Wild Heart

Family

-Juliette-

"I can explain." He said as he tried to get me to follow him into the living room.

"I've known you for just about two months now and it never occurred to you that you should probably bring something like this up?" I asked, I couldn't believe how upset I was, but I knew I was holding a lot in because I didn't want to scare Grace. "Were you trying to keep her a secret, are you ashamed-"

"No." He cut me off instantly. "I love my daughter so I could never be ashamed of her...if you would just take a seat we can talk."

I hesitated before I removed the apron and followed him and Grace into the living room. We both watched as Grace helped herself to the toys in a small basket on the floor.

"So I could be wrong, but this whole time of us knowing each other, all of the opening up and not so slight flirting between us, you never once thought to bring her up?" I asked boldly.

"I thought I was being pretty subtle with my flirting." He smirked.

I gave him a sharp look, "really Dylan?"

"I'm kidding, look Jules I didn't tell you because it takes a while for me to tell anyone and it isn't because she's a secret, it's because after everything I've been through, she is my everything and I wouldn't let anyone hurt her."

I could hear the sincerity in his voice and see the concern in his eyes as he looked over at her...but I was still hurt. "She said her Mommy was at home...Dylan, if you're in a relationship...-"

He sighed, "I'm not...Grace says that all the time because that's what I tell her."

I was confused, "Will you tell me the truth?" I asked.

"Everything." He said..."if you think you're up for it, because once you know everything there's only two ways to go from here."

"Two ways to go?"

"Either you freak out and stop talking to me or you fall in love with Grace and agree to possibly going on a future date with her dad."

I had to laugh, "don't try and use that beautiful little girl to pick me up."

"It was worth a shot."

"It's still too soon for me Dylan, it wouldn't be fair to you or Gracie." I confessed. "I need to figure myself out before I jump into something with you."

He nodded his understanding.

"I thank you for not acting as impulsively as
I did." He said as he got comfortable. "After my rejection, I told you about my dark days, but once things started to become bearable again I started to go out with my cousin Roc."

I stopped him. "Wait...Roc's your cousin?" I asked...call me oblivious but I've always just sort of thought Dylan was a regular pack member.

He smiled, "yep... our dads are brothers, my dad is the younger of the two." He filled me in. "And funnily enough I'm older than Roc... so...if Roc had been a girl or never been born, I would have become the next alpha...after my dad of course."

I nodded and he continued.

"Anyways we would go out to various cities, meet girls, hook up but other packs didn't care too much for that so that's when we started partying at the field, not to brag or anything...but as a Wylde...girls will basically throw themselves at you."

I rolled my eyes in disgust.

"Three years back we had a party out at the field, I saw this one girl there she was kinda shy very quiet and it drew me towards her." He said. "We talked, she was young, un-mated and by the end of the night she came back to my apartment at the time... of course, sometimes it only takes one time... anyways, she actually found her mate after she had our daughter, but she wanted to start fresh with her mate so she signed over her rights to my daughter."

I felt so sad for him.

"I named her Grace, because she was my one saving grace to better myself and make sure I could give her the best life possible...they say there's no love like the one you experience with your mate...but I know that isn't true because I can't imagine a love stronger than the love I have for my daughter."

And for the very first time since meeting Dylan, I actually swooned.

"Of course I've tried dating since then, but all the Weres my age are either mated or holding out for their mates, and human girls my age don't want the responsibility of dating a guy with a kid or have their own kids so they put their children first...as they should of course."

"So what about Grace's mom, it's been three years since she left her...has she ever tried to contact her at all?"

He shook his head, "I couldn't tell you if she's happy, married, had more kids...I know one day Grace will be old enough to ask questions but when the time comes I hope I'm strong enough to tell her the truth."

I reached out and covered his balled fists with my hands.

"I'm sorry you've had such a rough life, but Grace seems worth it...maybe everything happens for a reason."

He nodded. "That's what my mom use to say."

Silence took over and it grew awkward, I realized that I was still touching his hands and I pulled my hands away. "I, uh...I should go and get ready for dinner."

He nodded, "don't worry Grace and I will be down here holding down the fort." He offered gently.

I made my way upstairs and closed the bedroom door.

I sat on the edge of my bed and put my head in my hands.

"What's wrong with me?" I asked myself.

I was rejected only a month ago and here I am beginning to form feelings for Dylan.

I shook my head.

I knew it wasn't right, I had to push those feelings for Dylan away...I'm not ready to start anything with him and I'd only end up hurting him more than he's already been hurt.

But did I really want to do that?

Did I really want to deny myself this great guy...I mean he's been nothing but real with me from the beginning.

He's always treated me as an equal, always gave it to me straight...even when everyone else was afraid to.

He saw past the weakness and depression.

I sighed. It was settled...while I did not want to push Dylan away by any means, I would do my best to keep him as a friend as well as try and open myself once again.

But of course this time I wouldn't keep this to myself.

With my sister being as amazing as she's been, I knew she was the only person I wanted to talk about this with.

__________
A/N:

So for those wondering if Dylan is suppose to be an Alpha, the answer is that he has Alpha Blood in him so he is quite strong and that would explain why his mate was the daughter of an alpha and why he is so drawn to Juliette (and while she may be denying her feelings for him she is also drawn to him as well). So the short of it...he's a pack less Alpha.

I also want to say that Dylan does not want to change Juliette in any way, he cares for her and likes to challenge her so that she can be her own true self. Try and remember that with Dorian, his parents trained her to basically hide herself and only be a submissive mate for Dorian.

Lastly, while Dylan may seem to have moved on from his mate, I can assure you a rejected mate never truly moves on, they just learn how to live without them. Juliette is also moving on even though she doesn't realize it...more on that in the next chapter.