Her Second Chance

Chapter 6

Anthony's POV

Present Day

"Alissa love, would you be a dear and send these numbers over to our contact at AirBNB?" I put the list of numbers in front of the secretary that has worked for me the last few years.

"Of course, Mr. Starr." She smiled and got to work. I went to my office and began reviewing maintenance orders for my properties.

I made good on my word that day two years ago when I stopped drinking. I've been attending meetings weekly and speak to a therapist once a month. Sleeping around isn't my thing any longer. Even though I still hang out with Murphy sometimes, they're sober gatherings, though two Irish men can still get up to no good if they want to. I get lonely for female companionship occasionally, but I bury myself in work to fight it. It isn't worth jeopardizing my sobriety.

I paid dearly for that one night with Lauren. Those first couple of months she called and texted me incessantly. I'd block her number and she'd just use another one. I had the feeling at one point she was following me but brushed it off. I did some digging on her and learned her full name was Lauren Samuels, but strangely never found any trace of her online or having a record. She wasn't affiliated with a pack, though that wasn't all that unusual among wolves and other supernaturals. Some wolves like the freedom of living in the human world and not being under an Alpha's rule.

I thought Lauren eventually would get the message I wanted nothing to do with her, but when she showed up at my work one day when I was out of town on a business trip, I had to take more drastic measures. I immediately changed my number and put her on a do not enter list for my company, as well as a do not rent list in case she tried to rent one of my properties for a vacation. Not long after I put all that in place, the calls stopped and I never heard from her again.

Therapy has been a long road. I chose a Fae counselor who has been helping me finally get through the rage over Mindi's betrayal and helping me fix my toxic behaviors and identifying my triggers that make me want to start drinking again.

I talk a lot about Jade in our sessions and how it kills me not knowing her. The therapist gave me the idea to submit my DNA to a database in case Jade ever tried to find me. Since I'm a fairy I had to consult with King Arlen about it, which surprisingly he gave me permission to do. He said if Jade ever submits her DNA to a general DNA lab that the humans use, her data will still be able to be cross matched with mine. I did it last year and I've been waiting patiently since.

After I completed my review of maintenance requests and gave approval, I reviewed the long list of emails that built up over the last week. I came across one from an address that I had never seen before, with the subject line "Your Daughter Jade." My heart skipped beats out and I found my hand shaking as I opened it.

Mr. Starr,

My name is Dr. Lawrence Rhodes, I am the lead physician of the wolf pack Fire Moon just outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I have your daughter Jade Starr in my care. She is healthy and there is no need to be alarmed. But we submitted her DNA to the database to figure out what kind of supernatural she is, and we found a match to a DNA sample you submitted last year. Your daughter is very excited to learn about who she really is and who you are. Her mother sadly told her nothing about you and Jade was unaware until last night she is part supernatural.

I also want to inform you that Jade is mated to a werewolf, our pack Gamma in fact. He is a good man who loves her very much and will take wonderful care of her. But she does need guidance only her Fae father can provide. I look forward to your reply.

Dr. Lawrence Rhodes

Tears of happiness streamed down my cheeks. After eighteen long years, I can finally meet my daughter! But I'm stuck here on these God forsaken islands. I can't even go back to the United States until King Arlen lifts my banishment.

Sir,

Thank you for notifying me that my daughter is in your care. Unfortunately, I am unable to travel to the United States due to ‘vetiti’ from the Fairy King. Jade's mother knows why, and that is all I can say. Please, tell Jade I love her, and I never stopped thinking about her all these years.

Yours truly, Anthony Starr

After I sent the doctor my reply, I had to get up and go for a walk on the beach. Dejection was sinking in fast and I felt the old urges coming to grab the nearest bottle and drink my sorrows away. I practiced my deep breathing the therapist showed me but it wasn't working. Just when I was about to call my counselor, my phone beeped and I saw it was a reply from Dr. Rhodes.

Mr. Starr, may I have your information to give to my Alpha? He would like to speak with you.

I replied back immediately, then called my mother back home in Ireland. My mother Maeve has been my rock during all this and we have become closer the last couple of years.

"It's about time ya called, son! Been a minute!"

"Ma? Guess what! I found Jade!" Ma prattled off something in Gaelic as I filled her in briefly on what Dr. Rhodes had written me.

"My goodness, mated to a wolf is she!" My mother is as shocked as I am about that.

"There has to be a reason behind that but she's fine, Ma! And she wants to meet me. But I can't unless King Arlen ever lifts my banishment!"

"I can't think of why he wouldn't. The girl is now a woman and her mother is out of the picture now!"

"You know our King. His orders are absolute." I said dejectedly.

"Nevertheless, this is wonderful news son. It's been a long road and the journey is almost over now. I look forward to finally meeting our girl." That was another thing that always broke my heart. My mother suffered all these years too, never seeing her granddaughter grow up. My father passed away ten years ago never knowing her. Mindi destroyed those bonds too.

But it's over now. Jade is legally an adult and there is nothing Mindi can say or do now to stop Jade from meeting me and my mother.

Ma and I chatted a bit more and made plans that when I figured out where Jade was and got her settled, I'd fly Ma out to finally meet her. When another call beeped in, I let Ma go and answered.

"Hello?"

"Anthony Starr? This is King Arlen."

"King Arlen. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"The Alpha of the Fire Moon pack just called me and told me a very interesting event is unfolding at his pack."

"I'm aware sir. My daughter is there and apparently mated to one of his ranked wolves. His pack doctor just emailed me about this matter."

"Did the good doctor tell you anything else?"

"No, he did not. Just that Jade is there, she is healthy, and just learned last night she's part fae." I told him.

"So there is much more that you need to know. Jade is pregnant, though the child doesn't belong to her mate. The rest of it needs to come from her, but please rest assured it does not matter to her mate and he plans to raise the child as his own."

So many emotions ran through me. I'm going to be a grandfather!?

"The other thing is that wolf Moon Goddess mated Jade to that wolf, with the intention of making Jade a Faewolf."

"WHAT!?" Horror overtook me. "How can she do that?!"

"She has her reasons and Jade seems to be a part of her plans. She has given her guarantee to Jade's mate, the Alpha of Fire Moon, and our Goddess Aine that no harm will come to Jade during this. She said this is what she destined Jade for. And for what it's worth, you'd be proud of your daughter. As soon as Jade learned of your banishment and the email you sent that doctor, she flew back to her mother to get answers and brought her mate and another wolf named Tessa Morse in tow. I don't know anything about her mate, but I've heard from other Alphas that Tessa Morse is a force to be reckoned with. Mindi whatever her new last name is will be answering many questions here soon!"

"Good!" God, how I wanted to see Mindi shaking in her shoes learning our daughter has finally figured out the truth!

"King Arlen, I need to see my daughter. Please, lift my banishment. I beg of you!"

"I am lifting it, but it's going to take time Anthony. Even after I lift it, there will be passport issues getting back to the States. You must be patient."

"I've been patient! I have missed out on eighteen long years of my child's life and now I learn not only is she going to be a mother, she's going to be a Faewolf! You have to let me go to her King Arlen!"

"In due time, Anthony Starr! I will call you when your daughter is heading back to Wyoming! Good day!" King Arlen got off the phone. I screamed in frustration then practiced my deep breathing to get myself under control.

King Arlen is a good man. He's a good and fair king, and I never held him banishing me against him. In some ways that banishment saved my life, though I didn't make much use of that new chance until the last couple of years.

I buried myself the following day with work to keep me distracted until my phone rang.

"King Arlen?"

"Anthony Starr, I have already begun the process of expediting your passport. You should get it by next Monday at the latest."

Tears of relief streamed down my face. "How did Jade get Mindi to tell the truth?"

"That should come from her, it was something though. I watched it all unfold. It's all over Anthony. I know it will never be much, but I am..."

"King Arlen? Don't ever say your sorry to me. If I had stayed in the States I'd be in jail or dead. You are the Fairy King, you did what you thought was right. I don't hold it against you and never have." I meant every word of that.

"Thank you for that. Now get packing, man! Jade is waiting for you at Fire Moon."