36 You’re Serious

Olivia POV

Watching Danica play with our pup has my heart feeling full. I never expected to have this. I had adjourned to the fact that Ace and I were never going to happen, but here we are. Little feet tickle our ribs as Della begins to climb on our back. I’m a little shocked when Danica stands after Della has her hands dug into our fur.

“What are you doing?” “Our pup wants to run. She wants to know what it will be like when she shifts,” she says like the answer is obvious. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Danica. What if she falls off? She is too young to be trusted to hold on tight. She could be hurt if she falls.”

“I won’t go fast. I’ll trot. Besides, I would never let anything happen to our pup, Oli,” she says. “I know you wouldn’t intentionally let anything happen Danica. That is why it is called an accident. She is too little. She is only a pup. I know you want to give her what she wants, but sometimes the answer has to be no to protect her. We have to be the voice of reason even if it disappoints her.”

“Spoken like a true mother. Sweet pea, we can’t run today, but-I promise someday soon we will,” Danica says in our mind. I’m just about to tell her that Della can’t hear her speak when Della answers her. “You promise mommy.” It’s Della’s voice but a little deeper. Just like she sounded at the hospital. My heart starts to race. Why would she be able to link us? She is too young to have a wolf.

My mind wanders back to the hospital when I swear she growled at Candace. I know I felt the rumbling in her chest as I held her close. “Danica, tell me what the hell all this means.” “You know what it means, Oli. You

have to be brave and say it,” Danica says. “Della is the midnight wolf.”

I swear I feel like I can’t breathe. My pup is the midnight wolf. The one that will be sought out for power. The one that will need to be protected from those that want to use her. No one will hurt her. “No they won’t. You

need to breathe Oli. The goddess chose us to be her mother as much as she chose us to be Ace’s mate. We

will protect her with our lives,” Danica says. I wish it were that easy.

How am I supposed to tell Ace this? He just found out he has a wolf mate. Then he found out that I’m a

guardian wolf. Now I have to tell him our daughter is to be the most powerful wolf to walk the earth. That is more than a little bit much to take. “Della knows how to keep Amethyst’s existence a secret. Don’t forget they have been together since her birth. Her wolf is able to keep her scent masked to protect her identity. We can

only share this with the people we trust Oli,” she says.

“What about the wolf Danica? She will be here tomorrow. What if she isn’t what Xavier thinks she is? What if

she wants Della’s power?” “Then we will know. We will use our powers to discern her real intention before she

can breathe the same air as our daughter” she says. I have a thousand questions running through my mind.

“Can she shift?” “She hasn’t yet, but Amethyst wants to try. She wants you and Ace to be there when it happens. She is scared but she knows she’ll be brave if we are with her,” she says. How can such a young pup shift? I remember how painful the whole experience was, and I was almost an adult. Panic washes over me.

“Is this why that b**ch wants her so badly now? Could she know? Could someone have told them about the

midnight wolf?” There is a moment of silence and I wonder why Danica isn’t answering me which is doing

nothing to quell the fear bubbling up in me. I won’t let that b**ch touch my pup.

“No, she doesn’t know. She is just a big meanie Amethyst says. She doesn’t want Ace to move on. She wants him to be alone. Even though she has left him, she doesn’t want you to have him. In other words, she is a

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36 You’re Serious

spoiled b**ch who doesn’t want her toy, but she doesn’t want anyone else to have it, Danica says with a

growl.

“How does Amethyst know all this?” “Her powers far outreach ours Oli. She can sense thoughts and feelings

She knew what she was thinking in the hospital today. She was practically screaming it in her mind. She only wanted to take Della to hurt Ace. To punish him for choosing you. She never really wanted a pup and that hasn’t changed,” Danica says. I pray I get the chance to beat her a** for the pain she has caused Ace and

Della.

“We need to shift back Danica. I have to talk to Ace. He needs to know everything. I won’t keep anything from

him.” “I would expect no less. He is our mate and as much of a protector to our pup as we are,” she says

before she relinquishes control. We lie down and Della hops off. Her easy smile eases some of the tension,

knowing she heard Candace’s thoughts.

Without a second thought, I shift back. Della giggles before she turns away from me. Ace’s eyes don’t leave

me as I reach down and quickly dress. As soon as I’m dressed, he walks toward me. He pulls me into his

arms and presses a kiss on my lips. “You are beautiful, Oli. I’d like to lie and say I thought about turning

around, but I won’t ever lie to you. I couldn’t take my eyes off you,” he whispers.

A shiver runs down my spine. “As much as I can’t wait for a time when little eyes aren’t watching, we have a

lot to discuss. Can you take us someplace private? Maybe your cottage.” Worry flashes in his eyes. He offers

his hand to Della before he takes mine. He leads us down the path, but this time he leads us away from the

pack house. It doesn’t take long for us to reach a small cottage. It’s cute with blue shudders and a wrap-around porch.

It’s a place I can see myself living, though I’m sure if we decide to have more pups we will need something a

little bit bigger. I push those thoughts a side and focus on how the hell to tell Ace everything I just learned.

He releases my hand and steps onto the porch. He quickly unlocks the door and we all step inside. I smile

when I see pictures of Della on every wall. “Daddy, can I go play with my toys,” Della asks, and I wonder if

Amethyst told her to give us privacy.

When Della looks toward me and her eyes are black, I have my answer. I forgot that Danica said she can hear

thoughts. That is definitely not good. She is too young to be hearing some of my thoughts about Ace. “Olivia,

what happened? One minute everything seemed perfect and the next you looked panicked,” he says. “We need

to talk about Della.”

“What about Della?” “Maybe we should sit down for what I have to tell you.” “Olivia, just tell me. You are

freaking me out” he says. I decide to just blurt it out. “Della is the midnight wolf.” He stares at me like he’s

never seen me before. I wonder what he is thinking, but it doesn’t take long when he throws his head back

and laughs.

“That isn’t funny, Olivia. You had me going for a minute. Now tell me what really happened,” he says. I don’t

speak, just giving him a minute to really think about what I said. Even if we aren’t bonded, he knows I would

not make a joke about our pup.

“You’re serious. It can’t be. It makes more sense for your mother’s pup or one of Rain’s pups to be the

midnight wolf. Della is half human. Besides, Candace wasn’t even a ranked wolf,” he says as he starts to

pace. Danica growls and Ace’s head snaps toward me. “Did you just growl at me?” “You’re damn right I did. I’m half human and your human. Do you think that makes us less than because last time I checked I’m a

guardian wolf?”

16 Yore Servi

Ace POV

“Of course, it doesn’t make you less than, f’m just confused about how this could be happening. I’ve sever

seen even a hint that Della has a wolf, isn’t that what Xavier said? He said the midrige wolf is sways with its human. Wouldn’t I have noticed? What kind of father wouldn’t have notice? Ons steps in front of me and grips my face in her hands.

“Don’t think I didn’t notice you didn’t include that you aren’t less than in your statement, but we will table that discussion for now. Second, Della’s wolf is very powerful. I had no idea the even existed until she spoke to Danica,’ she says. “What do you mean?” “She linked Danica. Since we are essentially two souls in one body unless she blocks me I can hear her thoughts. I heard Amethyst answer Danica when Danica told her we

couldn’t run with her on our back,” she says.

Holy f**k, how can this be real? “Amethyst” I whisper her name like a prayer. I shuffle through memories. trying to recall if Della ever spoke about Amethyst and I assumed she was imaginary, but she didn’t, not once. “Yes, daddy,” she says in my head, and I stumble back

My breathing quickens and panic overwhelms me. My daughter is the midnight wolf. How am I going to keep her safe? “Silly daddy, you are stronger than you think,” she says with a giggle. Olivia wraps her arms around me and I immediately pull her close. I bury my nose in her hair and breathe in her scent. Goddess help me keep it together.