Regaining her courage, Sara met his gaze, steeling herself not to falter. “It’s not amistake. We chose each other. Ourwolveschose each other. She’s my soulmate and I’m hers.” She put her hand over his. “Why can’t you be happy for me?”
Snatching his hand back, he stood. “Because it’s not right!”
She shrank back in her seat. “Not right?”
Setting his palms flat on the table, he loomed over her. “You’re an alpha’s daughter, and so is she. I can’t believe Tregarrak didn’t refuse her outright instead of entertaining her foolish ideas. But I’m not so weak-willed.”
“He loves her and wants the best for—”
“I want the best for you. And this isn’t it.”
Her head hurt. They were going round in circles. He was never going to agree to it.
As calmly as she could manage, Sara said, “Bonding with Rachel Tregarrakisbest for me. I feel it here.” She put a hand over her heart. “And if you really loved me, you’d see that I’m telling the truth. And you’d give us your blessing.”
She watched the expressions flicker across his face—disbelief, denial, and finally anger. So much anger. He looked as though he wanted to haul her across the table and drag her out of there.
It took all her resolve to stand her ground and not run.
When he spoke, it came out in a low hiss. “Your duty to this pack is to carry on our family line.”
She gasped. “Myduty?”
“As my daughter.” He made a vague gesture at her stomach, and Sara was done.
She half shifted, fangs sliding out before she could stop them. “I did not re-join your pack to marry someone you deemed suitable and have babies.” She snarled, rage taking over.
“Sara,” he cautioned, but she was too far gone.
“I joined because you’re my father and I’d missed you. I wanted to get to know you better.”
Surprise flickered across his face for a moment but was gone just as quick. “Shift back. Now.”
The alpha command sent tingles up her spine and she fought not to react, but the need to follow her alpha’s orders was deeply ingrained, and she felt the half shift slip away.
Before either of them spoke again, the door to the garden opened and Celia appeared. Her scent brought with it a measure of calm that settled over Sara and let her catch her breath.
Fuck, what have I done?
“This doesn’t concern you, Celia. Stay out of it.” Gallen kept his eyes on Sara as he spoke, expression now unreadable.
“On the contrary, Simon. You made it my business when you chose to make such a spectacle in a place that the council often frequents. This meeting is done.” She faced Sara, her expression immediately softening. “Wait for me at the car. I want to have a word with your father.”
Sara nodded, dying to get out of there, and slipped through the door without looking at her father again. Once on the other side though, the pub was busy enough to mask her footsteps, but not their voices. As soon as she heard Celia speak, she was helpless to do anything but stop and listen.
“You’re going to lose her if you keep this up.”
Gallen huffed out a bitter laugh. “That should make you happy then.”
“Surprisingly, no. I was thrilled when my daughter left you because you made her terribly unhappy, and as her mother, I hated seeing what your relationship did to her. But Sara isyourdaughter, and she loves you. You’ve managed not to mess that up over the years, but you’re failing spectacularly now.”
The growl her father let out vibrated through the ground, and Sara felt the after-effects. “How I raise my daughter is none of your business. Or are you going to pull out your alpha council card? How hypocritical of you.”
“This has nothing to do with the council. Believe me, if I could use my position to make you change your mind, I’d do it in a heartbeat because what you’re doing is killing that girl. The pull of a potential bond can be exquisite, but if denied the ache is almost unbearable until it fades. You are doing that to her.” Sara imagined her grandmother pointing out to the car park where Sara should be. She felt a tiny bit of guilt for listening in but stayed rooted to the spot. “I’m telling you this because you still have a chance to set things right and mend your relationship.”
“I’ve made my decision.”
“And what a fucking awful one it is.”
