saying goodbye 1
chapter is edited
Chapter 1
Hunter POV
Everything happened so fast.
I had always done things my own way. I never needed permission from anyone, alpha or not. I was a grown man, and I handled things the way I saw fit. But when that son of a b***h stormed in, grabbed my daughter by the hair, called her a w***e, and accused her of sleeping around… something inside me snapped.
I killed him.
And just like that, I made my daughter, Jessica, the Alpha of the pack.
I walked over to her and said quietly,
“Jessica, I’m sorry for killing your mate. But I will never stand by and let a man lay a hand on you.”
She turned from the pack members she was speaking with and looked at me calmly.
“Daddy, I know. And I’m not upset that you killed him. We didn’t have a real bond anyway. I broke it myself. I knew what he was trying to do, and I wasn’t going to let him control me. We barely slept together, and he cheated constantly—so he killed it too.”
She paused, then continued softly.
“When I finally get a true mate, I want someone who sees only me. Someone who loves me for who I am, not what I can give them.”
Her words hit harder than I expected.
“Father,” she said gently, “I know Mom died giving birth to me. I know Bayley is your second-chance mate. Maybe you should talk to her. Really talk. Maybe invite her to the pack for a few weeks and see how she likes it.” She looked at me seriously.
“But please don’t treat her badly, Daddy. She’s not like us. She’s not a shifter. She’s something… different.”
I listened, but doubt filled my chest. Was I ready for another mate? Would my wife be angry with me for even considering it? I hadn’t visited her grave in so long, I didn’t even know what I would say.
Maybe that was what I needed to do.
“Honey, I need to do something real quick,” I said. “I’ll come by tomorrow, okay? You’re only thirty minutes away. I want you to come visit my pack soon. I’d like to introduce you to everyone.”
She nodded and wrapped her arms around me.
“I’ll be back tomorrow. I promise.” After hugging her one last time, I headed for my car. I knew exactly where I was going.
I used to visit her grave every day, sitting for hours, talking to her about everything, my day, the pack, our daughter. Today was different. Today, I needed answers. I needed peace.
I parked at the cemetery, grabbed a bottle of Jim Beam, and walked toward her resting place. She was on the far left, five rows up. I took a long swig as I approached, then dropped to my knees in front of her stone.
Loving mother.
Devoted wife.
Luna and warrior.
I traced the letters with my fingertips.
“Baby… I don’t know what to do,” I whispered. “Without you, I feel lost. There’s another mate for me, and I don’t want to hurt you. She’s different from us, she doesn’t even know where her people are. She’s alone. She protects our daughter. I can’t take her away from that. Who else would protect her?” Tears hit the ground as my voice broke. Suddenly, I felt a hand rest gently on my shoulder.
I looked up, and there she was. My wife.
She looked the same… but not. Real and unreal all at once.
I stood, desperate to touch her, and when I reached out, she smiled softly. Then, somehow, she stepped into my arms. Holding her again, even for a moment, nearly shattered me.
“Listen to me, Hunter,” she said quickly. “I don’t have much time.”
I nodded, unable to speak.
“I know you’ll always love me. I’ll always be in your heart. But you need to live. If you push Bayley away, there may not be anyone else for you.” She cupped my face.
“Give her a chance. Let her show you how much love she has, for you and for our daughter. It’s time, honey. You need someone by your side. Someone to love you, challenge you, help you lead.”
Her eyes softened.
“You can trust her. And remember… My death wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t Jessica’s either. It was simply my time.” She kissed me softly.
Then she was gone.
I collapsed to my knees, sobbing, until daylight finally broke. When I stood and turned toward my car, I heard rustling in the bushes.
Then I caught her scent. What the hell is she doing here?
I forced my anger down and said evenly,
“Bayley, I know you’re there. Come out, or I will.”
She stepped into view, looking nervous… and beautiful.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I don’t know why, but something pulled me here. When I saw you, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I didn’t mean to intrude. I’ll go.” She turned to leave—but not this time.
“No,” I said, stopping her. “Please don’t go.”
I glanced once more at my wife’s grave, silently promising I’d return.
I took Bayley’s hand, feeling the spark of the mate bond.
“Would you like to come to my pack?” I asked. “Some are still at the mating party. I can show you around, let us get to know each other.”
She tilted her head, smiling.
“I would love to.”
We walked to my car hand in hand, unaware that someone was watching us—someone who didn’t like what they saw.
This was only the beginning.
Everything happened so fast.
I had always done things my own way. I never needed permission from anyone, alpha or not. I was a grown man, and I handled things the way I saw fit. But when that son of a b***h stormed in, grabbed my daughter by the hair, called her a w***e, and accused her of sleeping around… something inside me snapped.
I killed him.
And just like that, I made my daughter, Jessica, the Alpha of the pack.
I walked over to her and said quietly,
“Jessica, I’m sorry for killing your mate. But I will never stand by and let a man lay a hand on you.” She turned from the pack members she was speaking with and looked at me calmly.
“Daddy, I know. And I’m not upset that you killed him. We didn’t have a real bond anyway. I broke it myself. I knew what he was trying to do, and I wasn’t going to let him control me. We barely slept together, and he cheated constantly, so he killed it, too.” She paused, then continued softly.
“When I finally get a true mate, I want someone who sees only me. Someone who loves me for who I am, not what I can give them.”
Her words hit harder than I expected.
“Father,” she said gently, “I know Mom died giving birth to me. I know Bayley is your second-chance mate. Maybe you should talk to her. Really talk. Maybe invite her to the pack for a few weeks and see how she likes it.” She looked at me seriously.
“But please don’t treat her badly, Daddy. She’s not like us. She’s not a shifter. She’s something… different.”
I listened, but doubt filled my chest. Was I ready for another mate? Would my wife be angry with me for even considering it? I hadn’t visited her grave in so long that I didn’t even know what I would say.
Maybe that was what I needed to do.
“Honey, I need to do something real quick,” I said. “I’ll come by tomorrow, okay? You’re only thirty minutes away. I want you to come visit my pack soon. I’d like to introduce you to everyone.”
She nodded and wrapped her arms around me.
“I’ll be back tomorrow. I promise.” After hugging her one last time, I headed for my car. I knew exactly where I was going.
I used to visit her grave every day, sitting for hours, talking to her about everything, my day, the pack, and our daughter. Today was different. Today, I needed answers. I needed peace.
I parked at the cemetery, grabbed a bottle of Jim Beam, and walked toward her resting place. She was on the far left, five rows up. I took a long swig as I approached, then dropped to my knees in front of her stone.
Loving mother.
Devoted wife.
Luna and warrior.
I traced the letters with my fingertips.
“Baby… I don’t know what to do,” I whispered. “Without you, I feel lost. There’s another mate for me, and I don’t want to hurt you. She’s different from us. She doesn’t even know where her people are. She’s alone. She protects our daughter. I can’t take her away from that. Who else would protect her?” Tears hit the ground as my voice broke. Suddenly, I felt a hand rest gently on my shoulder. I looked up, and there she was. My wife.
She looked the same… but not. Real and unreal all at once.
I stood, desperate to touch her, and when I reached out, she smiled softly. Then, somehow, she stepped into my arms. Holding her again, even for a moment, nearly shattered me.
“Listen to me, Hunter,” she said quickly. “I don’t have much time.”
I nodded, unable to speak.
“I know you’ll always love me. I’ll always be in your heart. But you need to live. If you push Bayley away, there may not be anyone else for you.” She cupped my face.
“Give her a chance. Let her show you how much love she has, for you and for our daughter. It’s time, honey. You need someone by your side. Someone to love you, challenge you, help you lead.” Her eyes softened.
“You can trust her. And remember… my death wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t Jessica’s either. It was simply my time.” She kissed me softly. Then she was gone.
I collapsed to my knees, sobbing, until daylight finally broke. When I stood and turned toward my car, I heard rustling in the bushes.
Then I caught her scent. What the hell is she doing here?
I forced my anger down and said evenly,
“Bayley, I know you’re there. Come out, or I will.”
She stepped into view, looking nervous… and beautiful.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I don’t know why, but something pulled me here. When I saw you, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I didn’t mean to intrude. I’ll go.” She turned to leave—but not this time.
“No,” I said, stopping her. “Please don’t go.”
I glanced once more at my wife’s grave, silently promising I’d return.
I took Bayley’s hand, feeling the spark of the mate bond.
“Would you like to come to my pack?” I asked. “Some are still at the mating party. I can show you around, let us get to know each other.”
She tilted her head, smiling.
“I would love to.”
We walked to my car hand in hand, unaware
