Chapter 05
Drake finally got cleaned up and ready for the day.
He made the short walk to the front of the orphanage to the coordinator’s office.
He was surprised to see Alpha Trevor there.
He’d always liked the Alpha, a man Drake felt like he could trust. He just didn’t know if that was true.
The Gentry's were strong in pack politics and Drake was basically a nobody. The damn Gentrys had him by the balls.
“Hi, Alpha Trevor,” Drake said as he shook his hand.
“Drake, good to see you. I’ve heard you’ve been working hard at the gym. You have definitely put on muscle. Well done.” Alpha Trevor leaned back against the coordinator’s desk. He looked really happy about something.
“Thank you, Alpha.”
“I’m here because William told me you were interested in finding your father.”
“Yeah, I am. It was just a thought. Maybe someday, ya know?” Drake said in surprise. He hadn’t expected that conversation to go anywhere. But, here was his Alpha asking about it.
“Well, I put my Delta to work. My dad was Alpha when your mom became part of this pack. She’d told him your father was dead.
He left it at that. But, I was a lot more curious.
It turns out, she was in love with a man in this pack.
Before that, she’d met your father, her fated mate, at a party.
They’d hooked up but she rejected him right afterward. ”
“You found my father?” Drake asked in shock. “He’s still alive? Didn’t he want me?”
“I didn’t know you existed, son.”
Drake spun around to look at an older version of himself.
Tall, muscled, strong. He had brown wavy hair that didn’t want to be tamed, and hazel eyes that swam in tears.
Drake realized he was crying, too. He surprised himself even more as he launched into his father’s arms, too shocked to speak.
He just needed to hug him for a moment. He needed to know his dad was real.
His father, his real dad, hadn’t known he existed.
Hard to hate a guy his mom kept in the dark.
She seemed to have given ‘the father is dead’ line to everyone.
How was he supposed to respect that? All his life, at least since he came to the orphanage, he’d wanted family.
He’d longed for a family of his own. Just standing in the arms of his dad felt right.
Of course, he didn’t know him but damnit, maybe he could have the dream for just a moment, Miss Gentry be damned.
“I do want you. Would have taken custody years ago if I’d known she got pregnant. I’m so sorry I didn’t find out what happened to her.” His dad squeezed him and patted his back. He actually had a father, a dad?
“Let me look at you, son.”
Drake stepped back and scrubbed his face clean.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried.
He’d refused to cry over Miss Gentry even though her attention was ripping him apart.
He couldn’t think about her right now. Something else was more important in his life than her for the first time in two years.
“I was wondering if you’d like to spend the day together, get to know each other.”
“Skip school?” Drake gave his dad a sly little grin. “Sure, anytime.”
“Oh, that’s how it’s going to be?” His dad laughed.
“Nah, I’ve always been curious about you.
Should have said something years ago.” Drake sobered.
If he’d asked about his dad years ago, he wouldn’t be in the position he was in now.
Miss Gentry made it clear she was never letting him go.
He tried to shrug that thought off as he shot a sheepish little grin at Alpha Trevor for permission.
The Alpha immediately nodded his head in agreement. “Thank you, Alpha Trevor.”
“You’re welcome, Drake. I’ll make sure you get your homework.”
Drake followed his dad to a black pickup.
It wasn’t a cheap vehicle. Loftus Cabinetry signs were painted on the doors.
There was a toolbox in the back of the bed of the truck by the cab.
He also had an assortment of tools, ropes, and come-alongs in the back.
Drake assumed they were for the cabinetry business.
“What’s your name?” Drake asked as he buckled up. “I mean, I know your last name is Loftus.”
“Chip. I have a cabinetry business I run out of the Red Hawk Pack. I’m also a Delta, so training of pups and warriors among other duties. So, yeah that’s me.”
“Deltas can make people tell the truth and stuff, right?” Drake perked up.
That would be pretty cool. He could have used that kind of talent.
Maybe could have… Drake couldn’t finish the thought.
In the quiet of his fantasies, being unique, having a power that could stop evil was a fun daydream. If only…
“Yep, but mostly I help the Beta train pups and warriors.” His dad looked at him out of the corner of his eye. “Anyway, do you like to fish? I’ve got a couple of poles and a friend told me about a lake that has some big ones.”
“I’ve never been fishing. You’ll, like, teach me?”
“My pleasure, son,” Chip’s voice sounded gruff. Drake watched his dad turn red. “I just want to make sure you really do know I’m serious. I’d’ve come for you a long time ago. Your mom really hurt me when she rejected the mate-bond. I didn’t want anything else to do with her. I’m sorry, so sorry.”
“Don’t, don’t apologize.” Drake shook his head. “I don’t remember much about mom. We weren’t close. But, it doesn’t surprise me she didn’t tell you. She lied and said you were dead. I spent more time with babysitters. They were better parents than she was.”
“What a bitch,” Chip growled.
That alone made Drake feel better than he had in a long time.
That was his own feeling about his mom. Good to know he wasn’t the only one.
So many adults had told him to remember the good about her.
He’d tried to take that advice but honestly, he remembered Granny May.
He remembered playing with her, and the smell of cookies.
He couldn’t remember spending time with his mom. That meant something.
The lake was calm. His dad’s buddy had a boat ready for them to row out to the good fishing holes.
His dad had all the stuff like bobbers, lures, bait, weights, and a brand new pole just for Drake.
Chip had Drake practice casting a few times off the pier.
Said he didn’t want to get hooked by Drake on the boat.
They didn’t talk a lot. The quiet bug must have been a genetic trait passed down by his dad.
Anyways, he’d always heard fishing was supposed to be quiet.
The peace on the lake melted into Drake’s soul.
There was an appeal to the sun shining on his back and the rhythmic action of casting and reeling, tempting the fish to bite.
The deep water held three massive fish Drake was able to catch. His dad’s catches were only half the size. Fishing was awesome. And, it could be competitive, too. Who’da thunk it?
“Showing me up already, son?”
“Nah, beginners luck.” He knew he shouldn’t ask considering how fucked up his life was.
It was too late to have a real family but maybe he could experience it for just a moment or two.
He shuffled his feet and got the courage to ask, “Can I call you ‘dad’? I just, I don’t, I mean, I’ve always wanted… ”
“Of course, you can,” Chip interrupted. “I always wanted a family. Please, call me dad. You’re my son.”
Drake nodded in relief. Maybe it was too soon, but he’d longed for a dad all his life. If only for a moment, he was going to live the fantasy. “Did you ever get a second chance mate?”
“Unfortunately, no. I’m only 34 so I guess there’s still a chance but, I have you now for family, right?”
Drake blushed and nodded his head. He hadn’t thought of Miss Gentry the whole time they’d been fishing until now. Maybe, maybe they could have been family. Miss Gentry still had him by the balls.
“Um, I need to be back to the orphanage by 3:45.” However good the day had been, reality was setting in hard.
“Oh? Yeah, okay.” Chip looked disappointed. It was already 2. They’d need to leave now to get there in time. It was fucking Thursday after all.
They got the boat stowed and the fishing tackle put away in quick order.
His dad had the truck climbing up the long dirt road.
Drake’s day was officially ruined. He stared out the window and tried not to think.
Maybe he shouldn’t have said yes to spending time with his dad.
It just showed him what he’d missed, and would continue to miss in the future.
“Got a hot date with a girl?” Chip asked.
Drake would have wished that were true in the past. Now he didn’t want anyone touching him. “No. Miss Gentry is tutoring me in English. I need to be to her house by 4. She hates it when I’m late.”
“You could call and tell her you’ll be back next week.”
Drake automatically shook his head no. He couldn’t do that, even if it made his dad upset.
“No, I can’t. I have to be there…” Drake’s voice trailed off. He’d been able to joke about his tutoring with friends. They’d all laughed it off with him. This time he just wanted to tell the truth. The truth got Mark killed.
“How long have you been getting tutored?”
“Oh, couple of years.” Drake shrugged. Two long fucking years.
“Do you have problems reading?”
“No. Writing. It’s getting better.” The only reason it had changed was because he was more studious now.
Miss Gentry had nothing to do with it. Maybe she had everything to do with it.
He never wanted to get tutored by anyone ever again.
Drake decided to change the subject. He really didn’t want to talk about Miss Gentry. “Do you fish often?”
“Yep. But, let’s focus, Drake. What exactly do you need English tutoring for?”