“Like Alpha Greyson and Mom?” I ask, gauging his reaction.
He swallows thickly. “Yes, he survived, he never got over it however. Maybe because he and your mother never made the bond official, they hadn’t marked each other yet.”
“So you admit Mom and Greyson were mates?” I ask him.
My father sighs heavily. “I guess we are having this chat now. I was hoping it could wait until we went home. If you need to know first, I guess I can tell you.” It is so strange to see him now talk about my mother, for so long he refused to allow her to be mentioned because of Linda.
“It was never a secret, you just never asked. You could have looked that information up in the council if you wanted. Yes, they were mates. They wanted to merge packs.”
“What would that have meant for you?”
“Not much. Your mother and I had an arrangement; the pack would be hers, and I could still run this side of it, nothing would have changed.”
“Coming home now? What does that mean? Won’t that breach your treaty with Alpha Dane?” I ask him.
He pulls me into a hug, his familiar scent of pine and earth calming me slightly. His arms wrap around me, providing a temporary refuge from the chaos outside. “Come back to thepack. Apologize to Alpha Dane, and we can work out the details of the marriage agreement with Boyd. We can make this right.”
My heart lurches at his words, the prospect of marrying Boyd making my stomach churn. My voice comes out in barely a whisper, raw and desperate. “Dad… I don’t love him. I don’t know him.”
“Sometimes, love grows with time, and you didn’t know Zayn either but took a chance with him,” he murmurs, rubbing my back soothingly. “You don’t have to say yes right now. We need to know if Zayn is your mate first because a bond won’t allow you to marry another. Let’s just get you home for now, focus on your birthday and getting your wolf in two days, the rest we can work out.” I nod, relieved I don’t have to make a decision right away.
I know I need to take the time to know if Zayn is my mate like he claims and my father is right. I’m safe here for now. We still have time to work this out.
Swirling in my head is a maelstrom of doubts, fears, and conflicting emotions. I want to argue that the idea of marrying someone other than Zayn terrifies me because Zayn is where my heart is. Maybe he’s right. Perhaps this is my chance at redemption and at making Mom proud. I take a deep breath, determined to make the best of this chance. I make the decision to trust my father and take him up on the offer. It’s my chance to make things right.
“Okay,” I choke out, swallowing the bile that threatens to rise in my throat. “I’ll come home, but that isn’t a yes to marrying Boyd.”
“Good, that is fine.” He releases me from the embrace and steps back, his gaze searching my face for any hint of hesitation. “Let’s just get you home.”
Dad helps me pack everything up that I have here, which isn’t much—just one backpack, which makes it easier. We alsoclean up the little mess we made from dinner before heading down to his car, where I notice Zayn’s guard is knocked out cold. I slide into the passenger seat of my father’s SUV, the leather cool and unwelcoming against my skin.
“Will Linda be angry about you bringing me home?”
“It doesn’t matter what she feels, I am Alpha, and you’re my daughter. She doesn’t get a say in this.” I nod, and Dad places the key in the ignition. The engine roars to life, a growl that resonates with my own unease as we set off toward Shadowcrest territory. Trees blur past the window, each one larger than the last, as we near my old pack on the outskirts of the city, nearest the forest.
“Everything will be alright, Cleo,” my father reassures from behind the wheel, his voice steady like the constant thrum of the road beneath us. I take a deep breath, feeling the anxiety knotting in my stomach. I’m not ready for this, but I don’t have much of a choice. I have to trust Dad knows what he’s doing and won’t hurt me again.
The knot in my stomach tightens as images of Alpha Dane’s stern face and Boyd’s expectant eyes invade my thoughts. I try to focus on the scenery, the lush greenery of my childhood now feels like a backdrop to a stage where I’m forced to play a role I never auditioned for.
“Remember, you’re doing this for the pack,” I murmur to myself, though the words taste bitter on my tongue.
As we cross the invisible line marking our territory, memories cascade through my mind. The forest that surrounds our pack was once a place of joy and freedom, where I ran carefree as a young girl and laughter echoed off the trees. Those days are long gone, replaced by the weight of responsibility and the sharp sting of betrayal.
My father glances at me, concern etched in the lines of his face. “Are you okay?”
I forced a smile, knowing he can see right through it. “Fine.” The lie slips out easily. I’m far from fine. The events of the past week have left me reeling, and my heart is heavy with the weight of it all.
As we near the pack house, my thoughts turn to the marriage treaty. And knowing I will have to see Alpha Dane. I just hope my father sticks to his word and doesn’t force anything because if he does, I may have no choice but to go rogue and risk insanity. I can’t shake the feeling of foreboding that has settled in my gut, a sense that this meeting will not end well; how could it after everything that’s happened?
I push those thoughts aside and focus on the present. We are here, and there is no turning back now.
The tension between us simmers, thick and palpable, as we drive the rest of the way in silence. The familiar gates leading into our small, gated community finally come into view, and I feel like a lamb being led to the slaughter.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I glance at the screen to see Zayn’s name illuminated.
As we pull into the driveway of my family’s home, I take a deep breath and prepare myself for the chaos awaiting me. It’s going to be a long night.
“Welcome home, Cleo.” My father’s voice breaks through my reverie as we pull up to the house. It looks just how I remember it; imposing, grand, and yet utterly lifeless.
