The Alpha's Unknown Daughter

Chapter Three - Daddy Daughter Day

Both Rafe and his wolf were going mad. Having Jasmine near calmed them, some, but they both wanted Tyra near, and they were tired of waiting. If she would just talk to Rafe once, she would see he had changed.

His mother and father had already begun the spoiling, much to Rafe's amusement. He didn't mind though. The more they talked to her and coddled her, the more comfortable she became. Watching her helped his ache to be near Tyra as well. He and his wolf had both instantly accepted Jasmine and his wolf had seemed to have gone into full protection mode. Every twig that snapped, every sound that was unaccounted for, sent adrenaline through Rafe's veins. Is this how it was for all their kind? It would explain why his mom and dad always got so worked up when it came to him.

He supposed it made sense and now he understood completely. Shifter's wolves' sense of survival and the need to procreate was the strongest instinct sometimes. It made sense that shifters would be this protective of their pups.

"What kinds of things do you like to do, little one?" Rafe asked Jasmine from the couch where he was watching her.

"Draw. Mommy always made sure I had paper and pencil." She explained and Rafe made a mental note to buy a sketch pad next time he went to town.

"Do you want to see?" She asked and he smiled.

"Of course." Rafe immediately answered.

"You can have my one of mommy." She said as she grabbed a bag he hadn't noticed before now.

She then reached inside and pulled out a small notebook. The sound of ripping paper filled the room as she pulled one of the papers from the book. An emotion he didn't recognize twinged inside him when she did. How many drawings had she done before and what did Tyra look like now in hers.

When she handed it to him, he swallowed back the emotion. The picture was amazing. Rafe knew parents always say that about their child's creations, but Jasmine's was drawn with more detail than he thought a child like her knew existed.

Tyra had changed. Muscles had replaced her soft and fragile frame. Her hair was longer, and her face had also changed. It was more intense, more focused than he remembered. Another feeling of guilt rose inside him when he noted them. How much had the situation he had put her into change her?

"Do you always look at mommy like that?" Jasmine's voice asked as it snapped him out of his trance.

"Like what?" Rafe asked as he somehow managed to draw his eyes from her drawing.

She just giggled at him though and picked up her book. She then handed it to him and returned to the wolf figurine his mom and dad had given her.

Jasmine's other drawings were just as impressive. One was of her and Tyra. Though a dark shadow caught his attention. It was a dark figure that had dark eyes and were watching them. Rafe flipped the page, but every one of her drawings had the same ominous darkness that was stalking the pair. Did these figures represent the ones that Tyra had spoken of?

Jasmine, do you know where your mommy went?" Rafe asked carefully. She shook her head in response, but stiffly. She knew something.

"Daddy?" She suddenly asked and Rafe smiled. He liked hearing her say that.

"Yes, sweetie?" He asked back and she dropped her toy to look at him.

"Can we do something today? Just the two of us?" She asked and for the first time, both he and his wolf relaxed completely at her words. They were so innocent, given their circumstances.

"Of course, baby girl. What do you want to do?" Rafe asked, already growing excited about the idea of just the two of them spending some time together.

"I don't care, as long as it is just you and me." She answered and he felt his heart swell.