Chapter 25 What We’ve Undone
What We’ve Undone
Dom
We rise to our feet, clapping together in applause as we celebrate the end of the performance. My smile falters once my brain rewinds the conversation that took place in Seren’s moment of panic.
“I’m scared, Dad.”
Dad. My heart broke seeing how scared she was, but hearing her say that—my throat tightens as I swallow it down.
She didn’t stop herself. She said it as if it were something she’d repeated a thousand times.
She needed me when she was most afraid, and I had to be there for her. I told her to kick ass, and she did.
I whistle, clapping along with everyone else.
Jasmira laughs, watching the silly dances the kids are doing on stage. Seren is standing in line for an imaginary hopscotch.
I will do everything I can to protect her, teach her, and guide her through her life.
I look over to Jas, her eyes lit with wonder.
She’s absolutely beautiful. It hurts to breathe.
Her cheeks flush, tears threatening to spill as she stares at me. Her face holds the expression of did my werewolf mate swoop in and save my daughter?
Yes. Yes, I did. I had no choice.
Her body crashes into mine for a hug, fingers digging into my back. She presses herself against me, and I wrap my arms around her instinctively.
“Thank you for being there for her,” she breathes out, and the words settle deep into my chest.
“I’m so proud of you!” Jasmira’s voice bubbles over with pride. She scoops Seren up into her arms, hugging her as tightly as her glittering wings allow.
“I kicked ass!” Seren shouts, taking Jasmira by surprise. She makes the mom face—the one your mother gives before she says I’m counting to three and I wince.
“Sorry.” I chuckle, tugging at the collar of my shirt. She gave me a kink in my damn neck by that look alone.
“You did kick ass,” Jas whispers, booping her nose.
Seren’s head snaps towards me. “Dom!”
I slowly lift the bouquet for dramatic effect to show her the colorful bouquet of tulips I made special for her today.
She wiggles free from Jas’s arms, eyes widening at the sight of her very first bouquet. “For me?”
“Yep!”
“Thank you!” she exclaims, taking the flowers and hugging my leg. She hands Jas the flowers and takes off, racing back to the stage where her friends are already chasing one another around the beehive.
Jasmira and I sit together on the bench, watching the last of the parents thank Mrs. Primrose while the kids run around.
“Whatever you said to her on the stage helped,” Jasmira says, tucking a curl behind her ear and biting her lower lip. “It calmed her. I knew I wasn’t going to get to her fast enough, no matter how fierce Mama Bear is, but you did.
My wolf picks up the shift of her scent—immediately wanting to curl her into him, to hold and protect her.
“You’re here,” she continues softly, watching Seren dance, “and Aaryn’s not.
You’ve been with her all this time. You protect her, love her, show her what respect looks like—both for her and for me. You’re a father figure—a Dad to her.”
She pauses and takes a shaky breath. “I am happy she has you. Whatever she wants to call you, whatever you’re comfortable with, I support it. But you ran out there like a father. Aaryn would have done the same thing. It hurts sometimes, you know? Seeing the moments he is missing.”
I nod.
“But you’re here, capturing them all. It’s bittersweet, but it fills my heart to know Seren has you.” She presses a hand to her chest.
She couldn’t possibly have heard the conversation on the stage. But somehow, she seems to know.
“He is her father, and he always will be. I love that she looks up to me—I look up to her. She’s the bravest kid I’ve ever met.
She may not share my blood, but she has my hand to hold across a busy street, my shoulder to cry on, my voice always telling her stories of her Dad, and reminding her she can do amazing things.
She can always count on me. Anyone who would think of breaking her heart will have to talk to me. I will always be a father to her.”
Jasmira laughs lightly, a smile softening the tension on her face as she dabs the corner of her eye with her knuckle. “I am not crying! And the flowers, Dom, that was a very sweet gesture. Her very first bouquet.” She reaches out, taking my hand, and I look down, my thumb skimming her knuckles.
“She earned them,” I say, smiling. “Plus, I might be trying to secure my spot as her favorite adult.”
Her laugh rings out, and it’s bright, hopeful. A promise of new beginnings.
“I had a good time today.” Damn it. Did I say that out loud?
She laughs, closing the door shut after Seren goes inside, already shouting for the two-tailed fluff ball.
I drag a hand down my face. “Sorry.”
My mouth goes dry. Pulse running like a derailed freight train. Her hands slip into the back pockets of the jeans, hugging her curves perfectly.
I reach up before I can stop myself. A curl wraps around my finger as if it belongs there. Her response to the hum of the bond can only be praised. How can I be addicted to her scent when I haven’t yet tasted her?
“You don’t have to be sorry,” she whispers. “I kinda like that I make you tongue-tied.”
“Me, tongue-tied?” I chuckle, letting her curl spring free. My hand finds her hip, pulling her against me until there is no space left between us.
She gasps—letting out a low moan, and the sound…the sound is fucking delicious.
Her body, pressing against me, hip to hip, chest to chest. Heat branding through our clothing. Her eyes focus on mine, pupils wide with a hunger that mirrors the fire raging inside of me.
“If I’m tongue-tied,” my voice drops to a dangerous growl, “I guess that makes you breathless, yeah?”
Her gaze falls to my lips.
“Did I steal every last word from you, Jasmira? Hmm?” I press my lips against the shell of her ear, feeling her body shudder. “How about you give me one word. One single word.”
Her fingers dig into my shoulders.
“My name. Say it.”
My mouth claims hers with brutal possession. She moans. The sound knocks the breath out of my lungs as I devour her, my tongue meeting hers. She tastes like paradise—warm nectar, coffee, and sunshine.
My wolf claws beneath my skin, demanding I mark her, make her irrevocably mine. Take her.
I grip her ass, kissing and sucking the wild pulse in her neck, before taking her mouth again, swallowing her whimper as she liquefies against me.
Pressing her body against my throbbing dick, desperate for her.
Her fingers claw under my shirt, nails scraping skin.
The bond detonates between us—a supernova that’s been building for eternity.
“Fuck—” I growl against her lips, both hands fisting her hair, and she sighs my name like she’s taking her first breath.
My heart is beating violently, I fear I might collapse from it shattering my ribs.
I kiss her forehead before stepping away.
One final, searing claim. She touches her swollen lips with her fingers, while mine burn with starvation for more.
I know in my bones this wasn’t a simple kiss. This is a moment we finally surrendered and stopped denying what exists between us. We were friends a moment before, and now my thoughts won’t stop circling the quiet question of what we’ve undone.