A Mother Before A Mate
Chapter 14

I have to go back to the cottage to get changed for the Alpha fight. Do you want to come with me, and meet my parents?" Jack asks. I'm so nervous.

"What about Molly?"

"I want them to meet her too," he insists. "I want them to meet both of you."

This was the best-case scenario that I had in mind when imagining my future. My fated mate accepted me and my daughter, and wants to embrace us both. My heart is so full. "How are they going to take this? You show up with your mate and her kid?" I ask with a wince.

"They'll be fine. Can we tell my parents about how you found Molly? I'll make sure they never repeat it."

"Yeah, you can tell people you're really close to, that you really trust," I add.

"What should we tell our pack?" Jack asks.

"Our?"

"Yes, you're my mate. You'll be their Luna," he says so matter of fact.

I take a deep breath. "That's a lot to take in."

"Are you nervous?"

"YEAH!" I confess, like DUH! He chuckles. "Of course I am. I wasn't expecting an Alpha mate, and especially not one from one of the strongest packs. I don't know how to be a Luna," I admit. He laughs and pulls me close.

"Correction. THE strongest, and yes you do. You're strong and kind, loyal, and hardworking. You'll be the best Luna," Jack assures me. I give him a grateful smile. "Thanks!"

"So what should we tell our pack?" Jack repeats.

"I... I don't know."

"We can tell them that I'm your second chance mate, and your first mate died?" He suggests. I raise one brow. Who would believe that?

"No one is going to believe you could ever be anyone's second choice. Maybe see what your parents think?" I suggest. He agrees, with a cocky smirk from my compliment of him.

When we walk in, his parents are sitting in the sitting room reading. "You guys missed all the action so you can read all day," Jack questions. His parents have their backs to us, sitting in chairs side by side. "It's too loud and chaotic, we've paid our dues. We're off the hook now," his Mom says. I look at Jack and we smile at each other. They have no idea Jack's not alone.

"I wanted you to meet two special ladies," Jack tells his parents. They both whip their head around, shocked to see us.

"Is this...?" His mother asks. He nods, and I smile at her. I see her looking at me, and then in Jack's arms, at Molly. Jack's Dad looks similar to Jack, with the same dark hair, but he has sprinkles of grey, he's tanned, very muscular but he has brown eyes.

His mother has shorter dark brown hair that hugs her face and comes to her chin, with some grey. She has fairer skin, and she has the same green eyes that Jack has. She is short and skinny. Jack's Dad stands up, "Hello, I'm Tom, good to meet you," his father tells me, as he stretches out his hand to shake mine.

"I'm Lexi, nice to meet you too."

"And who is this little cutie?" He asks as he looks at Molly.

"This is Molly. Can you say 'hi, Molly?" I ask her.

"Hi," she says, but cuddles into Jack. "She's usually pretty shy," I tell Tom, so he doesn't take it personally.

"Usually, anyways, she seems to have taken to Jack pretty quickly," I add. Feeling very proud that my mate has made such a positive impression on my girl.

His mother hesitates and gets up, I don't think she's thrilled about Molly and I. "I'm Claire, nice to meet you both," she says.

"It's nice to meet you too," I add. She keeps her distance, so I avoid moving in to shake her hand. She didn't acknowledge Molly at all either. That kind of pisses me off. Maybe she is overwhelmed. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt this time. "Come, sit. Let's get to know you both a little bit," Tom says. I sit on the couch with Jack and Molly, sitting across from them. "I only have about 20 minutes before the Alpha fight," Jack informs them.

"What Alpha fights?" Claire asks.

"They decided to add an Alpha category last minute," Jack says, leaving out his part in that.

"Mama," Molly whines, and I reach out and Jack passes her to me. I swear Molly is so intuitive of energies and emotions. It's like she senses it, and that's why she must want me now. Jack's hand quickly makes its way to my back. He's very attentive. "So tell us about yourself, and your family background," his mother asks.

"Family background? Uh, my mother was a doctor, my father was the Gamma before they passed. My brother is the Gamma now and I'm a warrior."

"What's your rank?" Claire asks.

"2nd among the females."

"Tsk tsk. Not anymore," Jack says with a proud smile.

"Well, I think I just got lucky today," I add.

"She beat everyone today. She even beat Laurel," Jack is beaming as he tells his parents. Both his parents seem pretty happy about that. "She also got first place in both the wolf and human races." "Wow. That's incredible. How long have you been training?" Tom asks.

"Well, training seriously, for 13 months. I always used to want to be a doctor, so I only trained about 2-3 hours a week. I took 8 months off, and then I made it a priority to get as strong as I could." "13 months?" Jack asks me, surprised." I furrow my brows, "Yeah, why?" His Dad is nodding like he's impressed.

"That's incredible. Laurel has been training 4 or more hours a day for the last 6 years," Jack admits.

"Wow!" I don't even know what to say to that. I feel proud of myself, though.

"Tell me about your daughter," Claire says.

"Well, Molly is a year and 7 months." I take a deep breath and I feel Jack rubbing my back again, and his touch calms me.

"She's going to tell you something and it doesn't leave this room. She doesn't want our whole pack knowing this truth," Jack explains and they nod. I tell them about Molly and how I found her.

"Wow. So you were wrong then about the man that you thought was her partner?" Claire asks.

"Yes, that was her brother. I misread the whole situation," he admits while shaking his head.

"Oh, thank Moon goddess! I thought you just tore this family apart!" Claire confesses. We both smile at each other.

"I wouldn't have done that to Molly," I assure her.

"We don't want people to know about Molly not being biologically Lexi's. What do you think we should tell our pack?" Jack asks.

"I was thinking I'm her second chance mate, and her first mate died," Jack admits.

"Who's going to believe she was fated to some warrior, and you are her second chance? You're no one's second choice," Claire declares.

"I told you," I beam. He smiles, and pulls me in and kisses my temple. "Lexi said the same thing," he admits to his mother.

That seems to please her, and she smiles. A real smile. "Everyone here at cold moon knows she was adopted, but I grew up here, and it didn't matter when I was just a warrior. No one would feel the need to try and hurt her as a warrior's daughter. But given Jack's rank, I'm fearful people will throw it in her face to hurt her as she gets older. I just don't want anyone to ever make her feel like she doesn't belong, or that she's not really mine. I am fiercely protective of her," I admit.

"I understand dear. Why don't you just say she was your daughter from before Jack. If Jack and you decide that he is to take on that fatherly role with her, then it will be made known if anyone ever even implies that she isn't our family. They'll be looking for a new pack," Tom explains.

"Tom..." I need to pause for a second to contain my emotions. I clear my throat. "I really appreciate you saying that. I am really grateful. It's such a relief to know that you'll accept Molly into your family."

"I've talked to Lexi about it, and once I've marked her, I want to take on that role and become Molly's Dad. She agreed. Just so you're both aware," he explains.

They both nod and smile. "I'm going to change quickly, and then we'll go," Jack says, and leaves me in the living room with Molly, and his parents. Molly must sense that everyone seems calmer because she climbs down from me and starts telling Tom that she was playing in the sand today. Her little voice is too cute too.

She makes her way over to Claire and starts poking her head from behind the side table. When Claire says "peekaboo" after Molly pokes her head out, Molly bursts out laughing. It's music to my ears, and theirs too. They laugh, and Claire continues. When Jack walks into the room, he's smiling ear to ear. "Listen to that cutie," he beams.

"I really hate to break this up, but I'm probably already late. We should go."