He frowned at her. “What do you mean?”
“As I understand it, I am well within my rights to request the council to investigate.”
“Investigate what?”
“My alpha attacked me, without provocation. I think that’s something the council frowns upon.”
He paled considerably. “You jumped in my way, I was going for—”
“Rachel, I know. Also without provocation, I might add. But the fact remains, you caused me serious injury. And it’s my right to have you investigated for it.” She paused to let that sink in. “I wonder what’ll happen considering you’re already in trouble with them for using Grandma’s position on the council to your own gains.”
“Sara, I—”
“I don’t imagine it’ll be anything good. It could cost you your alpha status, couldn’t it?”
He looked at her, mixed emotions flitting across his face—surprise, anger—before finally settling on what looked like grudging respect. “Yes. If you request the council’s assistance, it could well cost me my alpha status. Or at least land me with a suspension of duties. Both of which will ruin me.” With a heavy sigh, he sat back down on the sofa. “Is that what you want? To see me punished?”
“What I want is to bond with Rachel. That’s all I’ve wanted since I ran into her on the full moon.” She retracted her claws and let out a sigh of her own. “But our pack deserves better. Your beliefs are old-fashioned at best. You need to open your mind to the world around you if you want to be the alpha you already think you are.”
He scoffed. “Is that right?”
“Yes!” She threw her hands in the air. “Shifter women aren’t here just to have babies. Our purpose in the pack isn’t solely to make it bigger by procreating. And your ideas about relationships belong in the dark ages. Shifters love who we love; you know that. The world has moved on from your father’s way of thinking. You need to catch up or your pack will lose all respect for you.” Her hands shook, palms clammy. She’d never spoken to him like this before, but she refused to take any of it back or apologise.
He remained silent for a long time, the tension in the room almost stifling. “And if I do those things,” he said eventually. “Allow you to bond, and”—he waved his hand around—“all the rest of it. Will you stay in my pack?”
She bit her lip. Part of her felt the pull to do as he asked, to make him happy. But a bigger part remembered the sight of him launching himself at Rachel, claws bared and murder in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Dad. If you do as I ask, I won’t involve the council, but I can’t stay in your pack.”
He stared at her for what felt like a lifetime, gaze fixed on her face as though memorising it. Finally he ran a hand through his hair and sighed again, this time in what sounded like resignation.
Sara’s heart missed a beat.
“All right, Sara. I give my permission for you to bond with Rachel Tregarrak of the Penwith pack. I give you my word as alpha to expand my knowledge regarding relationships and vow to treat the women in my pack as I treat the men.” He stood and walked over to her. “And I give you permission to leave the Pentarren pack. You don’t need to petition the council.”
Her breath caught.
Even though she’d walked in there with all the confidence in the world, deep down she hadn’t let herself believe it would actually work.Fucking hell.Her heart rate soared, excitement coursing through her as the reality of the situation sank in.
They could bond.
Her elation over her father’s acquiescence almost made her overlook the last part of his declaration, but pack etiquette had been drilled into her since birth. He hadn’t had to do that. It was a huge concession on his part. Maybe he wanted her gone? Or maybe he was trying to make some small amends for his actions. Either way, she looked him in the eye and said, “Thank you for letting me go.”
“I hope by doing that, we might reconcile our differences at some point in the future? Consider it an olive branch.”
She shook her head, an incredulous laugh breaking free. “It’s way too soon for that. I need time, some distance, and to bond with my mate. Give me those, and maybe we’ll talk.” His face brightened, so she quickly added, “I said maybe. We’ll see if you stick to your word.”
“I may be a lot of things, Sara, but I never go back on my word.”
“Good.” She managed to give him a small smile. “I’ll be in touch, Dad.” She turned towards the door, itching to get back to Rachel and tell her the good news, but her father’s voice stopped her mid-step.
“I’m sorry I hurt you.”
She waited for him to say he was sorry for attacking Rachel, but it never came.
Without another backward glance, she left the room and her father behind.
