~Zeke~

I stared at my mate as she read to the kids of our pack. She looked beautiful. Her hair was up in a bun, with a few strands framing her face. I couldn't believe she was all mine. 

'Ours.' My wolf Alec growled. 

'Yes, ours.'

As I scanned the group of children I realized one was missing.... 

"Daddy!" 

I heard a small voice coming from behind me, and I turned around to crouch in front of them. 

"There's my shining star. Are you behaving?" I questioned trying to scan where my daughter had come from. 

"We are always behaving. I am the best Godfather there is." My Beta said trying to give his most convincing smile. 

"Caleb and I were eating candy, but it's a secret." Scarlet had a grin on her face the size of Texas and there was no way I was gonna do anything to make that smile go away. 

"Why don't you go over with mommy and the rest of the kids to finish reading? I am sure she chose and good book." I gave her a light tap on the head and sent her on her way. Without hesitation she climbed over the children in her way, to sit in her mother's lap. Her head was tucked right under Jenny's chin as Scarlet eagerly looked at the book she was holding. It was opened to a page with a house tied to ballooons floating over the clouds. 

"You're going to get me in trouble Caleb. Taking her from reading group to hide and eat candy? It's ten in the morning!" I glared at Caleb, straightening my stance. 

"Books are so boring! I don't understand why Jenny has them read the books before we can show them the movie in the auditorium." Caleb groaned. 

The sound of a gasp had us both turning our heads. 

"Books are always better than the movies! Although I find it important for the children to use their imaginations before we just plop them infront of a television. And if you feed my daughter candy again during reading time, I am going to make you run the entire thing. Oh, imagine all of the books you'll read!" Jenny stormed over. I looked  over at the reading group to find that Susie, Caleb's mate, had taken over. At the sound of Jenny's threat, Caleb muttered a quick "Sorry Luna" before taking off.

She chuckled. "So uncultured."  

I wrapped my arms around her and instantly was soothed my her warmth. "We really haven't talked about what happened to you with your father. Are you sure you are okay?" 

"With all of our responsibilities taking care of myself didn't seem like a top priority, but there is something that I want to talk to you about." 

"Anything for you." I replied.

"So, I understand that a women helped us to free me from the spell. Although I never got to thank her. I also wanted to be able to ask her about why I can't remember anything."

"My mom was the one who found her so I will ask if she can point us in the right direction." I would search to the ends of the earth for the witch if it made Jenny happy. 

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~Jenny~ 

After asking for Zeke's help finding the witch. His mother surprisingly was able to set up a meeting with her the following day. 

Now, I am sitting in Zeke's office waiting for her to arrive any minute. The room was very bland, and would look unused if it weren't for the single picture frame of Scarlet and I when she was born. I never believed it was possible to love someone so much, but the love for my daughter is unlike anything I have ever experienced. I would do whatever it takes to make sure she's taken care of. This includes having to face my past. I needed all of the pieces to be able to let my past go.... My thoughts were interuppted by a light knock on the door. 

"Come in!" I shouted. 

In stepped a woman with brown curly hair similar to my own. She looked so familiar, but I just couldn't put my finger on it. When I realized I was staring, I quickly introduced myself and held my hand out for her to shake it. 

"I know who you are child. There is a lot I am sure you would like to discuss?" I nodded eagerly. "Well let's get to it. No time like the present." She gave off the impression that she was a confident woman, but her hands shook slightly indicating that she was nervous. 

"I guess I would like to start with the spell my father put on me. The thing that I am struggling the most with is not being able to remember what happened. Deep down I feel that there's something I need to know, but the harder I think about what happened the more the memory fades away." My gut told me there was something odd I was missing and I couldn't ignore it anymore. I would have asked for her name, but Zeke told me that she was not keen on giving that information so I didn't bother to try. 

"Your father had the intention of breaking you for a very long time. My guess is that when he realized you were too strong-willed to break you from physical pain, he thought it would be best to break you mentally. He wanted to take away the part of you that made you carry on, your hope and courage. The spell he placed on you, sent the mental aspect of you to the dark dungeons. They are sort of like a personal torture chamber, that take away the part of you that essentially makes you, you. Typically, the spell is only completed when the darkness is successful and then it returns you to your physical state." The witch informed me. 

"When I woke up in the hospital, they informed me I would make a complete recovery. I don't think the darkness was able to take anything from me. Why did I come back as my normal self?" I questioned. 

"I said typically. The only people who are able to enter and leave when they want to are witches. I know Zeke told you that your father is part witch as well. Long story short, that makes you also part witch. However, even a full-blooded witch requires immense training before they could have the ability to leave a place like the dark dungeons. You needed time in there, and I could tell that without my help you weren't going to make it in time. So, I did a spell on your physical body that prevented the darkness from penetrating your mind even more." 

Hearing her confirm that I was part witch had me thinking of the ways my "witchiness" influenced my life. I thought to the pond and waterfall, my favorite places on earth. 

"Yes. You being drawn to nature is mostly because you are part witch." My face contored as her response confused me. I didn't think I had said anything out loud...

"You didn't. One of my talents is the ability to read minds." Immediately a blush spread across my face and my expression was filled with shock and horror. Oh, the things I thought of that I didn't want her to know. Like the way my naked body felt on the warm grass as Zeke climbed on top of me... 

"Don't get your panties in a bunch. It's not only your mind, but everyone's, all at once. It takes a lot of focus to be able to only hear a single person's thoughts." Her words calmed me. "I am going to tell you all of the information that I know, and by the end, you will have the choice of whether or not you want me to unlock your memories from that place. Okay?" I nodded silently not wanting to delay her any longer. 

"I know that when you were in there, you found someone. Or rather something... A voice-"

"A male voice. That's all I can remember." I interupted. 

"Yes.  Well, it was your father's voice." I blinked. I don't understand. "When your mother passed away, your father changed and not for the better. I'm sure you assumed that it was just because your mother died severing the mate bond, but that is not entirely true. Losing a mate makes someone go into permanent state of depression; constantly looking for the missing piece of themselves that they no longer have. I told you that witches have the ability to enter and leave the dark dungeons as they please once properly trained. Your father put himself in there when your mother died. He wanted to destroy the part of him that made him long for his wife, that made him love you. When he removed that part of him, all of the good in him was left behind in the dark dungeons. The spell I casted granted him time to teach you to get out. That was the man who raised you prior to your mother's death. Think of the father you currently know as a shell of his former self. To assure that the good part of him could never return, your father took away the physical form of his better-self leaving him trapped. That voice, your father, was able to teach you the spell to leave." 

This was all too much. I knew my father's behavior was not normal for when someone loses a mate. That must be why he wanted to keep his abuse a secret. Maybe I can help him, the good version of my dad, and return that part of him to his physical body. 

My face fell when I realized I didn't want my father to turn into the man that searches the world for a woman to fill the emptiness inside of them. They are never able to fill the loss completely; nothing comes compares to their mate. He would be like the villain from the book I was reading to the children earlier; always trying to hang on to something that wasn't theirs to keep. 

It was my mother's time to go to the great beyond, and no matter how tightly my father clung to the memories of my mother, there was nothing he could do to keep her here. 

I also thought about how my father knew what he was doing when he removed the good from himself. He knew what he would be capable of, and he did it anyway. He was so selfish. A father should endlessly love their child and should never do anything to harm them. Zeke was the definition of a good father. He thought of her in every decision he made; he wanted to do right by her. It was clear Zeke would do anything for Scarlet, and he wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone that threatened her peace and safety. 

"I appreciate you telling me all of this. As much as I'd like to remember what happened, I think that it would be easier for me to move on if I didn't." I told the witch. Guilt flooded through me as I realized that the good part of my father would be stuck in the darkness alone for all of eternity. 

"You don't even have to ask. It's already done." The witch stated. 

"What is?" 

"I made it possible for the good part of your father to pass on. It wouldn't be fair to leave him there once I knew about what had happened. As far as I know, that part of him is reunited with your mother." Tears sprung into my eyes as I couldn't believe the generosity of this woman. 

"Thank you so much for all of your help. I don't know what would've become of us had you not been there. Although, why would you help us? Zeke told me that you refused all amounts of money. So, why would you want to donate your services if there was nothing in it for you?" I questioned. There was something that this woman wasn't telling me. I could feel it. 

'Be nice.' My wolf commanded. 

'I will when I figure out what her angle is.' I snapped back. 

"You tell me." She replied calmly. "I know you felt it as soon as you saw me." 

I looked at her quizically before it hit me. Why she looked so familiar.

"You're my father's mother..." It made sense, she looked like me, and I was carved straight from my father's a*s. 

"I've waited so long to meet you. Your father banished me from ever stepping foot onto his lands. With the old fued between witches and werewolfs, he thought he could never let anyone find out what he truly was to hold his Alpha title. Personally, I think the fued is a load of bull. Hasn't anyone come to the relization that we could help eachother if we all just got along?" She pasued for a moment staring at me. 

"I am so sorry for what my son has put you through. If I hadn't met his father, none of this would have happened." 

"Were you his mate?" I questioned and she nodded. "Well, then this isn't your fault at all. Mates are designed specifically for one person. It's destiny. You two found each other for a reason. I will not allow you to blame yourself for finding the person who was made for you. My father made his own choices." The thought of someone taking the blame for my father's abuse enraged me. 

"I know that it's a late start, but I would like for you to be a part of my life, our lives. We have the extra space in the house and you can live with us. I would love to learn more about the witch in me and I would love the opportunity for you to teach me all that you know." I looked at her with fear in my eyes. I just found another piece to my family and I didn't want to lose it. 

"As much as I would love to be here with you, I have responsibilities back at my coven. However, the good news is that we have cars and phones. My coven is the one closest to your pack's borders, you can come see me whenever you'd like." She smiled gently when she saw my face fall slightly. "I am right around the corner. Trust me when I say that I will be in your life as much as you want me to." 

My eyes filled with tears once again and I couldn't help but give her the tightest hug I could muster. This felt right. I laughed pulling away from her wiping the tears from my face. She looked at me confused. 

"After all of this, I still don't know your name."

She beamed as she replied, "Genevieve." Genevieve. I liked that name. 

"If it's alright with you, I think I am going to head home now. We have all the time in the world to catch up, but I can sense your mate is coming. I think the length of our meeting has caused him to worry." 

As if on cue, Zeke came barging into his office with a concerned look on his face, not even bothering to knock. 

"It's alright love. I'm okay." I said as I walked over to him, raising up on my toes to kiss him reassuringly. 

"I'll let you two talk. Here's my number for when you are ready." Genevieve handed me a small piece of paper with her number scrawled on it. I quickly stuffed it into my front pocket. Giving her one last hug, she left the office with the door closing quickly behind her. 

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~Zeke~ 

"Damnnnnnn." I sighed leaning back into my lounge chair. Feeling overwhelmed by everything Jenny had told me. "She is one bada*s piece of grandma." 

Jenny turned in my lap and to playfully slapped my arm. I faked being hurt and pouted rubbing the area. 

"You better not be thinking about hitting on my grandma." She glared at me. Her empty threats were adorable. 

"All I am saying is that I am not worried for the future. I don't know how old your grandma is, but if she looks that good imagine how hot you are going to be at that age. Although, the only downfall to that is I am still going to have to attempt to hide my enthusiasm for you as an old man." I told her with a wide grin plastered on my face. I was beyond happy that Jenny finally felt some closure. I thought it was even better that she now had a member of her family to bond with. Family was the most important thing to her, and I can't wait to see the woman she develops into after all of this. I mean come on, I have the sexiest woman in the world as a mate AND she's a witch? Thot's hot. I noticed the growing pressure in my jeans at the thought of all the things we could try in the bedroom with her witch abilities. 

"Oh my lord! You thought I was going to grow old and become ugly! How dare you. You're supposed to love me forever regardless of my appearances. Even if I was destined to be ugly as an old lady, you would lose your capability of expressing your enthusiasm anyway." She scolded at me as she crossed her arms. 

"I was just playing babe." I pouted, lowering my eyes to the ground. 

"You better be." She said as she pulled me in for a brief kiss. 

This was it. I had the perfect pack, the perfect mate, and because of her I also had the perfect family. I knew nothing would get in our way, and even if it did, we would conquer it all together. 

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A/N I hope this helped clear a few things up. Thank you for spending your time reading my short story. :) Stay golden.