I felt a sudden relief, along with the confusion as Alpha Kael rushed from the lounge after Wren. I mean, there seemed no logical explanation as to why he should follow her. Why would he care if the maid was upset? It was no more than she deserved.
Truth was, the moment to gather my thoughts was needed. I did not even want to be here. I was meant to be off in a secluded area of the pack forest, wrapped in the embrace of my fated mate. Yet, instead, I found myself here, all but selling myself to the upcoming Alpha of another pack. But forced into a corner by my over-zealous father, what choice did I have?
My wolf, whimpered as if in reminder of what we were sacrificing in doing this, and I sighed. Jake. The man we had only recently realised was our fated. The man who I was going to be forced to surrender. A dull ache twisted within my chest. An emptiness had remained there since I walked away downheartedly, from the location we had arranged to meet earlier. Having stood in anticipation for his arrival. But realising as the moments went by that he was not coming. The moment I reached for him through the mindlink and it was silent, I knew. Only to be confirmed by the message...
'Jake?' As I sat alone in the lounge and my mind had fallen to him, I reached for him again through the pack mindlink. Desperate to simply hear his voice. But there was nothing. It was like the link remained untethered. Snapped. A radio silence that only added to that emptiness within my chest. He had gone. Left me. All because of my family.
An Alpha's daughter would never settle for a warrior... or so my father had yelled at me. But the Moon Goddess had decided Jake was right for me, so why could my father not see that? The Moon Goddess saw him as good enough. So did my heart... Tears prickled at my eyes. Everyone believed being a daughter of an Alpha was the best role within a pack. Spoiled. Gaining all you could possibly need and want. And, yes, to some degree that had been true. But what they did not see was the downsides. And, they did not have a father like mine. A lothario who thought of nothing but himself and his own image...
I dropped my head to my hands and rubbed the ache that was beginning to form across my forehead. When there were footsteps sounding by the door. I assumed Kael had returned to continue our meeting. But instead the sound of my father's voice disturbed my sad peace.
"Do you want to explain to me why the man you are supposed to be attempting to seduce is down the hallway all but pinning that worthless maid to the wall?!" My brow furrowed at his words, while my heart fell. Was that true? Had Kael rushed after Wren to make out? Had my useless piece of shit for a maid actually succeeded in her attempt at charming the man?
'That was your accusation.' My wolf reminded me pointedly. 'You sent her here so we could return to our mate. Maybe her being with the Alpha is not a bad thing?'
The words of my wolf rippled through my mind. Could she be right? "Are you going to fucking answer me Grace?" My father's angry tone this time disturbed the conversation with my wolf, making me realise that I had yet to answer him. "You are aware what is resting upon this? I told you that we as a pack were depending upon you. Do not be a disappointment again. Would you want her, especially knowing who and what she is, to be getting one up on you?" His brow was raised as if in challenge and I knew that it was more an order than an a challenge. He wanted me to ensure that Kael was not more attracted to Wren than me. My father had made plans for me to marry this man, whether he was searching for other brides or not. And my father never settled for less than what he wanted.
"I sent her away..." I stuttered, hating how low the man could make me feel. Generally a confident she-wolf, this man was the one who was capable of shattering everything within me to a mere nothing. He was my father, but I seemed to be forever seeking his approval...
"What, straight into the arms of the man you are supposed to be marrying?" He snapped angrily, shaking his head as he gave me one of his looks of sheer disgust and disappointment. Looks I was more than accustomed to. I could not recall the last time the man had said I made him proud.
"I did not expect him to follow her." I tried to defend myself only to be shut down by the darkened glare that told me to not answer back. This man expected respect. I lowered my gaze.
"Sort it out. And do not let me down. You have the opportunity here Grace to make me, and the pack proud. So do not mess that up."
I heard his words and one word stood out. One word that meant so much. I knew then that I had to do all I could to gain the approval of this visiting Alpha. My mate seemingly had decided to abandon me, so what else did I have left? I rushed out of the lounge on the hunt for my maid and the man I was going to be forced to marry. But, something made me falter as I moved to walk past my father.
I glanced in his direction, unable to help the words from tumbling from my lips. "Where is Jake?"
"The warrior?" He near snorted, with an amused chuckle.
I nodded. "Gone. Banished. You will not be needing him when you are married to an Alpha, and you know that. Now, go, find the Alpha, and make him see what Grace, Alpha Alexander's daughter is capable of."
Banished... the word echoed in my mind as I rushed down the hallway of the packhouse away from the lounge. That meant he would never return. But it also meant he had not left me. He had been forced. Yet, in spite of that, sadly, my fated had now gone forever. I had lost him. And, because of me he had lost everything. His home. His job. His family. My father was evil...