Chapter 0438

"I always suspected your mother didn't have cancer. Couldn't pinpoint what it was, but cancer patients don't have those kinds of episodes. Was she a shifter too?" Theodore asked, taking a bite of his meal.

A weight lifted from my chest. I hadn't realized how badly I needed Theo to believe me—to agree to join our pack. This man who'd protected my mother and me when we had nothing. Who'd watched over me after she was gone. More of a father to me than my own ever was.

"She was."

He nodded. "That where you got it from?" Casual, like we were discussing my hair color instead of my ability to turn into a wolf.

"From both parents."

"You ever track down that worthless father of yours?" He knew the basics—how my father had thrown us out.

"Yeah. Handled it." His fork froze midway to his mouth as he studied me.

"Permanently?"

I nodded.

"Good." He finished his breakfast in one decisive bite. "Never deserved either of you."

"So, Theo," Victor cut in. "You ready to live with a pack of wolves in the woods? Help a young girl launch her diner business?"

Theo shrugged. "Packed up everything I own. Nothing left for me back there. Only way is forward with you folks. If you'll have me, I'm in. But fair warning—I don't shift. What you see is what you get."

During the drive home, Theo and I caught up. I gave him the full story of my confrontation with my father. "Alpha wolf, huh? That's the big boss?"

"Something like that."

"Nice to know the top dog."

He adapted to pack life faster than I'd imagined. Moved into the packhouse without blinking at living among hundreds of wolf shifters. Once assured no one would accidentally maul him in wolf form, he settled right in.

Within weeks, he'd befriended nearly everyone. No one batted an eye at having a human in the pack. He sat down with Rosalind, discussing her diner plans and adding his own expertise. They designed layouts for large group seating while ensuring proper kitchen and checkout space. He took her under his wing, just like he'd done for me.

Sometimes he joins the hunting parties. I've heard him arguing he's the better hunter—no claws or fangs, just a rifle and his own sharp senses.

Even the sprites adore him. After Titania left with Alpha Alistair, Oberon had been lonely. Now he and Theo spend afternoons chatting under the trees or walking through the forest.

He's picked a building site for his future house. Once the diner's up, I doubt I'll see much of him—he'll be holding court there, keeping an eye on everything.

Only complaint? "You folks may not be nudists, but there's an awful lot of nakedness around here."

I laughed. "Clothes don't survive shifting. Too expensive to keep replacing them."

He's adapted well.

All things considered, the transition's been smoother than I ever expected.

And I couldn't be happier.

"I always suspected your mother didn't have cancer. Didn't know what was wrong, but cancer patients don't have those kinds of episodes. Was she a shifter too?" Theodore asked, shoving a forkful of eggs into his mouth.

A weight lifted from my chest. I hadn't realized how badly I needed Reginald to believe me—to agree to join our pack. This man who'd protected my mother and me when we had nothing. Who'd watched over me after she was gone. More of a father to me than Gregory Sinclair ever was.

"She was."

He nodded. "That where you got it from?" Casual, like asking about my hair color instead of my ability to turn into a wolf.

"From both parents."

"You ever track down that worthless father of yours?" He knew enough about Gregory throwing us out.

"Yeah. Handled it." His fork froze mid-air as he studied me.

"Permanently?"

I nodded.

"Good." He finished his breakfast in one decisive bite. "Never deserved either of you."

"So, Reginald," Victor cut in. "You want to live with a pack of wolves in the woods? Help a young girl start a diner business?"

Theodore shrugged. "Packed up my whole life knowing there's nothing left for me back there. Only path forward is with you folks. If you'll have me, I'm coming. But fair warning—I don't shift. What you see is what you get."

During the drive home, I filled him in on everything—the battle with Gregory, claiming my birthright. "Alpha wolf, huh? Means you're top dog now?"

"Something like that."

"Always good to know the boss."

To my shock, he adapted faster than I'd imagined. Moved into the packhouse without blinking at living among hundreds of shifters. Once assured no one would mistake him for prey, he settled right in.

Within weeks, he'd charmed nearly everyone. No one batted an eye at having a human in the pack. He met with Rosalind, brainstorming diner layouts—spacious enough for large groups while accommodating kitchen, prep station, and checkout. Took her under his wing just like he'd done for me.

Sometimes he joins hunting parties just to argue he's the superior hunter. "You've got claws and fangs. I've got decades of experience and a damn good rifle."

Even befriended the fae. After Titania left with Alpha Alistair, Oberon had been lonely. Now I often find them beneath the oaks at dusk, talking or walking through the woods.

He's already picked a house site. Once the diner's built, I know where he'll be—holding court at a corner booth, keeping watch over everything.

Only complaint? "Not a nudist colony, but sure see a lot of bare asses around here."

I laughed. "Shifting destroys clothes. Too expensive to keep replacing them."

He's adjusted.

All things considered? Smoother transition than I ever expected.

And I couldn't be happier.