Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,58

the guys."

Shit. Double shit. No, triple shit! That was certainly going to be complicated. Then again, my daughter was a wolf now, and she understood that some things weren't suitable for humans. My brain spun at a million miles an hour, but I decided to just trust my child for once, and hope that her new-found wolfy maturity would work in my favor.

"You know that we can't tell anyone outside of the pack about that, right? Most people would not understand alphas and their betas, so I'm just dating Ian."

"Oh, I know," she said. "And Olivia said that my dad would probably use it to try to take me from you, just to get even. I just wasn't sure if, you know, you were going to tell your parents you were seeing someone now."

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. The second try was only slightly better. "Um, I think I am."

"Yeah?" she asked. "So, it's serious, then? Like, you're back with them and everything's ok?"

I held up a hand. "It's complicated because I'm not a wolf, and you know that. So please do not make me explain it. But, yes. We have the new doctor, and she's been explaining a lot of things to me." I slid into a chair at the bar and gestured for her to give me some of the food that was going cold on the stove. "Gabby, I like them. A lot."

She slid half of the quesadilla onto a plate and passed it over, then put the rest of the second half on a plate for herself. "I do too. I mean, they're cute. We both know that, but it's... They're like the kind of dads I always wanted, you know? I dunno, they make me feel good about the stuff I'm doing, even when I screw things up like when I decided to turn without talking to Ian."

Which made me happier than I wanted to admit. "They make me happy, and I know it's really fast after I left your father, but I promise I wasn't intending to meet anyone."

She claimed the spot beside me. "I only said that because I was mad, Mom. I know you weren't."

"But it's still got to be hard to see your mother dating," I said, glancing over.

Gabby just shrugged. "The more time we're away from Dad, the more I realize just how much better it is here. I mean, you smile so much now. And all of my school stuff - I mean, I'm going to be the Cheshire Cat! They're going to come watch, and did you know that they've been helping build the props? This is my play, and I'm not even their kid, but they're still proud of me for doing it."

"I am too," I told her. "Did you know that every day, I am so glad that you decided to become a wolf? I wish you'd talked to me, but I understand - now - why you didn't. No, it doesn't make that right, but I do understand. I also know that sometimes I can be wrong, and every so often you can be right, and it makes me realize that you're going to grow up into an amazing woman."

"Mom," she said, dragging it out. "I'm wearing mascara. Don't make me sniffle."

So I leaned over and bumped my arm against hers, having to tilt quite a bit since the bar stools weren't that close together. "Well, I am proud of you. And we're going to make sure that your quincea帽era is perfect for a teenage Latina wolf, because no matter what, you should not forget your heritage."

"So..." She paused to take a bite, glancing at me from the side of her eye. "Maybe I can start actually dating Roman again?"

"Don't push it," I warned her.

"Mom!" she whined. "He's still my boyfriend, but we can't even see each other outside of school!"

"And I know you take the longest way home possible. You should just be glad that I actually let him give you a ride. Gabby, what you did? It was stupid and dangerous. Most parents wouldn't let you ever see that boy again, so be glad I'm a pushover. Roman went against his alpha's direct orders, and this is his punishment. Until he proves that he can be trusted, no. I'm sorry, but he has not earned back that right. He went against his alpha's order. Now, if you want to talk to Ian about it, then fine."

She paused with her mouth