My body shook, and I bent down, placing my hands on my knees as I tried to pull myself together. But it just seemed so relentless. Every time I got a little further, I was pulled back.
I didn’t want to think about what was going to happen or how Brandon would react. Depending on who he mates with, they might not even want to look at Ilsa as if she were his. But Brandon might want her. He might take her, and that scared the shit out of her.
A panic attack built up, and I felt my hands shake harder as I placed them on my chest, trying to pull air in. I bent over into a crouch, pulling my knees to my chest.
I slowly took deep breaths, the world seeming so distant. I hated everything. I hated how everything was going, and I wished things were so different.
After a few minutes, I got up and pulled myself together. I got the copies and left them at Ryan’s office before locking my door for the rest of the day.
I left work practically running to escape it. I drove to get Ilsa from daycare, and my headache was looming over me, pounding harder in my skull.
Ilsa smiled as I got inside. She waved an art piece at me. “Look, Mommy.”
I smiled at her, feeling joy at seeing her. She hurried over, and I pulled her into a hug, letting it dissolve my shitty day away.
I was getting Ilsa in the car when I remembered my message from my father that morning. I groaned, internally screaming. Shit. I had to stop there.
“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Ilsa caught on quickly to my expression, giving me a confused look.
“Nothing, we just have to stop at grandpa’s.”
Ilsa frowned. “Are we staying for dinner?”
I had no idea about that. I had a feeling it was to discuss my marriage, which, knowing my father, he had everything planned out.
“Maybe,” I said, smiling at her. “You know grandpa is full of surprises.” I tried hard to hide my irritation with my father from Ilsa, but sometimes it was impossible.
I squeezed her cheek before getting into my seat and drove across town to my dad’s house. I parked, not seeing any other cars there. I looked at Brandon’s parents’ house, but I didn’t see any in their driveway. My shoulders relaxed slightly as we headed up to the front.
I stopped Ilsa and pulled her back. The sudden thought of Ilsa being in there made my skin crawl. I didn’t need her listening to what was going to happen.
I bent down and smiled. “How about you head around back to the backyard for a while. I’ll grab you when we are done.”
She smiled, turning and running toward the gate. Once she was inside, I straightened my back and went in. I tried to think of what I was going to say. I knew I wasn’t going to take this lying down. I had to do what was best for Ilsa and myself.
I opened the door and stepped inside. I slipped my shoes off and headed up the stairs from the landing toward the living room and kitchen. “Alright, Dad, I’m here. I can’t stay long, though.”
I paused as I got to the top and found my father sitting on the couch with Brandon. My entire body tensed up. So, much for avoiding him.
“Glad you could make it.”
I stared at Brandon, who stared back at me. I, however, felt anger as I took him in. Thinking about how he left me, how he used me, and threw me away like a rag. He took my virginity and acted like it didn’t even matter.
“What’s the meaning of this?”
My father pulled himself up. “Brandon has stated he wanted you as his mate.”
I felt like I’d been slapped, and I felt my mouth open slightly in shock. This was a sick joke, right? Or I was having a nightmare.
I shook my head and looked at my father. “You said I was already getting married to someone else.”
“Yes, but that can be rearranged.”
I felt my jaw drop open a little more. “You…No.” I shook my head, waving my hands. “Absolutely not. I’m not marrying him.”
My father’s eyes darkened, and I watched his jaw tense together, knowing I wasn’t supposed to be as abrupt as I was. But there was no way in hell I was going to agree to this.
“You don’t want to be with an Alpha?” Brandon asked, seeming full of himself.
