Shadow Mate - Jen L. Grey Page 0,72

words threw me off balance. "This doesn't make any sense."

Liam tensed beside me, but he kept a strong hold on my hand.

"It was love at first sight. Within a week, we were mated, and after several weeks of spending time together alone, we came back home. I didn't realize he'd be killed that same week we made it home." She clutched her heart as tears sprang to her eyes. "You see, the four members were doing something corrupt. Something that he realized was wrong. So when he went to confront them that night about it, he never came home."

"This isn't making any sense. Why would he be involved with the council?" I glanced at Dad, but he avoided my gaze.

"Honey, your father was Brent Forrest." Her eyes met mine.

That name was so familiar. My brain rushed to process it all. "What … The Overseer?"

"How is that possible?" Liam jumped to his feet and paced around the room. "He wasn't expecting."

"No, we were. We had just found out and didn’t share the news with anyone. He said he couldn't bring his baby into this world with what the council had planned. He was going to alert all the packs of what they were doing. He told me if he didn't make it back to run." She took a deep breath. "I waited until that next morning before I disappeared."

"You're not my dad?" My eyes went straight to Dad … Or Ethan. I didn't even know what to call him anymore.

"Oh, baby. I'll always be your dad if you'll have me." Tears filled his dark eyes. "You've been a light in my life."

"Wait... Max is older than me." It felt as though I couldn't breathe. "Are you not his mother?"

She shook her head no. "Not in the biological sense, but he is my son in every way that counts."

"You knew she was supposed to become the next Overseer, but you hid her?" Liam pulled me into his arms, but his body was tense. "Are you sure the council was involved with his disappearance?"

"Yes. Brent had said that if he didn't make it back, I needed to run and hide the baby. No matter what happened to protect our child." Mom's body seemed to deflate as she paced in front of us. "He said that if his heir was to step into the role the way it currently worked, they wouldn't be made strong and selfless but full of hatred and self-interest. So I did the best I knew how. A couple of months before the end of my pregnancy, I found a man that I loved, and together we raised a close, tight family."

"Where is Max's biological mom?" This had to be a nightmare. I'd gladly pinch myself and wake up.

"She died too." Dad took a deep breath and blew it out. "Your mom and I found a second chance at love with one another. I had a son that was barely a year old, and she was about to have you. Somehow, together, we found a glimmer of happiness in our darkest time. That's why we always pushed you and Max to stay close and not compete with one another. We knew how blessed we were to have another chance at love."

"But you lost your fated." I couldn't imagine what it'd be like if I lost Liam.

"And it hurt like hell, but life moves on. Even though we can never love each other like we loved our fated, it's enough to be content and watch our babies grow." Tears dripped down my mother's face.

The world seemed to crumble, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. “Does Max know?”

“No, he doesn’t.” Mom wiped her cheeks and met my gaze. “Obviously, we have to tell him now. We had always planned to tell you both, but the time never seemed right.”

Dad stood from his seat and held his arms out to me. “I know I’m not your father by blood, but I love you as if you were my own little girl and always have. That’s why I was so happy when you got the acceptance letter from Wolf Moon. You deserved that chance just as much as Max. Hell, probably more so. I always saw how much you held back for him. I just hope you can forgive me and still let me be part of your life.”

He thought I was giving up on him. I rushed into his arms and held on tight. “You’re my father. Nothing in the world would