So, their omega once met me, although I didn’t understand why. Could werewolves have human children? Or was there something else at work here? Was mom really my mom? Or did Jax entrust me to her? Are Matty and I even related? Does it matter? No. No matter what, he’s still my baby brother, and nothing will ever change that. Another soft chuckle wrapped around me, followed by the feeling of ghostly arms, and I swallowed audibly. When I glanced at Ky, he stared over my shoulder, which told me I did not imagine the ghost that had an interest in me. But the question remained, what was he to me? My mom’s friend? A relative? Or some random passerby, although that felt wrong.
“You and Dakota can meet my mom at the hospital,” Char murmured after a moment. “She works there as a doctor but not the one you met. She’ll be happy to run a test to see if you are related and to do what she can to dig up information on this picture. Without knowing who it was, we didn’t see a point in digging before. But, now that we know it’s you, well, that changes everything. Especially with how similar the two of you look. Regardless, I know Jax would have loved you, and probably did.”
Clearly, he bonded to me or something. Hence his ghost hanging about. Has he always been around, and I didn’t want to admit it? Or was he just now starting to watch over me? I believe he’s been around for a while because I’ve survived things I shouldn’t have. Was he stronger now, or was I willing to admit he existed? To accept his presence? Was Jax only hanging about so I could help his former pack? Or did I mean more to him? Feeling a ghostly kiss on my forehead, I sighed and closed my eyes with the beginnings of tears. A moment later, his presence left, and I swallowed my feelings of abandonment, realizing that it’s been this way ever since mom died. How did I not notice a ghost showing up when I needed someone? Or when my life was in danger? Then again, perhaps he didn’t want me to and was only now willing to announce his presence. Because I’m where he considers home? Or because of my ability to complete his pack? Biting my lip, I glanced at Dakota, who stared at the space behind me with a bittersweet smile. Ah. So, I wasn’t the only one he allowed to perceive his presence. Poor Dakota.
“You don’t smell like him, but your love feels like him if that makes sense,” Dakota whispered when I moved closer. Pulling me back to his lap, he wrapped his arms around me with a sigh. “It’s soothing, and calming, and feels so right like I’m home again. I see he’s hanging around you. Bastard loved puzzles, so he’s probably enjoying himself while watching us scramble to find all the pieces. Then, knowing him, several will seem like they fit but won’t because he’s a jerk like that.” A soft chuckle left my lips while I smiled with a shake of my head. Dakota tried to hide the love and happiness in his voice behind annoyance, but it didn’t work. Pain lay underneath it all, but I felt like it was beginning to ease.
The werewolves shared a glance, and I could almost sense their desire to leave so they could talk about me and this recent development where I wouldn’t hear. Yawning, I covered my mouth but still felt exhausted and smiled sheepishly when they stared at me. “I guess I better go to bed since I’m tired. It’s not like we’ll be able to figure this out tonight, anyway,” I sighed, chuckling at the poorly hidden relief on their faces. Yeah, yeah, yeah, talk about the human when she’s not around, got it. Ah, well, I suppose it gave us a mystery to solve, although this apparent connection made my heart ache. Did I lose a family member without knowing? Was I hidden? If so, why?
“A few more pictures first?” Dakota asked in a quiet voice, and I softened with a nod. I brushed my fingers over the picture of Jax and me, my lip trembling before I turned the page. I wonder why they put it in this album since they didn’t know who the infant was. Or did Jax put it together? Shaking my head, I focused on the next picture with a slight smile. A laughing Jax lay at the bottom of a pile of smug teenagers, and I wondered over the reason behind this picture. Was it for fun, or did he tease them and earn their dog pile? The next few photos showed an always smiling Jax with an assortment of different werewolves who seemed happy. As I looked at the last page, I swallowed audibly upon seeing a picture of the park mom used to take me to. “Somewhere you know?” Dakota asked when he noticed I lingered over it. I nodded, and he sighed. “We always wondered where that was. Strangely enough, Jax said his little bunny played there. So, I guess you can blame my cousin for the nickname you shall henceforth be stuck with.”
He and Marissa stood, as did Marcus and Ava, and I bit my lip while watching them get ready to leave. “Keep that to look over some more if you like,” Dakota offered with an easy smile. “I know you’ll take wonderful care of it, and I believe Jax intended it for you, anyway. I meant to grab a different album this morning, I intended to offer it to you to look at tonight regardless, but somehow, I brought that one. Out of all the albums, it’s the only one Jax put together himself.” I gave Dakota as tight a hug as
