“You,” I replied. “I know what you were doing, trying to keep me distracted, and I thought it was adorable. But to be honest, I haven’t a clue what you were saying,” I admitted sheepishly.
He laughed as he set the second plate down and sat down at the bar beside me. He turned and faced me, taking my hands in his.
“Chelsea, I know this is all a lot to process, but I need you to know that I would never hurt you. I had no idea that looking into your past would put you in danger, and I’m sorry that I brought this on you. But I will keep you safe,” he assured me. I could see the sincerity on his face.
“I know, Zeke. I’ve known since the first night I met you that you would never hurt me. The rest, you couldn’t have known,” I replied sincerely. I looked down at our joined hands, not realizing until this moment that I needed to feel his touch.
“I don’t blame you for any of this. In fact, whatever it is that is in my past, I need to know. You started that for me, and I’m grateful. I tried, but I could never find any answers. Whatever it is that someone is trying to hide, I think it’s time to be unburied,” I said softly. I had never meant anything more. I needed the truth.
I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Zeke’s cheek. It was all I could handle at the moment, but I needed him to know that I was not upset with him. If he really was a shifter, and if I really was one as well, he was not the one to blame. That, and I loved him. But I wasn’t quite ready to say that out loud.
There was a companionable silence between us as we ate, but just Zeke’s presence beside me was enough. It was about an hour later that Brady returned with my suitcase and our left over food from the restaurant the day before. Zeke and I were still sitting at the bar talking softly.
The bags of take-out food went into the fridge, and Zeke set my suitcase in the hallway leading to his bedroom. I guess that would be where I was staying while I was here, but I was okay with that.
“Well, I guess we know what’s for dinner tonight. Zeke bought enough at lunch yesterday to feed a small army,” I told Brady, and he chuckled.
“Well, if you are feeding an army, Zeke, that brings me to another question. Do you want Emily and me to stay here? At least for tonight?” Brady asked Zeke. He turned and looked at me.
“Chelsea, would you like some company tonight?” Zeke asked me. I thought about that for a moment. Some female company might be nice, and Zeke had already told me that Emily was a shifter as well.
“I think that’s a great idea,” I finally replied. “I’m sure once everything finally sinks in that I’m going to have a ton of questions. Having a woman around might help make me feel more normal,” I continued softly.
I hoped that neither of them took offense by that. Glancing up quickly, I realized that they hadn’t. This was what was normal for them. Wolves, danger, the suspense with their jobs. But this was so not normal for me, and I knew that I would never find that “normal” again. Everything had changed now, and the future was so uncertain.
We made our way back into the living room after saying goodbye again to Brady. He was going to go home and pack and would be back later with Emily. Zeke and I sat down on the couch once again. His hand reached for mine, and I studied our laced fingers.
“Zeke, I want to know more,” I told him, but I could not bring myself to look up at him. He leaned back against the couch and slipped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me against him.
“This isn’t going to be easy, Chelsea,” he said softly. I snuggled into his chest. Whatever he was going to tell me, I needed to hear it. Besides, it couldn’t be any worse than telling me I had a wolf inside me.
“I know, Zeke. But I need to know. Tell me whatever you know,” I told him softly. He took a deep breath.
“Your biological mother was murdered just after your adoption,” he said softly, and I quickly turned my head and looked up at him. His face held concern, and I knew it was for me.
“I had only uncovered that she had died. I never thought to look into how she died,” I told him. That changed everything.
“What if the same people who killed her are the ones after me?” I asked him anxiously.
“That is what Brady and I are assuming. He has more to tell when he gets back. He was working on a lead, but I don’t know what he found out yet. I was more concerned with how to tell you about…well, I knew it was all going to be upsetting. I didn’t want to hurt you, but I needed for you to know the truth,” he said gently. I nodded in agreement.
“I needed to know. I still don’t know what to think, but like you said, I think I just need some time to process everything. I’m still finding it all difficult to believe. I mean, are you sure that I have a wolf inside me? It’s just so unbelievable,” I told him.
I heard his sigh, and his arm tightened around me. Maybe I just needed time. Just then, I heard the chime of the doorbell, and Zeke tensed beside me.
“Go into the bedroom and lock the door. Don’t come out until I tell you it’s safe,” he told me, lifting me quickly to my feet. I didn’t question him but headed through the kitchen and into the bedroom. I locked the door behind me as he had told me to.
Looking around the room, I wondered where the best place would be to hide if necessary. I looked over at the bathroom door and knew that I would go there if something happened. Hopefully, I could find something in there to use as a weapon.
My body was trembling, and my adrenaline was rushing through me. I did not have time to be scared. I waited for what seemed like an eternity before I heard a knock at the bedroom door. My body froze, and I looked towards the door.
“Chelsea, it’s okay. You can come out now,” Zeke called through the closed door. I quickly made my way across the room and threw the door open. Then I threw myself into his arms. His arms came around me and held me tightly against his chest.
“I’m sorry I scared you. I just don’t think we can be too careful right now,” he said gently. Then I heard a woman’s voice.
“Are you going to introduce me to this hunk of a man you found?” the familiar voice said. Jessica?
I pushed away from Zeke until I could see the woman standing behind him. Jessica was here in Tucson. Confusion filled me, but I ran towards her and threw my arms around her. When I stepped back, I looked over at Zeke.
“Jessica, meet Ezekiel. Zeke, this is my best friend, Jessica,” I explained. “Jessica, what in the world are you doing here?” I asked her, looking back at my best friend.
She sighed deeply, and I wondered what that meant. She definitely did not seem happy to be here. How did she even know where to find me and why?
“I have a lot to explain. Is there somewhere that we can get comfortable?” she asked Zeke. He led us back into the living room. Once we were all seated, Zeke and I looked at Jessica expectantly.
“Chelsea, you and I have known each other for forever. But there is a reason for that. When your biological mother left Phoenix, she traveled to Kansas City. My parents traveled with her. She was about four months pregnant with you at the time. My parents were there to protect her and you,” she began.
My jaw dropped open in surprise. This was getting crazier and crazier. Obviously, my mother knew that her life was in danger.
“Chelsea, your mother was human, but your father was a shifter. He was on the wolf council. Twenty-eight years ago, it was a punishable offense for a council member to mate with a human. If the council had found out about you back then, they would have killed both your mother and you.”
“Your father loved your mother very much, and when she got pregnant, he sent her away for her protection. Right after your mother gave birth to you, my parents realized that someone had found your mother. She gave you up to protect you. She put her maiden name on your birth certificate, hoping that if anyone searched for a child, they wouldn’t find you,” she continued.
“Wait. Stop right there,” I said suddenly. “You said ‘maiden name’. Are you saying that my parents were married?” I asked her in a
stonishment, and she nodded. My hand flew to my mouth.
“Yes, the council had a fit when they found out they had married. Your father was forced off the council, but he was okay with that because he had your mother. However, when your mother found out that she was pregnant, there was an attempt on her life. That was when your father decided to send her away.”
“My parents left with her and hid her in Kansas City. Once she gave you up for adoption, your mother thought that she would be safe, but they found her a few weeks later. Chelsea, your adoptive parents know what you are. They know that you are a shifter.”
“They are both human, but your mother needed your parents to know. They needed to watch for any signs. If your wolf ever presented herself to you, you would need to know what to do. It’s why they have been so protective of you. Why they still are,” she explained.
It was instinctive to jump up from the couch. I paced a few yards away and hugged my arms around my waist. It was too much. This was all too much, but there was one more question that I needed answered.
“Jessica, is my father still alive?” I asked her, and I noticed her hesitation. Then she nodded. Zeke asked the next question that came to my mind before I could.
“Who is he, Jessica?” he asked. Jessica twisted her hands in her lap.
She looked nervous and she wouldn’t meet my eyes. Jessica and I had always talked about everything with each other, well, except about this, and at first, I didn’t think that she was going to answer, but when she did, it was way more than I could handle.
“Governor Adams. The governor of Arizona,” she replied. My eyes flew open wide and my breath caught in my throat. The governor was a shifter, and he was my father.
I gasped, but I couldn’t breathe in any air. My lungs weren’t working, and I felt panic bubbling up inside. It was all just too much for me to process all at once. I was struggling to stay afloat, but I was losing that battle.
Strong arms grabbed me, and my head was pushed forward, bending me over at the waist. I could hear Zeke’s voice, and it sounded like he was yelling at someone. I heard him call my name, but it wasn’t enough, and suddenly, everything went dark.
When I opened my eyes, the room was dark. The bathroom light was on and the door was open. It was enough light that I could tell I was in Zeke’s bedroom and in his bed. I slowly sat up, and everything flooded back into my mind.
My father was still alive, and he was the governor of Arizona. My mother had been murdered, and Jessica, who I had known all my life, was a shifter. Hell, I was a shifter. I had a wolf inside of me.
I fell back against the bed and rubbed my temples. The start of a headache was working itself into a full-blown migraine. Closing my eyes, I relaxed against the pillows. When I heard the click of the door opening, I opened my eyes and turned in that direction. Zeke walked across the room and sat down on the bed beside me.
He lifted my hand in his, and he seemed to be studying me closely. Concern was etched on his face, and the fact that I couldn’t remember how I got into the bedroom told me that I had probably passed out. My whole body was tense, and that was just making my head hurt worse.
“Zeke, my whole life was a lie. Everything I thought I knew, none of it was real,” I managed to say in not much more than a whisper.
“Chelsea, you can’t think about it like that. All the people who were involved, they all loved you. They did what they had to do to protect you. Your biological parents loved you. They found adoptive parents who would love you, and they made sure that you had the support that you needed,” he replied gently.
“I spoke more with Jessica. She was adamant that the first thing I tell you is that she is your best friend first. Once yours and her parents realized that the two of you got along so well, they pushed the two of you together more. They knew that you would need a friend who would understand and be able to help you should you find out any of this.”
“She didn’t know anything about your past until her parents told her just a few years ago, but she couldn’t tell you. She has always known that she was a shifter, but up until then, she just thought you were human. She’s always been a friend. She knew that if you tried to find your father that something like this would happen.”
“Her parents knew that the same people would come after you. Your parents thought that you would be safe enough coming to Arizona, as long as you didn’t go to Phoenix where your mother was from and where your father lives. But now, whoever killed your mother knows that you are here. I will keep you safe, Chelsea. I promise,” he said.
I sat up beside him and let him gather me in his arms. Thankfully, I had no tears left. I felt a bit empty inside, but in Zeke’s arms, I felt safe. He brought me comfort and steadied me. He always made me feel like I was the only one in his world, and in his arms, it felt like he was my whole world.
“Do my parents know what is going on?” I asked him.
“When Jessica saw my picture, she recognized me immediately. I’m the alpha of my pack, Chelsea. I am responsible for everyone in my pack. Jessica took the first flight here, but she didn’t call your parents until after she told us everything.”
“They are worried for you, but I talked to them as well. They agreed with me that you will be safer staying here with me, but they would like to hear from you,” he replied.
I leaned back and clenched my hands together in my lap. There was no way that I could describe what I was feeling right now, but the one thing I did know was that I did not think that I could handle speaking with my parents right now. They had just kept too many secrets from me. Although I understood why they did it, it still felt like they had betrayed me.
“I don’t think that I’m ready to talk to them yet. You know how it has always been for me with them. I just don’t think I can handle it right now. It’s hard to imagine that everything has changed,” I told him softly. He pulled me against him again.
“You scared me,” he whispered against my ear. “You weren’t breathing, and I couldn’t get you to take a breath. When you collapsed, I thought…well, I thought I was losing you,” he said, and I could hear the anguish in his voice.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. It was just too much all at once. But I guess there really was no ‘good’ way to break all of this to me. I just need some time. It’s overwhelming,” I replied. With that, he stood from the bed.
“I’ll leave you alone then,” he said, and turned towards the door.
“No, Zeke. Not from you. You are the one who makes me feel grounded. I can’t face this without you. I need you, Zeke.” My voice sounded desperate, but I had never spoken more honest words.
He returned to the bed and took my hands in his. His eyes studied me again, even though the room was dark. Then he reached up and cupped my cheek with his hand, his fingers gently caressing me.
“I will be here for you always. Whatever you need,” he said gently. I turned my head enough that I could kiss the palm of his hand, and his thumb trailed over my lips. Just then my stomach growled, and Zeke chuckled. I grinned up at him.
“You were out for several hours. I’ve never been more worried,” he said. “Are you up for some dinner?” he asked me, and I nodded.
He took my hand and helped me from the bed. Together, we left the bedroom and walked into the kitchen. The leftover food from the resort restaurant was laid out on the bar, and Zeke led me over to the one empty bar stool and pulled it out for me. Brady and Emily had already arrived, and everyone was seated at the bar eating.
“I’ll fix you something,” he said, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. All conversation had stopped when we walked into the room, and I turned and looked at Jessica who was seated beside me.
“Jessica, thank you. Thank you for being my friend and supporting me through this thing called life. It’s turned out way crazier than I ever could have imagined, but thanks for taking that ride with me,” I told her.
She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly. I relaxed
into her embrace. This was definitely something that was familiar. We had both used each other’s shoulder to cry on numerous times over the years.
“I love you, Chelsea, and I’m happy that you found Zeke. He’s a great guy, and a hot hunk,” she said in humor. I leaned back and chucked her on the arm and laughed.
“And he’s mine, so don’t go getting any ideas,” I told her with a grin, and it was her turn to laugh.
“He told me that you are his mate,” she said next. “I can smell his scent on you. Wolves mate for life, Chelsea. You don’t ever have to worry about someone taking your man. It’s just the way things are with us,” she continued. I glanced over at Zeke in surprise.
He smiled that adorable smile that I was so in love with, and his eyes met mine. Then he nodded in agreement with what Jessica had just said. I guess he and I still had a lot to talk about, but since I would be officially staying with him for a while, I guess we had plenty of time.
Chapter 14
Zeke set a plate down in front of me and then he stood next to me at the edge of the bar with his own plate. Thankfully, someone changed the subject, and for the next hour, we talked about Tucson. Jessica had never been here before either, and Zeke, Brady, and Emily all took turns telling her about the sights.
I focused on my food, even though I could hear the conversation around me. It was better than having just quiet. Quiet would drive me crazy right now, and I appreciated the voices carrying on around me, even though I didn’t join in the conversation.
Jessica had been given a bedroom upstairs, and Zeke told her to stay as long as she wanted. She had taken a full week off work. Brady and Emily were planning to stay here for a few days as well. We still needed to figure out who was after me, and Brady and Zeke would be working on that together. I wondered if my biological father would know.
“Zeke,” I said suddenly, causing the chatter around me to stop suddenly. All eyes turned on me. I guess they hadn’t expected me to speak.
“Do you celebrate Christmas?” I asked, my gaze moving from one face to the next until it landed on Zeke once again.
His to Protect: Book 1 in the Bound to Him Series Page 11
