Billionaire Wolf's MateDate - Serena Meadows Page 0,11

cups of coffee sitting in front of them, Jacob began the story he knew so well: the story that had shaped his life and made him what he was today. Feeling Jacob’s words take him back to the moment when he knew his life would never be the same, that moment when he finally stood up to his father and broke free of his evil influence.

“I was thirteen when you were born, a surprise baby after years of our parents trying for another son,” Jacob said. “Everyone knew that father was disappointed that you were a girl, but most thought that it would pass, and it probably would have. You were a beautiful baby, and everyone said that you look just like him, but there was one person who thought she could benefit from his displeasure.”

Reggie was getting more and more uncomfortable, wondering how Jacob was going to leave him out of the story, but stayed as still as the rest, pretending to be absorbed. “Our mother had enemies, just being in the position she was in was reason enough, and it didn’t take much to get our father to believe that she’d cheated on him. A little word there, a sly comment cast out in public to feed the rumor hounds, and soon, everyone, including him, was convinced you weren’t his child.”

The color slowly drained from Janice’s face. “He sent us away,” she said.

Jacob shook his head. “That’s not the way it works in the clan; a cheating spouse, whether man or woman, is executed,” he said. “Father had already begun the petition to have her charged with adultery, with a little urging from the woman who would later become our step-mother, when I helped her escape with you.”

“How old was I?” Janice asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“You were just about to turn three,” Jacob said. “You were into everything, asking questions, and... well, it was hard to let you go, but I knew it was the only way to keep you safe.”

“What would have happened to me?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“You would have been put up for adoption, and in the clan, that means a childhood of labor, or worse. Orphans aren’t cared for very well,” Jacob said, his voice level but anger simmering under the surface.

“If all this is true, why are you here now?” Janice asked. “Why contact me after all these years? I was just fine the way things were.”

“I’m sorry to disrupt your life,” Jacob said. “But I couldn’t let you go on not knowing the truth, and since father has changed his mind and is now claiming that you are his child, I didn’t think I could wait any longer. I don’t know if he’s aware that I’m the one who helped you escape all those years ago, but if he really tries, he’ll find you.”

***Janice***

Janice let Jacob’s words filter into her brain, then said, “I want to meet him.”

There was an eruption from everyone at the table. “Janice, he tried to have you thrown away,” Jemma said. “They used to do that same thing in my clan until we put a stop to it.”

“I don’t care. I’ve spent my entire life wondering about my father, thinking that he abandoned my mother before I was born. I need to meet him, I need to see what kind of a man he is for myself,” she said. “Maybe he’s sorry. Maybe he wants to make amends.”

Jacob shook his head. “Janice, that’s not what’s going to happen,” he said. “There’s a lot more going on than I have time to explain to you tonight, but I promise you, the best thing for you to do is to hide a little deeper. Give me some time to get the situation under control, just a few weeks; we can find someplace safe for you to stay until then.”

She looked around the table. “But this is my home; these are my friends,” she said, suddenly angry. “I’m not going to give up my life because of a man who didn’t care about me for twenty-four years, but I do want to meet him, to look him in the eye, to tell him that he messed up.”

“Janice, maybe you should listen to Jacob,” Reggie said, making her whip her head around. “Give it some time.”

She felt the flare of attraction but pushed it away. “I’ve wasted enough time thinking about him; it’s time to finally meet him,” she said, giving Reggie a dirty look. “What