The Secrets of the Panther
Chapter 48

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I watch as Izzy leaves the cells. I was about to run after her when a hand went to my shoulder.

I look to see Graham staring at the door where Izzy had run off. “I need to talk to her,” he says in a small voice, but turns to me. “I couldn’t let her kill Linda. I needed to do it. She killed my mate, but she also hurt my children more.”

I look back at him. “Izzy had to watch the whole thing, you realize that,” I said and sigh. “But I know you had your reasons, but Izzy is hurting. She just found out the guy who tortured her is still alive and she fears losing the one thing you lost 10 years ago.”

He looks at me, stunned. “What do you mean?”

“Izzy has a daughter because of being raped by Michael,” I say with a snarl. I can see Dale walking up to the both of us as I watch Graham’s face change into rage as Dale tells him what happened to Izzy all those years ago.

“You don’t mean that shit head of a cousin of yours, Drake’s stepbrother, did that to my baby girl?” he snarls.

I nod.

I couldn’t help the snarl that escapes my lips.

Axel growls in my head. “We will kill him,” he says, standing on all fours, ready to fight.

I look back at everyone and then at the dead body on the floor. Kacey has been staring at it for ages. I walk up to her. “You ok?” I ask her. She turns and looks at me, but sighs. “Yeah, I’m ok, I just can’t believe the way she was, she still…” she says, but stops and shakes her head. “Never mind, she’s gone now.”

I give her a quick hug, and when we pull back, she looks at me. “I think we need to check on Izzy, don’t you?” she says and turns to make her way out of the cells.

I looked at where my father and uncle were. They were talking to Tilly, but when I walked over to them, they all stop. “You need to make sure Izzy is ok,” says Tilly. “We will all meet in the office tomorrow morning to discuss the next cause of action.”

She turns and walks out, leaving all the men in the cells. “I will send a guard here to sort out the mess,” says my father, and he turns to look at me. “We need to keep Izzy and Allie safe,” he says. “They are not to leave the pack grounds unless they are with one of us. Izzy can look after herself. We all know that, but I want to make sure there is extra protection in place for Allie. Only people she knows will collect her and be with her.”

My father looks at me. “We also need to make sure there are more patrols around the territory and also the town. We still don’t know how they have been getting in without a trace,” he says with a growl.

I nod.

We all turn and leave the cells. The fresh air hits my nose and it clears my senses slightly after being around the smell of stale blood. I walked straight to the nursery, but I know I’m not alone. I look to see Graham walking with me.

“Blake, can I talk to you for a moment?” He asks.

I nod as he catches me up. “I want to talk to Izzy, try to clear the air with her, but not only that I learn I have a granddaughter too,” he says in a shocked voice.

We are close to the nursery and I can see Izzy holding Allie in her arms. We both stop and stare back at the sight of them.

Izzy was right. Having an Allie hug made everything feel better earlier. She wanted me to stay, but as soon I said I had to see Izzy; she was more than happy to let me go.

Graham looks at Izzy and the little girl she is holding; his face is full of emotion.

“They both look like Lucy,” he whispers.

I nod.

“Allie is the sweetest little angel you could meet,” I say with love in my voice towards her. I feel like she is already mine.

Graham looked at me. “You met her,” he said. I just nod, but I turn to look at him. “I have a long way to go with Izzy, as do you, but we both need to take our time with her,” I said.

Graham looks at me and then back at the girls. “I know. It must have been hard for her to go through all that,” he says with sorrow.

I can feel eyes on me, and as I turn around, Allie runs straight to me. “You came back,” she says in the sweetest of voices. I can’t help but smile.

“Of course I did, angel,” I said and Izzy walks up behind her towards us, but she looks at Graham.

“How about you and I play in the sandpit while mummy talks to…” I say and look at Izzy.

Izzy gives me a small smile. “I want to talk to my da… I mean, I need to talk Graham for a moment, sweetheart,” she says and kneels down to kiss her cheek.

Allie giggles, “Ok, I will play with handsome” she says and turns to Graham. “Can I play with you later?” She asks, which takes Graham by surprise, but before he could say anything, Izzy speaks for him. “Yes you can, sweetheart, we just need to talk about something, but later on you can play,” she says with a smile and looks up to him.

Graham recovers quickly and smiles.

Allie opens the door for me to walk in and takes my hand. “Bye mummy,” she says as she drags me to the sandpit.

I look over my shoulder to see Izzy smiling back at us.

She turns to face Graham.

They both need to talk, clear the air. Hopefully, they can rebuild what was once a family between them.