Getting away with the Alpha's Pup

Chapter 19

Cherry

As Bert and I broke apart, my friend’s easy-going grin triggered a matching one on my face. “What?” I asked.

“Sooo, Fern’s a fire-cracker, ain’t she?”

I chuckled but reminded myself I still needed to tread carefully. I gestured to the sofa, inviting Bert to sit down and using the moment to get a grip on my anxiety. I thanked my lucky stars that I’d taken the precaution to conceal Fern’s shifter scent. I’d gone to a witch in Berlin’s Mitte district, who’d given me medicine to block my daughter’s scent to others with unnatural abilities. But I knew I mustn’t reveal any nervousness before my friend about my daughter, or he’d get suspicious.

“She certainly keeps me on my toes,” I started.

Bert’s keen blue eyes took me in, and he didn’t ask, but the silence filled with the unasked question about where Fern’s father was. Knowing it was important for me to broach the subject first before my friend could ask whether she was Dylan’s, I leaped into the topic.

“I met Fern’s dad, a human, in my first year studying here… but… we didn’t stay together, so… I had Fern by myself.”

A shadow fell over his face. “Oh, Cherry. I can’t believe you went through all that alone. If I’d only known, I’d have been over here in a flash.”

“Thanks, Bert…” I reached out, patting his arm. “And I know you would.” I sighed, guilt churning in my stomach for lying to my friend. Especially after the heartfelt reunion we’d just shared. But my deception was for Fern’s sake I reminded myself. Ironically, I hadn’t had to manage my breathing like this since I’d given birth to her. I was making sure I kept it calm, aware that any tell-tale symptoms, like a quickening heart rate or my pheromones altering, wouldn’t reach Bert’s overly keen shifter senses.

I shrugged, feeling like I was over the worst of this conversation. “I guess I felt as if I needed to prove to myself I could do it alone. I had to show myself that I could be everything Fern needed. I knew if I was serious about staying out here, raising her, and completing my degree, I had to be enough for both of us.”

It was my friend’s turn to launch himself at me, and I laughed, only just managing to gasp out, “You’re breaking my ribs.”

Bert let go but with a smile, warned, “Get used to it. You’ve got a backlog of seven years’ worth.” He breathed out a deep sigh and added, “So about coming back. Are you going to be okay?”

I shrugged. “S’pose I have to be, don’t I?”

He nodded resignedly. “At least you’ll get to hang out more with yours, truly.”

I chuckled but took the opportunity that Bert’s light-hearted reassurance gave me to ask. “Could you keep Fern our little secret?”

Bert’s eyebrows shot up.

I explained hastily, “I just think everyone will be suspicious. Given she’s six years old, I don’t want questions asked about her paternity. I’ve worked too hard for her to have a normal life. I don’t want her to have to go through tests if the pack orders me to prove her parentage.”

Nerves climbed in me despite my careful breathing as I watched Bert consider my request, but my friend soon rewarded me with his reassuring smile. “Your secret’s safe with me. You have worked hard to build your own life.” He looked around the room. “This place, this home, it’s incredible.” I looked around fondly at the cream-colored walls, too, filled with photos of me and Fern and a few pictures of me at a couple of me at fashion shows. “I’m so proud of you, Cherry Berry.”

A grin spread across my face as he used one of his nicknames which I hadn’t heard since we were pups together.

As I realized how much I’d shared about my life over the last half hour and how little I’d found out about Bert’s, I suggested, “Stay for dinner. I’m going to order take out, and I still need to hear all your gossip.”

He settled back into the sofa, looking quietly pleased. “I’d love to.”

I beamed before warning him. “Although you’ll have to prepare yourself for the firecracker. Pizza and Bert, all in the same night, is gonna make her sky high.”

He chuckled. “I can take it.”

After thanking and sending our nanny, Lara, home, I shared tonight’s dinner plans with Fern. As predicted, she soon joined Bert in the living room and was literally jumping for joy.

Once I’d placed an order over the phone for two dairy-free pizzas, Fern was back to exclaiming, “Omg, omg, omg!”

“I think we broke her,” Bert joked in mock-alarm. “She’s not making any sense. Do you know if there’s a reboot button on this thing?” He mimed, trying to press the center of Fern’s head, then her nose, and provoking another series of giggles from her.

Her excitement and my friend’s humor were infectious, and I joked, “You should be honored she’s using text speech. Most nights, she communicates in emojis.” I did my best array of silly faces, and both Fern and Bert were in stitches.

“Too good, Cherry,” Bert said.

When the pizza arrived, we all settled down on big cushions at the coffee table, swiping slices right out of the box and onto our plates. Bert and I indulged in a glass of wine while I treated Fern to a glass of soda.

The light-hearted atmosphere wrapped around us as cozily as the softly lit walls of my apartment, and I couldn’t remember the last time we’d had such a wonderful evening.

Clearly, my daughter’s thoughts traveled along a similar train of thought because she surprised me by asking, “Can you be my dad, Bert?”

I saw the mirth bubbling in my friend’s eyes, but I focused my attention on Fern and explained, “Bert’s my friend, Sweetie, but he can’t be your dad. But he is going to visit us more often, aren’t you, Bert?”

He smiled. “Wild dogs couldn’t keep me away.”