There he is.
My father.
Sitting like a judge, carved in stone. His jaw clenched, eyes thunderous.
“Dad…” My voice is a breath, tight with dread.
“Quiet, Cleo.” His tone is sharp, final. Any protest I had withers on my tongue.
Two enforcers stand behind him—still as statues, their presence unmistakable. Dangerous.
They turn toward the window, pretending not to see what’s about to happen. I take an involuntary step back, the room feeling too small, too loud with silence.
“When Lydia told me you were seeing Zayn, I hoped she was wrong—especially after the shitstorm he caused at the council meeting, staking claim to you.”
His words slice through me. Cold. Unforgiving. The warmth I’d just left feels like a dream, already slipping through my fingers.
“Lydia…” I start, the name tastes like betrayal—sharp and sour on my tongue. Not that I expected anything else from that evil wench. Still, it stings. She did this out of spite over Deacon, which makes it worse. The thought of her smug, self-satisfied smile makes my insides twist with hatred.
“You’ve embarrassed me. After the drama he caused the other day, now this. You look like you’re defying me—choosing his side!”
I glance at the enforcers. They won’t meet my eyes, pretending they aren’t here for intimidation.
“Dad, please—” Desperation edges my voice, however the plea dies under the weight of his glare.
“Enough.” He stands, the motion sharp and final. “You will end this… thing with Alpha Zayn, or suffer the consequences. You’re already promised, and sneaking around with him makes me look like a weak Alpha who can’t control his own daughter.”
“Consequences?” The word escapes on a breath, choked.
“Your future. The pack’s stability. Your place in this family. You’ve jeopardized all of it.”
Each word hits like a stone on my chest, dragging my breath with it.
“Dad, you can’t mean—”
“No excuses. End it, Cleo.” His voice booms, and I flinch. His expression is cold, merciless. “Defy me again, and—”
He doesn’t finish. Just cuts me off with a wave of his hand, dismissing me more effectively than any shout. “Save your breath. I don’t want to hear it.”
“From now on, you’re under guard.” My eyes flick to the enforcers again. “Do you even realize what you’ve done?”
My heart pounds, loud in my ears. I try to find the words—something, anything— to soften his fury. But their silent presence strangles my voice.
“Seeing Zayn isn’t a crime,” I say finally, pushing the words past the fear.
He looms over me, his Alpha aura pulsing in the air between us. “It’s not about what’s lawful. It’s about what’s expected—of you, of us.”
His eyes, so much like mine, now glint with icy fury.
“Your actions put everything at risk.”
The room feels smaller. Tighter. Like the walls are pressing in. Outside, the early morning light creeps across the sky, yet inside, everything feels cold and closing.
“Do you hear yourself?” I snap. “All this because you made a deal with Alpha Dane. Because you refused Zayn’s protection! Why do I have to be the sacrifice for your ego? It’s wrong!”
He listens without flinching. “Right or wrong, you’ll do as you’re told.” He steps closer. His proximity makes it clear—this is not a discussion.
“You will marry Boyd. That’s final.”
