I won’t hold my breath.
Love, Marge
Hunter opened the door before the last man he wanted to see right now was fully out of his car. He considered shutting the door behind him and asking their uninvited guest to leave before Layla ended up more upset than she already was.
That idea was shot when Layla shoved past him and stepped onto his front porch. Her shoulders dropped. “Oh, I thought maybe that would be Elena.”
Hunter reached out with both hands and set them on her shoulders as he closed the gap between them and flattened his chest to her back. He further emphasized his claim by wrapping one arm around her waist.
Maybe it was a cowardly move, but he knew her heart rate would settle if it fell into sync with his. The more he could get her to relax, the easier this confrontation would go.
It wasn’t as if he hadn’t known for two days this moment would come. He’d been biding his time, trying to put it off for as long as he could. He’d hoped to come closer to convincing Layla she was his before introducing her to this stranger.
Anders Johansen approached slowly, hands opening and closing at his sides. His expression was unlike Hunter had ever seen it. Instead of his usual scowl, he looked nervous, concerned, hopeful. Hunter couldn’t blame him.
When Anders reached the bottom of the three steps that led up to the porch, he stopped. He ran a hand through his nearly white hair. His gaze darted back and forth between Hunter and Layla. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t wait any longer. And it was unfair of you to ask me to.”
“I know,” Hunter agreed, praying to whatever god in the universe would listen that he wasn’t about to lose the only woman he would ever love. The irony wasn’t lost on him. He held Layla closely, surprised she was permitting him to instead of fighting him. “Layla, this is Anders Johansen.”
Anders kept his gaze on Layla. “Layla…” He let the name roll off his tongue. “I can’t believe how stunning you are.”
Layla flinched.
Anders spoke again, his words directed at Hunter, his gaze still on Layla. “You haven’t told her.”
“Not yet. I just finished explaining she’s half shifter. She’s not even close to over that revelation.”
Anders nodded. “Sorry. She deserves to know. And I should be the one to tell her. This isn’t her fault.”
Layla shuddered. “Tell me what?”
Anders came up the steps but stopped several feet away. “I’m your father.”
Layla’s knees buckled. Luckily Hunter had a hold of her. He kept his arm under her chest and held her upright. His other hand came to hers, threading their fingers together to give her every inch of support he could.
Anders shuffled toward one of the wood-slatted rocking chairs and lowered himself onto it. He looked as close to collapsing as Layla. He stared at the porch in front of him and rubbed the wooden plank with one foot absently.
Hunter knew he was letting this all sink in. He guided Layla to the porch swing and settled her next to him, keeping a grip on her hand.
Anders finally continued. “Your mother came to Canyon Springs in the summer of 1995. She and I… Well, she was my mate.”
Layla flinched. Hunter could feel her shock. Her heart was beating faster too. He couldn’t stop the onslaught of emotions. She jerked her gaze to his. “You knew this?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
She stared at him for several seconds while his heart sank. Finally, she jerked her attention back to Anders. She was overwhelmed. “My mother came here? To Canyon Springs?”
Anders nodded. “She told your Grandmother Mabel that she was visiting a friend in Denver. She was curious and wanted to meet the aunt she’d never even seen. The two of them had an amazing two weeks together. On the third day, they came into town. I was at the coffee shop when Sara walked in.”
Layla sucked in a breath. “And you knew.”
“Yes. Instantly.”
“She didn’t.”
“Right.”
“So what happened?”
“I stood. Every cell in my body alert. I watched as she got in line and ordered. I memorized everything about her as she sipped her iced latte and left the shop. She met back up with Marge across the street while I was still too dumbfounded to move a single inch.”
Layla nodded slowly.
“Marge never knew about us. I realized who she was staying with of course and then waited until she was alone to confront her. We met in secret several times that week, mostly late at night.”
Layla licked her lips and closed her eyes. “How did you know?” she asked, and Hunter knew that question was directed at him.
Anders answered the question. “I told Hunter a few years ago. I’ve never told another soul. Unless Hunter did, you’re the third person to find out.”
Hunter shook his head. “I never told anyone. You were my client. I hold that responsibility sacred.”
“Even from me apparently,” Layla pointed out.
“Yes.” He cringed.
Layla met Anders gaze again. “I have your hair. Well, so does Elena. Have you told her yet?”
“No. I came here first. Since Hunter at least was aware. I didn’t even know which of you was which.”
“What happened with my mother? Why did she leave? Why did you let her? Why didn’t you find us before? You should have been with her.” Layla fired those questions in quick succession, her body tensing.
Anders sat up straighter. “I didn’t know you existed until Friday night when you walked into McGregor’s. I swear. I spent an amazing week with Sara, and she wouldn’t listen to reason. She left. I refused to take away her free will. She was fighting her own demons. She knew her own mother wouldn’t approve of me. She had also been told her entire life a pile of misconceptions about shifters that caused her to be ingrained with the notion that she never should have come to Canyon Springs in the first place. Her mother had warned her to stay away from shifters. As far as she was concerned, her mother had been right.” His voice faded away at the end.
A tear ran down Layla’s cheek, stabbing into Hunter’s chest. Her pain was palpable. She wiped it away with her fingers. “Yeah, grandma would have done that. She tried to do the same to Elena and me. Convince us shifters had some sort of ability to brainwash humans and force them to stay.” Layla sobbed.
Hunter slid his arm around her and pulled her against his chest, praying the same fate would not befall him this week. He felt like he was losing ground fast. Circumstances were not in his favor.
“I hate that one person’s prejudice has created so much havoc for three generations in your family. I hope you’ll make sure the buck stops here. With you.” Anders stared at her intently, making this point either for himself or for Hunter. Perhaps both. It didn’t matter.
She wiped another tear away.
“You’re my daughter,” Anders stated softly. “I learned two nights ago that I have two children I never knew about.”
“How did you know?” she asked.
“Oh, I scented you as my own the moment you two walked into the bar. I nearly fell off my stool. And then I saw Caleb and Hunter following you. I would have approached, but their claim took precedence over mine. It’s been hard staying away though. I was out of patience this afternoon.”