The Secrets of the Panther
Chapter 7

BLAKE

I look back at them both in disbelief. No wonder my mate hates her father so much.

“Why did you not take Izzy with you?” I asked, suddenly feeling angry for Izzy.

Both men looked back at me as if I had two heads or if I knew something. “I couldn’t take her with me. Linda didn’t know about Izzy. I only told her a few months ago when Kat moved back to town,” Graham said with a grim look as he remembered the encounter.

“Linda was lovely about it. She wants Izzy to be part of the family,” he says, trying to sound convinced, but even I can imagine Linda blowing her top over something like this. Never knowing his other mate had a child with him, that must have been a low blow even for her.

“Well, why didn’t you tell Izzy that when you saw her earlier?” I asked.

“I was going to, but she cut me off; she hates me. You saw the way she was with me,” he said.

“What do you mean?” my father looked back at him.

“She looked like she wanted to rip his throat out,” I told my father. “She was protecting Kat and Alice. You shouldn’t have gone there. Dale told you earlier that she was back and hostile towards you when they saw her at the bus station,” I said to Graham. “As I remember rightly, your words were I will give her space, but you didn’t”

My father looks between the both of us. “Look, how about I visit her tomorrow,” he says softly. “She may remember me.”

“That might be an understatement, dad,” I say with a sigh and rub my hand over my face, “I think Izzy needs a break from everyone who is even close to Graham or the pack, so I will see if she will talk to me in a few days as I will be the new alpha soon,” I say to him, I know he wants to help his friend but my father turning up to do Graham’s dirty work isn’t going to help him win his daughter back.

Changing the subject, “Look! we have to get ready for the ceremony of me being back. Mum won’t be happy if either of us is not there on time,” I say. He nods.

“Is she coming tonight?” Asks my father. I shake my head “No dad, she made it clear earlier,” looking back at Graham, who sighs. “In all honesty, Kat won’t let her anyway. I not only hurt my daughter but also her and her whole family,” Graham says.

Suddenly there is a knock at the door, and the door opens with my mum walking in with Linda.

We all looked up at them, “What’s going on in here?” Mum says. “Who died?”

The silence was deafening.

“Izzy is here in town,” says Graham suddenly and sadly, looking toward Linda.

I look towards the woman who has a blank expression on her face. I can’t read her at all.

After a few moments, “Is she coming tonight? I would love to meet her,” she says in a weird voice. My mum looks between the both of them, not being convinced that she means it.

“She won’t be, Kat won’t let her,” says my father suddenly. Graham holds his gaze on Linda. She smiles and walks to him. “It’s ok, we will see her soon, maybe I will meet her in the café, maybe tomorrow.”

“No, that won’t be happening. She doesn’t want anything to do with me or our family,” he says through gritted teeth. I think he is having problems with the whole situation.

Linda looks at me, ignoring Graham. “Oh, Blake, Kacey has picked a gorgeous dress for your ceremony; she looks stunning. You must see her,” she says to me.

I know what she is doing. Dale mentioned to me when I got back that his mum was asking loads of questions about me, especially if I found my mate. I need to tell him about Izzy and not to tell anyone else about her being my mate, but I must do it once I leave this office.

I don’t say anything, but I smile.

My mum looks at me with a knowing smile. “Well, let’s all get ready, shall we?” she says.

But suddenly, My mum’s voice comes to my mind, “Is Kacey your mate?” She asks me through a mind link.

I look at her with a smile “No mum, I saw her earlier, and there is no mate bond at all, but we both know I am not Kacey’s type. There wouldn’t be any way of her being my mate. I think Linda is trying to push Kacey onto me,” I say.

She looks at Linda. “That bitch is going to have her throat ripped out if she is not careful”

She looks at me with wonder in her eyes. “You need to tell me as soon as you replace your mate. I will want to meet her,” she says again through the mind-link conversation.

I look back at my father, Graham, and Linda, who now are walking toward the door. My father and Linda are in a deep conversation, but Graham looks defeated.

I want to tell my mum about Izzy but not yet.

“Mum, I will tell you when I do,” I say, giving her some hope.

She smiles at me and nods, walking towards the door.

As the other three went through the door, my mum shut the door behind them and turned to me, “I want to talk to you,” she said, “It’s about Izzy.”