Homerun Daddy Read online

  Homerun Daddy

  Timberwood Cove: Book 1

  Liam Kingsley

  Contents

  1. Jaxon

  2. Bryce

  3. Jaxon

  4. Bryce

  5. Jaxon

  6. Bryce

  7. Jaxon

  8. Bryce

  9. Jaxon

  10. Bryce

  11. Jaxon

  12. Bryce

  13. Jaxon

  14. Bryce

  15. Jaxon

  16. Bryce

  17. Jaxon

  18. Bryce

  19. Jaxon

  20. Bryce

  21. Jaxon

  22. Bryce

  Chapter 1 Preview – Surprised Daddy

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  Homerun Daddy

  1

  Jaxon

  I pulled up in front of the imposing façade of Wolf Lodge and cut the engine of my car. What could my father need to talk about that had prompted him to schedule an actual appointment with him here at his office?

  To everyone else, Greer Parsons was alpha leader of the Timberwood Cove Wolf Pack. To me, he was just Dad. While I came to the lodge for any official shifter business, typically Dad talked to me about things in a more relaxed setting. Which meant that whatever this meeting was about, it was a big deal if we were meeting at the pack’s headquarters.

  I climbed from my car and drew in a deep, steadying breath, pushing away any uncertainty and donning the steel exterior I put on for the world. Whatever it was, I was up to the task.

  The crisp spring air and scent of pine from the surrounding forest filled my lungs. The sun was shining today, something that was more than welcome after the gray Pacific Northwest winter that was still hanging on. Today, though, felt like spring was finally arriving.

  Walking up the steps to the lodge, I nodded hello to a few of the elder shifters who were sitting on the wraparound porch of the large wooden cabin. Cabin didn’t really fit as an accurate picture of the massive lodge, since it was more like a mansion, but it still managed to have a cozy, welcoming vibe.

  I stepped into the foyer and looked around. There weren’t many shifters around at ten o’clock in the morning as most of them were at work or off doing errands so I headed directly to my father’s office and rapped on the door.

  “Hey, Dad,” I said, stepping inside without waiting for an answer.

  Greer gave me a welcoming smile from where he was sitting behind a massive mahogany desk, his phone pressed to his ear. He gestured for me to have a seat in one of the two brown leather chairs in front of his desk.

  This really was some official shit if we were meeting with the desk between us. Instead of sitting down, I gave him a little privacy to finish his call and wandered over to the couches in the sitting area to one side of the office. Several panes of glass made up the entire back wall of my father’s office and gave a view of the dense forest that spread out behind the lodge, the peaks of the mountains rising in the distance. They were still covered with snow, even though things had all melted down in Timberwood Cove.

  I shoved my hands in my pockets, wondering again about why my father had called me here today. Over the past few years, he’d given me more of a leadership role in the pack. I supposed he could have something he wanted me to help him out with. But still, this felt awfully official.

  When Dad ended the call, I turned to him as he was rising from his wingback leather desk chair.

  “Jaxon,” he said warmly, coming over and enveloping me in a hug. These days, I was bigger than my father, but he’d always have that commanding aura about him. The one that made the rest of the pack look up to him. Kind and fair, but firm when necessary, he was the perfect leader. And father.

  “Hey, Dad,” I said again, returning the hug. “How’s your day been?”

  “Much better now you’re here.” He pulled back and gave me a once over. “How about you? Keeping busy?”

  I laughed. “Always.”

  I’d retired from professional baseball a few years back but kept busy with plenty of things. I had my investments that I watched over as well as coaching Timberwood Cove’s Little League team.

  “In fact, we have our new season’s first practice this afternoon,” I told him. I’d spent the better part of the last couple weeks preparing for it.

  “Good, good.” He clapped me on the back and then gestured to the desk again. “Have a seat, son.”

  I moved to one of the chairs, and he took the one next to it. At least we didn’t have the desk between us.

  “I have something important to talk to you about today, Jaxon,” he said, his voice growing serious.

  “I can tell. Official pack business?”

  He nodded. “Very much so.”

  Now my curiosity was piqued even more. I leaned forward, bracing my elbows on my knees. “What’s up?”

  He squared his shoulders, then smiled as he trained his eyes on mine. “I’m retiring.”

  I sat back, blowing out a breath. That wasn’t what I’d expected. At all. But he threw me for an even bigger loop with his next words.

  “I’ll be an elder then, son. And I want you to take over my role as pack leader.”

  I blinked a few times, trying to process how three sentences could totally change my world.

  “What?” I finally managed to ask, hoping I didn’t sound as off-kilter as I felt. I prided myself on always seeming cool, calm and collected. My steel façade. Always in control and able to handle any situation. Right now, however, I felt anything but.

  My dad laughed. “Don’t act so surprised. You had to know this was coming at some point.”

  I mean, I guessed I’d considered the possibility. It wasn’t uncommon for the pack leader’s alpha son to take over when he stepped down, but that was just the thing. I wasn’t his biological son. He’d adopted me when I was just a young pup, and while I’d never felt like I wasn’t his son in every way that mattered, I couldn’t help but feel this was the one area where there was a difference.

  As if he read my mind, my father said, “I don’t want to hear anything about you not being the right choice. You’re the obvious choice, Jaxon, for a number of reasons. Even if you weren’t my son, you’d be a prime candidate. Don’t sell yourself short.”

  He knew me better than anyone else, so of course he saw straight through my hesitations.

  “It’s not just that, Dad.” I raked a hand through my hair and blew out a heavy breath.

  He frowned. “It’s not just me that agrees you’d be the perfect leader. The entire elder council thinks so.”

  I felt a rush of pride at his words. I’d always worked hard to prove myself in every way. Maybe even overcompensated for the fact that I was adopted—even though my dad had never made me feel any less his son, but that pride wasn’t enough to quell my doubts.

  I shook my head. “I don’t think I’m ready,” I said, hedging.

  Now my father leaned back, his eyes narrowing. “I’d have to disagree. Your entire life has led up to this. Don’t tell me you think I haven’t prepared you well?” There was a hint of teasing in his tone, but also a bit of disappointment. Like he’d expected an entirely different reaction from me.

  That made my stomach clench. I hated disappointing anyone. I went above and beyond to make sure I didn’t. Now here I was disappointing the one man I wanted to please most.

  “No, no, it’s not that,” I said quickly. “I just…”

  How was I supposed to tell my father—the most important alpha among the Timberwood Cove Pack—that I didn’t feel good enough to fill his shoes?

  I’d spent my entire life trying to convince people I was. Apparently I’d done such a good job my father didn’t seem to doubt my abilities, but it t
ook the strongest of alphas to lead a wolf shifter pack. I meant what I said—I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.

  I finally settled on revealing one of my main concerns. “I haven’t even found a mate, Dad. How can I be the leader of the pack when I can’t guarantee I can carry on the family name?”

  He laughed. “You really think that matters to me? Keeping the leadership in the family? Let me be honest with you, Jaxon. If I didn’t think you were suited for the role, I’d choose someone else as my successor, son or not. You’ll be a good leader simply because of who you are. If you don’t have children, you’ll choose someone who you see fit to pass the role onto when that time comes.”

  Warmth spread through my chest at his belief in me. He truly did think I was capable. That should be enough. On top of that, the elder council apparently supported his decision, but I still wasn’t sure.

  I really felt finding a mate was prime importance. I wanted to find someone to share my life with, to have children with. To follow in my father’s footsteps. However, I was already thirty years old. Shifters much younger than me had already found their mates. It was possible I might never find mine, and without a mate… Honestly, what kind of leader could I be?

  Dad leaned forward and steepled his fingers. “Look, I’m not asking for an answer today, but please know there is no one else I feel is as well-suited to the job than you. Take some time to think about it, and we’ll talk more. Just know I believe in you.”

  It was exactly what I needed to hear. I smiled. “Thank you. And yes, I can do that.”

  My father visibly relaxed, then stood and reached for me, pulling me into another bear hug. “Good. I won’t keep you. I know you have a lot to do, and I have plenty to keep me busy as well. We’ll talk later.”

  “Yes, for sure,” I replied, returning his hug. I wasn’t sure more time to think about it would make a difference, though. I’d spent too many years doubting myself to stop now, but like I said, I was good at putting on a strong front. I smiled at my father as we said our goodbyes. Unfortunately I didn’t feel any relief at seeing the disappointment retreat from his face, not when knowing that in the long run he’d only be even more disappointed when I proved I wasn’t up to the job of being pack leader.

  I threw a few more bottles of water and some electrolyte drinks into my cooler. I’d spent the last few hours since I returned home trying to focus on preparing for practice, but I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about my conversation with my father.

  I tried to drown out my thoughts by turning on a baseball game, but that had only seemed to amplify my anxiety. It didn’t happen often these days, but I’d found myself replaying that last fateful game in my head over and over through the afternoon.

  Sighing, I went to grab a protein bar to eat before practice. Images of that game flitted through my mind as I ate. How the Takoma Timberwolves had been depending on me. It was the bottom of the ninth and bases were loaded. The final game in the playoffs that would send our team to the World Series, and I was up to bat.

  I cringed as I remembered the ball flying toward me, how I’d thrown everything I had into coming through for everyone. Into being the hero. Only I’d mistimed my swing, my wolf reflexes for once failing me. Instead of hitting the ball clear to the other side of the field, I’d given it a glancing blow, making an easy catch for the pitcher. The humiliation of knowing I’d lost everything we’d worked so hard for all season in one life-altering swing still plagued me now. We’d lost the game. The chance at the championship. And I’d been benched. Permanently.

  I’d failed everyone. Myself most of all.

  I didn’t have what it takes to stay on top of my profession, so how the hell was I supposed to lead a pack and not fail them too when I’d buckled under the pressure of that game?

  Frustration mingled with grief, and I forced myself back to the present. To what I had to think about now. There was a whole group of kids waiting for me to come through for them. I may have failed my team before, but I’d be damned if I failed these kids.

  It had been therapeutic, coaching a team. Giving them all I had. I’d been able to take my passion for the game and throw it all into these kids. It helped me forget some of my failings. Because in spite of my history with baseball, I was a damn good coach. Being a role model gave me purpose. Helped me feel whole again in those moments when I was absorbed in teaching them the game I loved so much.

  An alarm went off on my phone, and I grabbed the cooler and headed for the car. I’d already loaded it up with equipment, and Linc would have the rest for our team. Linc Travers was my best friend and my assistant coach for the Little League team.

  When I pulled up at the sports complex, Linc was already there, his eight-year-old son Cole in tow. They were unloading gear from Linc’s car.

  “Jaxon!” Cole said, bouncing up and down as I climbed from my car. “I never thought you’d get here.”

  I laughed and ruffled his hair. “Right on time, buddy.”

  Linc grinned at me and handed me a bag of baseballs. “He’s been asking how long until practice every fifteen minutes all day.” He pulled a face, crossing his eyes and sticking out his tongue. “You have no idea.”

  Cole looked up at me, his eyes shining. “I’ve been working extra hard playing catch with Dad. Just wait until you see.”

  “Can’t wait,” I said, handing the baseballs off to him. “Why don’t you carry these over to the field?”

  He darted off, and I went to my trunk to grab my portable file bin that had all the papers of info the parents would need for the season. When I turned around, Linc was looking at me funny.

  “So, when were you going to tell me?” Linc asked.

  I knew Linc too well not to know what he was talking about, but how he already knew about the talk I had with my dad I had no idea. I sighed, setting the files back down.

  “I haven’t said yes.”

  Linc’s eyebrows flew up and his eyes widened. “Why not? It’s an amazing opportunity, Jax.” When I didn’t reply, he tilted his head. “Isn’t it?”

  I really didn’t want to get into my doubts with Linc, so I shrugged. “It’s just a lot of responsibility,” I offered as an excuse for my hesitation.

  “I get that, but there’s no one who could handle it better than you.”

  He sounded a lot like my father had. It should have made me feel better that they believed so strongly in me. Instead, it only made me worry all the more about letting them down by not living up to their expectations.

  “Hey,” he added with a smirk. “If you don’t want it, I’ll volunteer as your replacement.”

  Linc would make a great leader, and he was second in line for pack alpha, if we followed the old traditions. He was sure and steady. Someone who’d never let his pack down.

  Before I could say so, Cole came running back up. “Hey, can we go to dinner at Kay’s after practice?”

  It had become a bit of a tradition last season to hit up Kay’s Diner after practices.

  “Sure, I don’t see why not,” I said, smiling down at the eager boy, who beamed back at me. “If your dad says okay.”

  “Um, yeah!” Linc said with a grin.

  After that, I stayed too busy to even think about the whole pack leader problem. Parents started arriving, kids ran around, laughing and joking, and we had a hell of a lot to take care of.

  I headed up the introductory meeting, with Linc helping out here and there. After we’d gone over all the necessary information and fees and collected paperwork, we dove straight into practice.

  It felt good to be out here, and it was a perfect afternoon. The weather had cooperated all day. The first practice of the season was always exhilarating. The excitement and energy pulsing through the air. It was a welcome distraction from my crazy day.

  As practice ended, and everyone was collecting their equipment, Linc strolled over to me. “So, I meant what I said earlier. If you change your mind about being the pack—”

  I cleared m
y throat as a parent approached with a few questions. We’d have to talk about this another time when there weren’t dozens of humans in earshot. I was suddenly glad we were taking Cole to dinner. Linc wouldn’t have the opportunity to question me about it anymore. Maybe by the time we did get a chance to talk, I’d have figured out my shit when it came to my father’s proposition.

  We finished with the parent’s questions, loaded up the cars, then headed to Kay’s.

  “Practice was amazing!” Cole said when we grabbed a booth along the wall of Kay’s. If he’d said it once, he said it a hundred times.

  “I’m so glad you had fun,” I said with a laugh. I was starting to see what Linc meant earlier when he’d talked about Cole going on and on about practice.

  He nodded enthusiastically, practically bouncing in the booth. A server came and got our orders, then Cole went into detail about every single moment of practice.

  “I think we’ve got a pretty good team put together this year, don’t you think?” Linc asked.

  “The best,” I agreed.

  Cole licked his lips and turned to me, then bit his lip nervously. “Coach Jaxon?”

  I lifted my eyebrows at his sudden serious tone. “What’s up, buddy?”

  “I have this friend… He loves baseball. So much. And I’d really love if he could be on our team. I know he’s late signing up, and we already have the teams formed but—” He gave me a pleading look. “But if you could still let him on, that would be amazing.”

  I started to tell him I wasn’t sure if we had room on our team. My team had filled up the fastest, everyone wanting an ex-pro player as their coach. The look in his eyes stopped me.