Wolf's Heir

Chapter 1-3

JOSEPHINE DREW IN A deep breath as soon as she got into her car. She had barely breathed during the entire interview, and now she was hyperventilating. She’d gotten the job. She’d gotten the job. She’d gotten the job. She couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t supposed to be that easy, was it? And now she was going to be working for him. The man she had come looking for to protect her from her father and his men was the same man who had gotten her pregnant.

She rested a hand on her still flat belly and closed her eyes. She could never forget their night together, even if she tried. She started her car and pulled away slowly, getting several glances from the construction crew. She avoided their gaze and focused on what she needed to do before tomorrow morning.

She had already changed her phone and gotten a different number as well. She had an old friend sign a lease on an apartment with her until she could earn her own money. She could never thank her enough for doing that. She tried not to think about how furious her father was with her at the moment. He’d always been fairly strict with her, but in recent years, he’d become somewhat lenient, much to her relief. But since he’d found out she was refusing to marry David, she’d become a virtual prisoner in her own home.

Until two weeks ago, when she’d left in the middle of the night, calling the only friend she’d ever had since childhood, and she hadn’t looked back. She simply couldn’t. That life wasn’t the one for her; she’d always known that. Her mother had died when she was young, but whenever she saw the friendly eyes staring back at her in the one photograph she had of her mother, she knew she would never have approved of how her father had brought her up.

At any given time, Josephine was surrounded by several of the men who worked for her father. She still didn’t quite grasp what it was they did, but not for lack of trying. Her father had caught her trying to sneak into his office a few times when she was younger and reprimanded her, first lightly, then harshly as she got older. She knew her father had been in the military for several years, but beyond that, she wasn’t privy to any of the information he deemed classified.

The men who worked for him hadn’t all been in the military, and something told her they boasted less than reputable backgrounds. Like Walter who was her father’s main...friend? Assistant? She wasn’t quite sure. Perhaps ‘shadow’ was better word for what his job entailed. Walter was fairly quiet most of the time; she’d only ever heard him speak once or twice.

One time in particular had been a few years after she’d turned sixteen. He’d seen her with David’s son, Sam, trying to sneak into her father’s office to snoop. He’d yelled at Sam, who’d fled without a second glance, but he’d gripped her arm and told her he wouldn’t tell her father if she accepted his punishment for her crime. She’d shuddered and let him tell her father. At least she knew what that entailed. She’d never told her father because she knew her father would somehow find a way to blame her for Walter’s threat. It was a lost cause.

Instead, she’d focused on her school work, much to her father’s relief. Without any friends, she lacked the social life her peers had enjoyed. She’d written letters to Gabby, the only friend she’d ever had besides Sam. Gabby had grown up with her until they turned ten, then she’d had to move, but the two girls stayed in touch even today.

It was Gabby who had suggested that she run away. She’d told Josephine that her father would only get more upset. Josephine heard a note of hesitation in her voice when she asked how she knew. Gabby wouldn’t say, but she insisted that she would help her, no matter what the cost.

“You can always pay me back, Jassie,” she said. “You’re brilliant. I know you’ll have no problem paying me back in no time with the salary you’ll make. But I want you to know that you never have to pay me back. Just knowing that you’re safe and happy is payment enough for me.”

Jassie thought about calling her now to tell her but decided to wait when she realized that Gabby wouldn’t be off work yet. Gabby was always incredibly sweet toward her, and Jassie was thankful that even though she only had one girlfriend, she was an absolute gem. Without her, she would still be trapped in her house, waiting to marry David. Her father hadn’t set a date, but she knew it was in less than a year. Jassie shuddered, thinking about David.

He was over twenty years her senior, and he looked more like her grandfather from all the heavy smoking he did. She couldn’t understand why her father wanted her to marry David; it made no sense. Her whole life, she’d toed the line with her father in her own way. He’d home-schooled her, hired nannies and tutors to teach her. He hadn’t had much of an opinion on what she had learned in high school, but once she had finished, he’d wanted her to study things he thought were more feminine and appropriate, while she’d had her mind set on architecture.

He wasn’t entirely convinced of her potential and often made comments about how it was pointless. He was adamant that she would study what he decided was best for her or not study at all. She chose not to study and busied herself at home with reading about architecture and picked up numerous hobbies, namely trying to spy on him. It had taken three years, but he had finally relented when he saw that it would keep her out of his hair. In fact, he had lost interest in what she was studying and spent more time behind closed doors with his employees, which suited her just fine.

It was lonely at times, but Jassie hardly had time to think about her loneliness when she was studying. But after she was done with school, the full impact of her relatively solitary existence had hit her. She had a wonderful degree and longed to pursue a career. She had taken online classes, and, with the exception of a handful of campus trips to see advisors and professors, she’d had next to no contact with her peers.

It was another reason to thank Gabby, really. Gabby filled her in on all the pop culture and current topics that people their age were discussing. She soaked it all up, but an opportunity to discuss it with someone else never presented itself.

Gabby even told her about her first time. Jassie had listened with rapt attention and later peppered her with countless questions. They had been eighteen at the time. She was in awe of her mature friend and envious of her freedom. Jassie had often asked if she could go live with Gabby, but her father had always refused. He hadn’t seemed to like the fact that the two girls communicated, but seeing as how it was her only friend, he had never explicitly said anything to Jassie about it.

Jassie occasionally spent time with Sam, but less and less as they grew older. He was busy with his father, and then he seemed to disappear as soon as Jassie was ready for college. She hadn’t wanted to ask David about him because she was afraid of getting too close to the man after the one time he’d caught the two of them in her father’s office.

Jassie pulled into the complex of her new home, still in disbelief over her new job. A new home and a new job. Pregnant. On the run. She wanted to cry and celebrate at the same time, but she didn’t know where to begin processing her feelings. Gabby would know, she thought. At times, she regretted not moving closer to her, but she couldn’t, not yet anyway. She knew her father’s men would be looking for her. That’s why she had chosen this particular city. New York held no significance to her, except for the fact that it was where Jalen lived.

Jalen. Jassie dropped her keys onto the kitchen table and plopped down. She had furnished the apartment with the basic necessities, a table, and a small bed she’d found on a local resale site. Her living room was still bare, but she loved every corner of her new home. It was hers, and she was free to come and go as she pleased.

She was finally living a life that she’d always dreamed of. It wasn’t fancy like her father’s mansion, with maids, butlers, drivers, and of course, guards. But here, she was free to do whatever she wanted. It was as blissful as Gabby had promised.

Gabby didn’t know about the baby yet, though. Jassie knew she would be happy for her, but she hated to worry her friend more than she already had. Every conversation she had with Gabby began with her panicked voice on the other end. While Jassie appreciated her concern for her welfare, she also didn’t want to be the source of Gabby’s constant worrying.

That’s why she was so excited to tell her about her new job. She would wait until Gabby had had time to process that before she revealed her pregnancy news. Jassie rose to get a glass of water and swayed, gripping the counter as she walked to the sink.

She needed time to adjust to this herself, she thought grimly. As soon as she could, she had to find a doctor and make a visit. It was only because she’d memorized Gabby’s symptoms from when she was pregnant last year that it had even occurred to Jassie that she might be pregnant. She didn’t regret it, though. Not for a moment.

In fact, the thought of having a baby thrilled her beyond belief. She longed to hold and comfort it, rock it to sleep, and do all of the things that she had been deprived of. She longed to love and be loved in so many ways. She knew it might have been a struggle if she hadn’t found a job, but she had. And knowing that her boss was the father of the baby, well, she hoped he would understand when she began to show. She wanted nothing from him, except maybe acknowledgement. Jassie also wanted him to have a relationship with the baby, but she would cross that bridge when she got to it.

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