I woke up earlier than usual, my wolf had been restless and frigidity throughout the night. He was excited by the thought of our mate and daughter in the opposite room, he was eager to see them.

He desperately wanted to sleep in the same room as them, but I forced him down, we had to respect Lara's wishes.

I groaned slightly as I stretched, my bones clicking as I looked at my alarm clock. It was 7 in the morning.

I threw my comforter off, pushing myself out of bed and into my bathroom for a quick shower. I mind linked both Dan and Eli, requesting a meeting in 45 minutes. They both agreed, I had to discuss a few matters concerning Lara and Kennedy with them.

Within half hour, I was dressed and already made my way into the kitchen.

Only to find Eli sitting on the stool, eating my chips as Dan shook his head. They were early, but I couldn't complain, it meant I could spend more time with Lara and Kennedy before having to take them back to Blood Walker's territory.

I wasn't pleased with the idea, my wolf and I felt protective over them both, but she had made it clear that if I wanted a relationship with her, I had to earn it.

I needed to earn her forgiveness.

"Hey man." Eli mumbled with chips stuffed into his mouth before leaning over towards me for a fist bump. I rolled my eyes but copied the gestured before turning to Dan who nodded respectfully at me.

"Big shock, huh." Dan said, leaning against the counter as I walked towards the fridge. Dan was an extremely serious Beta when it came to protecting me as his Alpha. He was always on full alert, his face analysing mine wanting to know what I was thinking.

My chest heaved up as I took a long breath and nodded. "Big shock. You both know the story of what happened, I just couldn't have imagined having a daughter that I didn't know about. I had blocked out most of that weekend, I thought we used protection but clearly we hadn't."

"I must admit, I never did understand your reasons but that was your decision and we had to respect that." Dan replied thoughtfully, speaking about the rejection.

Eli only nodded, stuffing more chips into his mouth before grinning at me. "You can only make it right now. Just try not to fuck it up."

I frowned, shaking my head, amused at his answer, Eli could barely be serious, he was very laid back but just like Dan, when he needed to be tough and deliberate, he could be.

We began discussing a few things to do with Lara and Kennedy about the situation with her going to Texas and having a schedule while she was away. We also began discussing the rogue problem within the local area, there was a group of rogues attacking packs. We thought they were linked to a rogue Alpha.

I had upped our border patrols, organising more scheduled runs around the territory. Rogues were wolves without a pack, whether they were born into the life, forced or kicked out. Some hated the idea of packs, others despised being under the order of an Alpha, not wanting the authority.

It was around half nine when we heard tiny footsteps heading towards us, Kennedy appeared in our eyeline as she clutched a small blanket in her scrunched-up fists, her mouth hidden behind it.

She looked adorable as she bundled towards me; I swiftly picked her up and placed her onto my hip.

"Good morning." I greeted before she smiled and murmured that she was hungry, she sounded half asleep as she cuddled closer to my neck. I chuckled, before suggesting either pancakes or waffles.

To which Eli, shouted "Waffles." In the voice of Donkey from Shrek. The sound made Kennedy giggle and she nodded enthusiastically; her eyes bright.

"Waffles it is then." I concluded, placing Kennedy on the stool next to Eli. Dan standing behind her.

"Since you're making them... I'll have six." Eli winks, his eyebrows raising up and down suggestively.

"What am I, your personal chef?" I said, shaking my head. Eli groaned, over exaggerating before staring at me pleadingly. "Come on dude. You're making Kennedy some." He complained like a five-year-old.

"Well, she's my little princess." I replied, grabbing everything I needed from the cupboards.

"And I'm not?" He resorted, his hands pointing to himself for effect. His replied made both Dan and I chuckle.

"You're a dude Eli, you can't be a princess." Dan stated the obvious, leaving Eli unimpressed.

"I'll be one when he's making waffles." We chuckled once again, I ended up rolling my eyes before deciding to make him some, just to shut him up.

Once we had all finished breakfast, Dan and Eli both left. They had Beta and Third in Command duties to complete. Kennedy waved at them as they walked away.

I picked her up from the stool, lifting her up into my arms deciding to chill on the couch and watch the Disney movie she desperately wanted to see.

I could sense that Lara was up, she was moving around the bedroom before the sound of the shower turning on got my attention.

I knew she was getting ready to leave; we had a long conversation last night.

I was struggling with my wolf; the situation was difficult. She wanted to finish college and pack everything up to move back to California.

She was adamant that she wanted to live on Blood Walkers territory, she wanted me to earn her trust, to earn the right to be her mate.

That was the exact thing I was going to do. To show her that I was worthy of her as she was worthy to me.

~*~

I stirred under my comforter, pulling it higher to cover my shoulders, not ready to fully awaken.

Kennedy was no longer in the room lying next to me, she had woken a little earlier.

I watched her leave the room, her blanket scrunched up in her arms. I could hear Gabriel's voice in the kitchen and allowed her to go.

Not only was Gabriel there but Dan and Eli were also occupying the kitchen. I thought it would be a good opportunity to spend time with his daughter, I was only a room away and I needed to gain trust with him, to trust him to look after Kennedy.

I laid in bed for an extra hour until I decided to have a quick shower, brushing my teeth and washing my hair. Once done, I walked out the bedroom and into the kitchen only to find them in the living room.

Kennedy had snuggled up against Gabriel, her attention glued onto the television, engrossed by the movie playing.

I rolled my eyes softly, Kennedy's favourite Disney Princess was Ariel, and it was a movie that was constantly playing at home. It was on repeat so much that I could recite the whole movie if I wanted to.

I moved quietly, taking a seat beside them. Gabriel gave me a smile as I scooted closer; I smiled in return before leaning back on the couch.

"Mommy, it's Ariel." Kenny grins at me, flashing me her cute dimples and her pearly whites. I smile back and kiss her cheek, saying good morning before we continued to watch the rest of the Disney movie.

Gabriel and I had a long discussion last night about me going back to Texas to finish my assignments for college. I only had two weeks left to do, half of it I would spend there and the other on Blood Walker's territory.

I had told Gabriel that I would be leaving Kennedy in Grace and Julian's care, that he could visit, and they could bring Kennedy here. He wasn't too impressed at first but understood my reasonings. We needed to establish trust and confidence from one another before I could leave Kennedy in his care.

He wasn't keen on the idea of me travelling to Texas alone, but it wasn't something unusual, I had taken the trip hundreds of times.

He suggested I take a few of his wolves, but I declined. His wolf came out, he thought it was irresponsible and dangerous.

I had waved it off, I wasn't going to change my mind, I did take a moment to consider but ultimately decided against it.

We had also discussed the situation of telling Kennedy about Gabriel being her father. I had never mentioned him to her before, she was so young, and I didn't feel it was right for me to comment on her dad until she was older.

She had questioned me twice before and I simply told her, that her father was away but he loved her. She accepted that answer, before rushing off to play. She was young and didn't fully understand.

Once the movie had ended, I pulled Kennedy onto my lap. Gabriel had mentioned last night that he disliked his daughter calling him by his real name, that he would like us to tell her truth. I agreed, it felt right to tell her.

"Kennedy, Gabriel and I have something we would like to talk to you about?" Butterflies began to invade my stomach and I was clouded with nervousness. I knew she would take it easily, in the back of my mind I felt she already knew.

She nodded, wide eyed. Her hands fiddling with the hem of my shirt, looking back and forth at Gabriel and me.

"Do you remember when I told you that your dad went away for a while but that he loved you?"

She nodded, a sad frown appearing making my heart hurt. "You said that he loved me."

"Well, what if I told you, that he's sitting right in front of you?" I questioned, an encouraging smile on my face yet my tone slightly hesitant.

Her head shot up and stared at Gabriel questionably before looking at me for confirmation, I nod and gave a bright smile. Within a flash she leaped from my arms into Gabriel's, her arms wrapping around his neck securely not wanting to let go.

Gabriel laughs at her reaction. "Try not to strangle me baby." Kenny loosens her grip but keeps her head tucked in the crook of his neck. "Are you really my daddy?" She whispered hopefully, she was uncertain, but you could sense the excitement in her voice.

"I am." He confirmed, pulling her tighter to him and sending me a grateful smile. The warming moment sent my stomach into a frenzy, the joy and elation from both my mate and daughter had me close to tears especially when Gabriel whispered into her ear. "I promise I will never leave you or your mommy again."