The Alpha's Unknown Daughter

Chapter Two - The Note

Rafe's phone ringing woke him. Had something happened with Tyra? To Jasmine? So many foreign thoughts and worried immediately occupied his mind, reminding him of how much had changed.

" What?" Rafe immediately demanded, recognizing the ring tone instantly.

"Tyra snuck out last night and no one has seen her since." A very worried voice said. What? How had she snuck out when she was barely supposed to be conscious? Rafe immediately jumped out up at the thought.

" The police have been notified and they are looking for her." Carson added right before Rafe hung up. Had they found her? Whoever was after her? Had he failed to protect her a second time?

"It's okay daddy." A very small and gentle voice interrupted him as he quickly put on a shirt and went for his shoes.

"You know who I am?" Rafe immediately asked and Jasmine nodded, then pulled a pendent necklace from under her shirt collar. Inside the locket was a picture of Tyra on one side and himself on the other. It made him swallow with emotion as he dropped the shoe he had been trying to put on.

Rafe knew she had recognized him the first day he met her. There had been recognition in her gaze, now he understood why. Even after everything he had put Tyra through, she still hadn't hidden his identity from their daughter. His heart both ached at lost time and felt happiness that she had put everything aside and made sure Jasmine knew who he was. He really didn't deserve Tyra.

"Mommy came to see me last night. She said she had to go away, but you would take care of me for a while." She said in that same innocent, gentle voice his very heart was now beginning to recognize.

"She said to tell you she would talk to you soon and had left you something in your office." Jasmine finished, then fell quiet.

Rafe was speechless at her words. He didn't know what to say. This scenario had never crossed his mind when he had been playing them all through his head last night.

" Why don't you go find your grandma and grandpa, while I go see what your mother left me." Rafe said, nervous as to what he was going to walk into. Her smile was so genuine though, it eased the worry and missing ache in his heart, but just a little.

" Okay." Jasmine said in answer and ran off towards the kitchen, little bear in hand.

Rafe immediately went to his office. How had Tyra made it in here, then got out without anyone knowing? Her scent should have been all over, but he smelled nothing in the hallways as he made his way there.

As soon as he walked into the room though, he smelled her. She smelled even better than he remembered, and Rafe stilled as he drank in the scent with a deep breath. One day, this scent would fill their house. All three of them would be here happy and safe.

Rafe glanced across the room, but the only difference he noticed was two pieces of paper sitting on the desk. He knew they were from her. Even if Jasmine hadn't told him they would be there, he could smell her scent coating them like a blanket, from the door.

The first was a letter addressed to him. His heart began to race in both anticipation and fear as he picked it up and read it.

Rafe,

By now you will know of Jasmine's parentage. Whatever issues you have with me, I ask you to not take them out on our daughter. It is not my wish to leave her here with you, for I don't know how you will react. I pray only that you will have changed and became the man I always knew you were deep down. If you hurt her, I will know and not even hiding behind your pack will save you from my wrath.

She really didn't think that highly of him, he thought with disappointment. He guessed she didn't really have a reason to though, he reminded himself. Would he ever get the chance to show her that he had changed?