While Sophie rose to get one, Mila struggled to resolve the contradictory stories from each pack. Sophie appeared to be completely genuine. She’d learned details that her pack had left out. Never once since she’d met Rafe did she get the sense he wanted to claim Sacco lands. In fact, he’d liked her idea about allowing wolves to roam free.
Sophie handed her a glass of water.
“Thank you.” Mila took a sip and then a longer one.
It felt like she was finally waking up and seeing things through clear eyes. Knowing Alex and his excessive arrogance, she could picture the scenario playing out as Sophie had explained. In that case, maybe the conflict was generated by too much pride and too little sense. It wouldn’t be the first time for wolf shifters to rush to battle over the slightest cause—if any.
And if all this was true, her reasoning that had guided her to volunteer to sabotage the Franconia was misguided and flat-out wrong.
Damon added, “I never intended to cause any rift between our packs. I caught Sophie’s scent and recognized it as my mate’s. With how her ski tracks veered into the woods, I worried she was in trouble. All I wanted to do was to find Sophie and make sure she was safe.”
Sophie gave him a warm smile before turning a worried expression on Mila. “I don’t completely understand how wolves feel when they find their mates, but I hear it is quite a compulsion, almost difficult to ignore.”
Mila bit her lip and turned away to glance outside the window to the forest. She could feel Rafe’s eyes on her. That overpowering instinct had been one they both had tried to ignore from the beginning—and failed. That was the reason why she was still here. Even when she’d tried to exploit their connection to her advantage, she’d failed at that as well. She took in a shaky breath and released it.
A week ago, Sophie and Damon’s words would have little effect swaying Mila, but since then, so much had changed. Now that she’d found her mate and had felt his touch, could she ever walk away? If she sensed Rafe was in danger, would she try to save him the way that Damon had gone to protect Sophie, no matter what the cost?
Mila had already learned this morning that she could never hurt him.
She returned her attention to Sophie and smiled. “Well, I’ll admit that the emotions are particularly strong. I wanted to kill him at first.” She faced Rafe and grinned. “But he’s kind of cute and grew on me.”
Rafe released a throaty laugh. “Like lichen.”
Her smile spread wider. “Exactly.” She cast her gaze down to the rug. “I appreciate you both telling me what happened from your point of view. You’re right in that I haven’t heard the whole story.” She gulped. “And in that regard, I was in the wrong. I never should’ve believed all the accusations without knowing for sure.” She raised her gaze to meet Rafe’s. “I’m sorry.”
He cupped her face and stared at her with warm eyes. “Don’t be.”
She melted at his touch. Here he was, an alpha, showing affection to her in front of his pack mates. She wanted more of this, yearned to explore their connection.
Rafe grinned. “I’m glad you’re feisty and brave enough to come over here and try to ruin my business. Otherwise, how else would I have met you?” One side of his mouth curled up into a wry grin.
She laughed. “True.” She addressed all of them. “I don’t want our packs to fight, but I’m not sure how to prevent it. Even if I tell them exactly what you told me, I doubt they would listen.”
Rafe asked, “Why not? You’re Kane’s daughter. The word of Kane’s daughter should carry weight in the pack.”
She shook her head. “Not mine.” A sour taste coated her tongue. “My opinion doesn’t matter much. Especially to him.”
It hurt to admit it, but it was time she accepted the truth. Her father didn’t value her, and neither did her pack. She’d volunteered for a mission to win their acceptance and appreciation, but for what? Her motivation seemed hollow now, a pointless endeavor to be valued by a pack.
If that was the case, maybe she didn’t belong with her pack after all.
If so, she faced a much bigger, much graver problem.
Her father.
Chapter 13
Rafe
Rafe hated having caused Mila any distress. He’d sprung that meeting with Damon and Sophie on her, but sensed she would refuse to go if he revealed who they were going to visit.
“Are you okay?” he asked her after they walked outside the cabin.
“I am. It’s not easy learning things about your pack you wish weren’t true.” In a lower voice, she added, “Or regret the things you’ve done—and believed.”
“You have nothing to feel bad about,” he replied and pulled her into his arms. What he would do to brush her anguish away. “You were loyal to your father and your pack.”
When she pulled back and met Rafe’s gaze, her eyes were full of sadness. “Maybe I was misguided.”
