Madeline’s POV
I was so relieved. I was so scared that Mike would hate me. I was terrified that he would abandon me again. I was terrified that he would be angry or that he would resent me. I didn’t want it to happen. We just started fixing our relationship. I felt ready to let him back into my life. I didn’t want to lose him even before I got him back.
“Oh, my baby,” Mike mumbled as he kissed the top of my head and rubbed my back. “It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay.”
I took a deep breath and let him go. He gave me a small smile and wiped my cheeks.
“My beautiful little girl,” he said quietly as he leaned in and kissed my forehead.
It felt weird hearing him call me that, but I would be lying if I said that it didn’t feel nice.
I was so angry at him, but I also missed him. I missed having a dad. I missed playing with him. I missed laughing with him. My mom used to tell me stories about him and she would always say that he was a great father. She would tell me stories about him playing with me, reading me fairytales before bed, and making me my favorite breakfast in the morning. She would tell me stories about the three of us spending wonderful time together and I always missed it. I missed my dad.
I didn’t want him back in my life because I was so angry. I didn’t want him back because I was scared he would leave me again. That fear exploded inside of me when Oliver told me I was a Lycan. I was sure that Mike would be angry. I was sure he would leave me again.
“Thank you,” I mumbled, my voice quiet and raspy.
Mike smiled and caressed my cheek again.
“For what, honey?” he asked.
I gulped and tried to take a deep breath.
“For not being angry,” I said. “For not blaming me.”
Mike’s eyes widened. He cupped my cheeks and shook his head.
“Never, Maddie,” he said. “I would never blame you. There is nothing to blame you for. If anything, I am so incredibly proud of you.”
He sighed and let me go. He glanced at Dimitri and ran his fingers through his hair.
“I get why you thought that I would get angry,” he mumbled. “I was such an idiot and I made the biggest mistake of my life when I left you and your mom.”
Mike took my hands in his and squeezed them.
“But I was a different person back then, Maddie,” he continued. “I was twenty years old when you were born. I was young and delusional. I believed in stories I shouldn’t have even listened to. I am not the same person anymore.”
He pulled me closer to him and wrapped me up in a tight hug.
“I am more than ready to be the father you need, Maddie,” he said as he rubbed my back gently. “I love you so much, my little girl, and nothing will ever change that.”
I felt a tear fall on my cheek.
Mike let go of me and wiped the tears from my cheeks.
“You could be turning into a cat and I would still love you,” he said, smirking a little.
Will and Dimitri snorted. A quiet chuckle escaped me. Oliver and Ellie smiled. Mike grinned widely before his smile disappeared and he got serious again.
“I mean it, Mads,” he said as he ran his fingers through my hair. “I am here. I will never leave or choose anything or anyone else over you again. I promise.”
I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck again. Mike kissed my temple and hugged me back.
“I love you, honey,” he said quietly.
I loved him too, I really did. I loved him even when I was so angry at him. I loved him even when I didn’t know where he was. I wanted to tell him that I loved him too, but the words refused to leave my lips.
Mike kissed my temple again and let me go. He took a deep breath and looked at Dimitri.
“I want you to explain everything to me,” Mike said as he took my hand in his. “How did you figure out that she can hear other people’s thoughts?”
Dimitri sighed and looked at me.
“She complained that everyone was trying to mind-link her at the same time,” Dimitri said, giving me a small smile. “She said that it made her head hurt and that she needed to get used to it. I knew immediately that something was off.”
Mike took another deep breath and released it slowly.
“Can you hear my thoughts now?” he asked me.
I shook my head. “I can’t hear anyone’s thoughts when Dimitri is with me.”
I furrowed my brows and bit my lower lip.
“Well, except Janet’s and Kendrick’s,” I mumbled.
I could feel Dimitri tense up.
“What do you mean, Maddie?” Oliver asked.
I looked at him and took a deep breath.
“I can’t read minds when Dimitri is with me,” I started explaining. “The only exceptions are Janet and Kendrick. I could hear their thoughts when Dimitri was with me.”
“What were they thinking about?” Oliver asked, furrowing his brows.
I gulped. Dimitri growled.
“They thought about hurting me,” I said quietly.
Mike squeezed my hand tighter and I could feel anger rolling off him in waves.
“What does that mean?” Mike asked angrily. “Why could she hear their thoughts, but not others?”
I wish I knew the answer to that question.
“Well, one one thing comes to mind,” Oliver said, sighing loudly.
I looked at him and I could feel my heart racing.
“What?” Dimitri asked angrily.
Oliver took a deep breath and raised his brows.
“They were a real threat,” Oliver said. “Their thoughts were so vile and imposed a real threat to you. Their thoughts were stronger than your protector.”
My heart started drumming against my ribcage.
“What the fuck were they thinking about, Maddie?” Mike asked, his voice laced with anger.
I kept my eyes on Oliver. Fear made my stomach twist.
They were a real threat.
