It took a bit for Belinda to gather herself. She decided she had to put aside her mother right now. She had come to find out about her father. Granted she thought he was dead but she was accomplishing one of her goals for this year. She did have the feeling that this was not going to be just a year then return to her old life. No, she was sure this was life changing. The projectory of her life was shifting...just like her. Belinda giggled at her thought. "Shifting... yeah." she mumbled.
Juan sat watching her from the corner of the room. He had tried to just leave her alone and let her sleep but after a short bit he could not stay away so he came and sat. He didn't touch her or lay with her, he just sat watching her. He discovered just being near her was fulfilling, comforting. Who knew how much his life would change at her appearance. From the moment he was told of her existence he had waited for her. Here she was. She was right before him and she was more than he had ever dreamed: more beautiful, more intelligent,more fiesty, more powerful,more stubborn. He chuckled low at that thought.
Belinda heard a chuckle and turned to see Juan sitting there. Just sitting there...looking at her. "You okay?" she asked.
"Yes." Juan stood and walked nearer her. Belinda sat up and starred at him. He was handsome. He had sharp,intelligent eyes. He was strong and powerful. His aura was just the right mix of gentle and powerful. She closed her eyes and swallowed...was she about to drool? How embarrassing. Juan chuckled again and reached out to put a random hair behind her ear. The sparks surprised her. "I will never get used to that." she said.
"What?"
"This." and she touched his arm.Sparks ran up his arm.
"Oh,yes. The mate bond."
"Yes. No one has ever touched me and left sparks running through my body."
"Yes. And no one but me ever will. But then no one but you will ever do the same to me, my dear." He bent and kissed her forehead. Again...sparks! She looked up at him and smiled.
"Come, Belinda. We have to meet your father. We have lost valuable travel time already." He turned and walked towards the door, stopped,extended his hand out for her. She got up and walked towards him taking his hand. He smiled. Then checked her out and laughed."Ummm. Maybe you need to ...ummm... dress for hiking?"
She looked down..oh yes, the T shirt. This would never do. "Oh." she blushed.
"I personally LOVE the look of you in my t shirt. But I might have to kill all who see you in it."
She rolled her eyes at him..."Possessive much?"
"Actually..quite. I will wait for you outside the door."
She quickly ran to the dresser and pulled out clothes appropriate for hiking and dressed.
As Belinda joined her father and Juan outside near the jeep,she whispered to z
Juan, "Can we trust him?" Juan smiled at her,"Yes "
They loaded up and took off up the mountainous terrain. After about an hour and a half they stopped,cut the engine and Juan got out, grabbed a backpack and came around to Belinda's door. "We walk from here."
"How far?"she asked.
"Just a couple of hours but it is straight up."
Belinda stood tall and said, "Let's go."
After what seemed to Belinda a lot more than a couple of hours, they finally reached an overlook. It was spectacular. Her father watched her as she took in the sight. He turned to Juan, "I think she likes it.c Juan shook his head in agreement. Belinda just stood there with her mouth open. It was like nothing she had ever seen before but something she was drawn towards.
"Time to head down into the village now. They will be waiting for us." Juan agreed and Belinda shook her head that she understood. They left the overlook a d immediately the trees and brush darkened the sky. After about 45 minutes the trees thinned and the group walked into a huge village. Belinda would never have believed so many lived here. "How many..."
"Just at 1500." her father responded before she even fonishes her question.
"That is almost as large as..."
"Yes."
Her father picked up his pace and headed to the largest 3 story house in the center of the village. The Pack House, obviously. He jogged up the stairs like a man half his age,his eyes were bright and his back was straight.
Just as he reached the door it flew open and a beautiful woman jumped into his arms. "Darling! Finally!" He spun her around and planted a kiss on her lips. Belinda was stunned and Juan brought her close to his side and chuckled. "Mates?"
"Mates."
She smiled. No wonder he was dragging. He had spent nearly a month away from his beloved and it was dragging him down. Juan understood. Belinda was just figuring it out.
"How?I thought..."
"When your mother rejected me I nearly lost my mind and my life. My father, your grandfather, removed me as Alpha and I fell into depression. Then I heard you were to be born...my heir with my mate.It gave me a reason to keep living." her father began. Belinda teared up and she snuggled into Juan's arms. "I traveled to the states and watched from afar just to be sure you were safe. One day I met Teresa. She was a waitress in 'Danny's restaurant not.far from your home."
Belinda thought she looked familiar.She had eaten there many times as a child and a teen.
"You were probably 13. 12nyearsbI watched over you alone. I left my Dad to care for the pack. I couldn't let you be out there with no protection. But anyway, I was ordering from another waitress when she walked by my table. Her scent was so addictive, vanilla and jasmine. I knew she was a werewolf. Her wolf reached out to my wolf. And the rest was history. I was given a second chance mate." He said beaming. Teresa snuggled inton his arms.
"We don't have any pups. I can't have children. Long sad story for another time. But your father didn't mind because he had you." Teresa said beaming at Belinda.
"Good Goddess, boy! Get in here!" a gruff and demanding male.voice boomed fro. within the pack house. Everyone gulped and moved towards the entrance. Her father bowed. Teresa bowed.Juan bowed. Belinda stood.frozen starring at basically an older version of her father.
"Who are you?" she asked with a very confused face.
"I am your grandfather" he said. "Grandfather..."she stuttered in a soft voice.
"Yes, and you are my granddaughter,my and only grandchildren. All THIS...this pack is yours! . " the older powerful Alpha said. He walked towards her and enveloped her in a huge hug,nearly crushing her.