The Secrets of the Panther

BLAKE

Lena and I walk back into Izzy’s room after seeing Helga.

Kat and Alice are still there with Izzy, but the little beauty is lying next to her. I stare at her.

Allie was lying next to her mother, her silent tears that fall and her silent pleas for her mother to wake up. It breaks my heart to hear what she says.

I walk over to her. Lena touches Kat’s shoulder, which startles her slightly. She looks up at her and then back at me with a small smile. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Alice looks at me too. “We will leave you to be with Izzy,” she says.

Kat gets up out of the chair and goes near to Allie.

But Allie is not having any of it. “I want to stay here,” she says. “I want to stay with mummy.”

Kat looks back at me. “I think she needs...” she says, but I shake my head. “No, Kat, it is alright. She can stay with me. We can watch over Mummy together.”

Kat looks between us, but she nods when she looks back at me.

Alice walks out the door with Lena, but Kat looks at me. She moves towards me, placing her arms around me and putting me into a hug. “Thank you, Blake,” she says into my chest.

I can’t help but feel a slight pain wash over with her words. “Why are you thanking me?”

Kat moves her arms around me and steps away to look at me. “I thank you for not giving up on Izzy; many alphas would have walked away or even rejected her for being different,” she says, and she takes my hand in hers but looks over her shoulder at Allie and Izzy, Allie looking at us.

“I also thank you for the way you are with the little one,” she says as she turns to look back at me. “She is our world, but you have her heart; she is pure and innocent in all this.”

“She loves you as if you are her father,” she says, smiling. “Allie never connected with any men other than Alpha Dawson and Todd. She was scared the others would hurt her mum, but she never felt that with you.”

I stare at Allie, who is leaning on her mother’s shoulder. I don’t take my eyes off her.

“Do you think I will be a good father to her?” I ask her, feeling slightly anxious.

“Blake, you are already a good father to her,” Kat says, which makes me look back at her; she is smiling back at me. She squeezes my hand. “You already protected her, and she knows you love Izzy; she wants you all to be family.”

I smile at her.

Kat looks back at Allie. “Goodnight, sweetie,” she says, and she looks back at me. “Make sure you both sleep too; my panther thinks that Izzy and Puna will be back soon, and I know they both will want to see you, but mainly see you both rested.”

I nod.

Kat opens the door and walks out of the room, leaving me with my two girls.

I walk over to the chair that Kat was sitting in; I sit down and look at Allie, who is now up and looking at me.

“When do you think Mummy will wake up?” She asks as she shuffles over to the edge of the bed and holds her hands up to me. I lean over to take her into my arms.

Allie climbs in, sits on my lap, and leans into my torso as she places her head on my chest.

“I don’t know, Angel,” I say to her as I place my hand on her little one.

“I think mummy will want you to sleep,” I say to her, but Allie moves away slightly so she can look at me. “I will, but I know what I am,” she says.

I look back at her, confused. “Angel, what are you on about?” I ask her.

She smiles. “I’m a panther shifter like my mum. I can feel it, but someone told me in a dream that I will be,” she says. She moves her little hand to my cheek. “She also told me you will be my daddy. Also, mummy loves you.”

Still confused, I stare down at her, but her sweet face smiles at me. “The woman said her name was Selene.”

My eyes go wide; it can’t be.

The Moon Goddess.

“Allie, what else did Selene say to you?” I ask her; her little finger touches my nose, but she giggles quietly. “She told me I will be safe with you; you are now my daddy, and mummy will be the one to save us all.”

“Allie,” I say, but Allie moves up onto her knees and leans closer to my neck; she places her head into the crook of my neck and sniffs in my scent; she turns her head and sighs, “Selene is pretty but not as pretty as my mummy,” she says, but a yawn follows.

A few seconds later, Allie sleeps with her head on my shoulder.

I lift her slightly and place her back into my arms with her legs on one side and her head on the other; I snuggle her into me.

I can’t help but stare at my sleeping mate. She looks so peaceful but also gorgeous.

I can’t believe she is mine; I want to win her. I want to have my ready-made family. I need her to wake up, not just for me but for Allie and her family.

Hell, for everyone, we all need her back.

Suddenly there is a mind link sweeping in. “Blake, how is Izzy?” says my mother.

“She still not awake,” I say in a soft tone back through the mind link. “I have Allie in my arms sleeping; we will stay here tonight. We will wait for Izzy to wake up.”

“I gathered as much,” she says, with a hint of happiness. “I will bring some change of clothes for all three of you.”

“Mum,” I ask suddenly, “Do you think I will be a good father to Allie?”

“Blake, you are already a dad to her. She has taken to you, and by the looks of it, she will have you and your father wrapped around her finger soon,” she says with a giggle. “Your father already wants to buy her some things, such as a dollhouse.”

I can’t help but chuckle. “He will treat her like a princess, but mum,” I say as I look down at the little sleeping beauty in my arms. “We don’t know what is coming, but I need you to promise me you will watch Allie. Protect her.”

“I will, son,” she says quietly. “Blake, Izzy will need you, I know, but you must be careful, as Allie will need you too.”

“I know, but I want to protect my mate and my daughter, but knowing Izzy, she will want to fight, and I will stand by her side when she does,” I say.

“You sound like a true Alpha, you know,” she says with a sigh. “Your auntie Anita and I will protect her as if we were our own.”

“Thank you, mum,” I say, and I close the mind link.

I lean back on the chair, but suddenly, my eyes feel heavy; I fall asleep instantly.

I don’t know how long I was out, but I was woken with a start. I look down at Allie, who is covered with a blanket on both of us.

I looked up at the bed and noticed my eyes were looking back at me.

I couldn’t help but stare. She is awake.

“Izzy,” I say in a whisper.

Izzy looks back at me, but a slow smile spreads. “MATE,” she says.