worry.”
He’d prove to Soraya that he and I weren’t together. How, I had no idea, but he’d do it. He was that good of a father and protector.
“I want to stay here with you,” she cried.
I shook my head. “Nope. Your dad is going to put you in time out for running off again. Plus, we need to get you back before he worries.”
I’d take her to her back deck and make sure she went inside. I didn’t dare have a four-year-old walk back to her house, even if it was only thirty feet door to door, by herself. Plus, Remy had a very bad–and dangerous–habit of running off. I didn’t trust her not to run because she was so upset and could get hurt.
I scooped her up, set her on her feet, got the boot back on, and took her hand. “Come on, before your dad worries.”