His to Protect: Book 1 in the Bound to Him Series by Sandra Antoni (the reading list TXT) 📗

the council, but he was okay with that because he had your mother. However, when your mother found out that she was pregnant, there was an attempt on her life. That was when your father decided to send her away.”

“My parents left with her and hid her in Kansas City. Once she gave you up for adoption, your mother thought that she would be safe, but they found her a few weeks later. Chelsea, your adoptive parents know what you are. They know that you are a shifter.”

“They are both human, but your mother needed your parents to know. They needed to watch for any signs. If your wolf ever presented herself to you, you would need to know what to do. It’s why they have been so protective of you. Why they still are,” she explained.

It was instinctive to jump up from the couch. I paced a few yards away and hugged my arms around my waist. It was too much. This was all too much, but there was one more question that I needed answered.

“Jessica, is my father still alive?” I asked her, and I noticed her hesitation. Then she nodded. Zeke asked the next question that came to my mind before I could.

“Who is he, Jessica?” he asked. Jessica twisted her hands in her lap.

She looked nervous and she wouldn’t meet my eyes. Jessica and I had always talked about everything with each other, well, except about this, and at first, I didn’t think that she was going to answer, but when she did, it was way more than I could handle.

“Governor Adams. The governor of Arizona,” she replied. My eyes flew open wide and my breath caught in my throat. The governor was a shifter, and he was my father.

I gasped, but I couldn’t breathe in any air. My lungs weren’t working, and I felt panic bubbling up inside. It was all just too much for me to process all at once. I was struggling to stay afloat, but I was losing that battle.

Strong arms grabbed me, and my head was pushed forward, bending me over at the waist. I could hear Zeke’s voice, and it sounded like he was yelling at someone. I heard him call my name, but it wasn’t enough, and suddenly, everything went dark.

When I opened my eyes, the room was dark. The bathroom light was on and the door was open. It was enough light that I could tell I was in Zeke’s bedroom and in his bed. I slowly sat up, and everything flooded back into my mind.

My father was still alive, and he was the governor of Arizona. My mother had been murdered, and Jessica, who I had known all my life, was a shifter. Hell, I was a shifter. I had a wolf inside of me.

I fell back against the bed and rubbed my temples. The start of a headache was working itself into a full-blown migraine. Closing my eyes, I relaxed against the pillows. When I heard the click of the door opening, I opened my eyes and turned in that direction. Zeke walked across the room and sat down on the bed beside me.

He lifted my hand in his, and he seemed to be studying me closely. Concern was etched on his face, and the fact that I couldn’t remember how I got into the bedroom told me that I had probably passed out. My whole body was tense, and that was just making my head hurt worse.

“Zeke, my whole life was a lie. Everything I thought I knew, none of it was real,” I managed to say in not much more than a whisper.

“Chelsea, you can’t think about it like that. All the people who were involved, they all loved you. They did what they had to do to protect you. Your biological parents loved you. They found adoptive parents who would love you, and they made sure that you had the support that you needed,” he replied gently.

“I spoke more with Jessica. She was adamant that the first thing I tell you is that she is your best friend first. Once yours and her parents realized that the two of you got along so well, they pushed the two of you together more. They knew that you would need a friend who would understand and be able to help you should you find out any of this.”

“She didn’t know anything about your past until her parents told her just a few years ago, but she couldn’t tell you. She has always known that she was a shifter, but up until then, she just thought you were human. She’s always been a friend. She knew that if you tried to find your father that something like this would happen.”

“Her parents knew that the same people would come after you. Your parents thought that you would be safe enough coming to Arizona, as long as you didn’t go to Phoenix where your mother was from and where your father lives. But now, whoever killed your mother knows that you are here. I will keep you safe, Chelsea. I promise,” he said.

I sat up beside him and let him gather me in his arms. Thankfully, I had no tears left. I felt a bit empty inside, but in Zeke’s arms, I felt safe. He brought me comfort and steadied me. He always made me feel like I was the only one in his world, and in his arms, it felt like he was my whole world.

“Do my parents know what is going on?” I asked him.

“When Jessica saw my picture, she recognized me immediately. I’m the alpha of my pack, Chelsea. I am responsible for everyone in my pack. Jessica took the first flight here, but she didn’t call your parents until after she told us everything.”

“They are worried for you, but I talked to them as well. They agreed with me that you will be safer staying here with me, but they would like to hear