Sophia was running around the room trying to keep up with her five year old. Bella was quite fast for her age but it wasn't surprising. Everything about her daughter reminded her of Luke. She had his eyes and his spirit. She could run like the wind and her strength was growing everyday.
Melody stooped down with her paintbrush in hand stopping her daughters pace. "What are you doing Sweet Pea? You are going to wear your mommy out." Bella giggled squirming in Melody's arms. "What do you think of my new painting, huh?"
Bella stared at it cocking her head to one side. "You should give me wings like a butterfly."
"You want wings?" Bella nodded her head vigorously. "Okay, but on one condition, you stop running in my studio and you let your mom brush your hair." Melody set Bella down and she ran over to Sophia letting her run the brush through her hair.
When she was done her little girl grabbed her coloring book and went to work coloring a picture of a princess that she had been working on earlier in the day. "Thanks Melody."
"Not a problem. What do you think?" They both took in the painting she had been working on. Her daughter was the focus of the painting with butterfly wings Melody had put on her at her daughter's insistence. In the corner was a man who shared the same color eyes as her daughter.
It had been hard being away from Luke. She still found herself thinking about him, wondering what his life had been like without her. He had called Melody a few times trying to find out where she was but her friend had kept her secret. Sophia had stayed with Melody with the intention of moving out after Bella was born but her friend had insisted that she stay.
Despite all the heartache she had gone through, Sophia was happy. Her little girl had grown up with love in her life and not the turmoil that would have followed her had they stayed in Wolf Lake. Her love life had been nonexistent since Luke but that is how she wanted it. Luke was her mate and she wasn't going to be with anyone else. No one compared to Luke. He was the love of her life.
The skin walker injection Sherman had given her hadn't made her flip but it did strengthen her senses. Even with the distance between Luke and herself she could sometimes feel him. When she left she had felt his agony. There were still days when she could feel his calm or his anger.
"Sophia?" Melody waved her hand in front of her. "What do you think of the painting?"
"It's beautiful. We will pull in good money for this." After Sophia had given birth to Bella, Melody and her had decided to open an art gallery. The business was good and Sophia liked her job. They took in a lot of up and coming artists and showcased Melody's work.
"Actually, I don't think we will pull in anything for this."
"Why not?"
Melody smiled," because I painted it for Bella. I thought she could use another painting of her and her dad."
Bella ran up to Sophia throwing her little arms around her leg. She bent down picking her up when she noticed her eyes glowing. "Melody, I am going to take Bella upstairs to get her cleaned up. She has marker all over her."
Melody shook her head and Sophia rushed Bella out of the room. It was hard keeping their secret from Melody. Bella's eyes had been shifting a lot lately and Sophia was starting to worry. This wasn't normal for a girl her age. Eyes didn't usually change to the wolf except right before you flipped or after. What was also strange were the nightmares Bella had been having and the fever.
The only person she could think of to call was Sherman but she didn't want to go that route yet. Was there any reason to get nervous? When she was a little girl did this happen to her? Maybe she just didn't remember.
Sophia sat down on her bed pulling Bella between her knees. "Bella, look at me." Bella picked up her head and her eyes were still glowing. "How are you feeling," she asked feeling her head. She had a fever.
"Fine mommy."
"Are you sure? Does your tummy hurt?"
"My arm hurts a little."
Sophia picked up her arm inspecting it and found nothing out of the ordinary. She hadn't known what she was looking for but she didn't find it. She picked Bella up and laid her on the bed where they laid side by side. "Did you have that dream again last night?"
"Yes, that grey wolf was in my dream again."
Sophia closed her eyes knowing exactly who that grey wolf was. How would Bella know what Luke looked like in wolf form? The two of them had a strong connection that Sophia didn't understand. Her daughter spoke about Luke as if he was her best friend or if she had known him her entire life. She had walked into the kitchen one morning and told Sophia that her daddy was in a bad mood. She had asked her how she knew and she had said she could feel it.
After they were there for a while talking about Bella's school, her eyes were still glowing. What was going on with her child? She couldn't help but think it was time to call Sherman.
The phone rang three times before he picked up. "Hello."
"Hey Sherman."
"Sophia, how are you? How is Luke's pup?"
"I'm fine. Bella is the reason I called you."
"What's going on?"
She pulled Bella closer to her checking her forehead. "She has been running a fever for days and her eyes have been glowing. I don't know if this is part of it but she is also complaining about her arm hurting."
"Interesting."
Sophia sighed feeling frustrated with the old man. "What do you think is going on?"
"I have an idea but to be sure you would need to bring her to me."
"I can't go back to Wolf Lake. The second Bella steps in that town they will know she is Luke's."
"Then I guess it is time you told Luke about his pup."
She felt queasy. This is what she had been avoiding for the past six years. There was a reason she had left in the first place. The minute any of them found out about Bella they would question Luke's leadership abilities. The fact that their Alpha had a child with her would cause anarchy. She took a deep breath steadying her racing heart. " I will be there in a few days."
Sophia pulled to the side of the road to take a look at the welcome to Wolf Lake sign. In the backseat her daughter was fast asleep. She felt uneasy about the fact that she would be seeing Luke again vary soon. She hadn't seen him in six years. She wondered if he would be happy to see her or if he would be angry still that she had left.
Even if he were happy to see her it wouldn't last for long. She knew the minute she told him about Bella he would be angry with her for taking their daughter away from him. With one last glance she pulled back on the road making her way into town.
Wolf Lake hadn't changed much. Most of it was still made up of mom and pop stores. There were a few new stores here and there but overall the town was just as she had left it. Alley Nine came into view and she took the first right after it heading towards her dad's house.
When she pulled into the drive her dad was walking out to the car. She jumped out and gave him a hug. "It's so good to see you."
"You too," he said pulling back. "How was the drive?"
"Long. It's a good thing I don't have to drive it very often."
"How was Bella?"
"Good. I just put in a DVD for her and she was quiet. She fell asleep a little while ago." She started towards the car.
"Let me get her," he brushed past her and got her out of the car without waking her. "I got your old room made up for the two of you."
They walked into the house and her dad headed upstairs to put Bella down in their room. It felt good to be home. The old house was calming. She made her way into the living room to sit down when her dad came back. "You're not going to be able to hide her for long. She is the spitting image of Luke."
"I know."
"How are you going to tell him?"
She put her head against the back of the couch staring up at the ceiling. "I have been asking myself the same question for days. He's going to hate me," tears started streaming down her face.
"He's definitely not going to be happy. This isn't the best time for him to find out that he is a father."
Sophia got up heading towards the window. Her father had hung one of Bella's paintings. "I did this for him. I was just a distraction." She wiped her tears away sitting back down on the couch. "When is Sherman going to get here?"
"He said he would be here in about an hour." They sat there talking till Sherman showed up. The old man had aged well. She could tell he was as feisty as ever.
They headed up to Sophia's old room while she described the things that had been going on in the last few weeks. "Give me a few minutes with her." He went in closing the door behind him.
She stood outside the room feeling anxious. What if there was something wrong with her? Sherman had said that Sophia had a disease when she was younger. Did she pass it on to her child?
Finally, he came out of the bedroom with Bella in tow. She walked over to Sophia raising her arms to be lifted. Sophia picked her up resting her on her hip. "Is she okay?"
"She is going to be fine. This little one wants to flip a little early on us."
Sophia noticed shock register on her dad's face. "Is this normal," he asked.
"Not normal but not unheard of either."
Sophia breathed a sigh of relief. "So what do we do now?"
"Well, I would suggest that you keep her here until she flips."
"We don't want to stop it or at least prolong it," her dad asked sounding worried.
"I see no reason why we should."
Sophia thought back to the time she had seen Sarah try to flip. It hadn't gone well and some even thought she wouldn't make it. "Will she be okay?"
Sherman patted Bella on the head," if she is anything like her father she will be just fine. As I recall, Luke flipped early also. I would say that; you need to tell Luke soon. She may need him to help her. "
Sophia felt Bella pull on her shirt. "Mommy, can we go outside?"
"What are we going to do outside?"
"We could go swimming."
"The lake is beautiful this time of year," Sherman added.
Sophia, her dad, and Bella ended up at the lake for the rest of the day. It took a lot of coaxing to pull her daughter out of the water. When she finally got out of the water, Sophia grabbed a towel wiping her down. "You missed a spot mommy," she said pointing to her elbow.
Sophia smiled wiping her elbow. "Anywhere else?"
"And here," she pointed to her toe.
Sophia wiped her toe then pointed to Bella's nose," what about here?"
"No," she said laughing. Sophia picked her up kissing her nose. Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement. Her dad jumped to his feet having noticed it too.
A wolf walked out of the woods and transformed back into human form. "Hello, Sophia," Presley said. "Long time no see." Sophia stood there holding Bella a little tighter. "So this is why you disappeared so fast."
"It's none of your business."
"I think the pack will find it interesting that their Alpha has been hiding a child all these years." Sophia looked away. "Oh, this is even better. How will Luke react when he finds out that you took his kid away?"
"You haven't changed Presley."
"I have to say she is a beautiful child but that isn't surprising since she comes from Luke. Now the question is who is going to get to him first," Presley formed back into a wolf and took off.
"You better hurry," her dad said taking Bella out of her hands.
Sophia grabbed the keys to the car and set off as fast as she could. She turned the car over throwing it into drive. The house wasn't too far away and she knew she could get there quick but could she get there before Presley? The houses flew past and within minutes she turned into his driveway.
When she got out of the car she didn't notice Presley. She made her way to the door and with all the courage she could muster, rang the doorbell.
The woman who opened the door had a smile on her face until she saw Sophia. "I guess you are here to see Luke?"
Sophia tried to place where she had seen her before but it wouldn't come to her. "You know me?"
"We went to school together."
"Valerie?"
"Luke is taking an important phone call right now. Would you like to wait?"
"If you wouldn't mind." Valerie stepped aside letting her into the house. She looked around feeling out of place in this house she had lived in for over a year. There weren't many changes to it. The only thing that had been moved in the six years was a lamp that was no longer in the foyer.
"If you will excuse me, I will go see if he is done." She watched her walk to his office and peek in the door. She stood there like that for a few minutes before heading inside. Sophia could hear her talking to him, telling him that he had a guest.
Valerie came back out of his office," he will see you now."
Sophia slowly made her way to his office feeling like she was walking to her death. When she rounded the corner the smile faded from his face. He had changed a lot since the last time she saw him. He looked older and a little tired. The corners of his eyes were starting to wrinkle a bit but overall he was handsome. He had always been the most handsome man she had ever seen.
"How have you been Luke," she asked trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.
"You left me six years ago. Didn't tell me where you were going and you have the nerve to ask me how I have been?" He stood up making his way over to the bar and poured himself a glass of whiskey. "I've been good," he said smugly. "I'm getting married."
"I heard. My dad told me a few months back."
"Been checking up on me Sophia?" She didn't answer. "That doesn't seem fair. I go to check up on you and I get told that no one knows where you are. Although, I have a sneaking suspicion that you have been living with Melody all these years."
"Who is the lucky lady?"
He raised his glass to the door," Valerie."
"Well, congratulations."
He downed the last of his drink and went to pour another. "Is that what you came here for," he walked over to her. "If you want more information I could tell you other things. Things that happen behind closed doors," he whispered the last part in her ear.
"I'm sure the rest of the pack is happy that you stuck to your own kind this time."
"It was your decision to leave. Tell me Sophia, why did you leave? I have really been wondering. Did you have a better offer?"
She tried to steady her breathing knowing she couldn't beat around the bush. She needed to tell the truth and get it over with. It's amazing that six years had led up to this moment. "I was pregnant."
His eyes flashed yellow and he pushed her up against the wall knocking the breath from her. "Did you get rid of it? Couldn't stand my child growing inside of you?"
"No, Luke," she said trying to pull his hand off of her throat. He squeezed a little tighter before letting her drop to the floor. She coughed feeling her lungs fill with air. "I had a girl."
He dropped to the floor with her, grabbing her arms," Where is she?"
"She is with my dad. I brought her back so that Sherman could see her."
He looked into her eyes and she saw the pain that she had caused. "Is she okay?"
"Sherman said she is trying to flip."
"It's a little early isn't it?"
"I thought so too but Sherman says she is taking after you," she smiled to herself. "She is just like you in everyway."
"How could you do this to me Sophia?"
"What would they have done if they found out about her?"
He got up walking away from her," I don't care what they would have done. It's my life."
"Your mother wouldn't agree with you."
"Probably not but she wouldn't have turned her own grandchild away. I want to see her."
She nodded," she has been looking forward to meeting you."
Thanks again for reading my story. I would really appreciate any feedback you could give me, review or comment.