Maybe it was the fact for the last six weeks she’d reported to a different alpha. As soon as the thought popped into her head, she knew it was true. Somehow, coming home to her father felt like a betrayal of Cam and his pack. Which was ridiculous. She’d been a member of the Penwith pack her whole life. It shouldn’t feel like this.
Deciding there was nothing to be done but face it head-on, Rachel put the car in gear and carried on along the road towards the farmhouse.
A lone figure stood outside waiting for her.
Alpha David Tregarrak.
He must have heard her car approaching.
Seeing him settled some of her nerves, but that niggling sense of betrayal wouldn’t go away.
By the time she’d parked and turned off the engine, he already had her car door open.
Quickly unclipping her seatbelt, she climbed out and let him pull her in for a hug. He held her tight, wrapping her up in his arms, and the familiar scent of alpha and home surrounded her.
“You smell of another pack, another alpha,” he whispered into her hair. His voice was soft, wistful, not angry, and she relaxed into his embrace.
“I feel strange to be back,” she admitted and felt him nod against her.
“As though you’re being disloyal? Torn?”
“Yes!” Exactly like that.
He pulled back with a chuckle. “That’s totally understandable. You’ve been with them for over a month.”
“You’re not angry or upset?”
His answer was to ruffle her hair. “No. On the contrary, I couldn’t be happier.” She frowned at him, and he smiled in return. “It means he took care of you as he would a full member of his own pack. You wouldn’t feel this conflicted otherwise.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t worry, the feelings will calm down, sort themselves out.”
She looked away as guilt gnawed at her despite his words. Some of it must have shown on her face because he put a finger under her chin and tilted her head back up.
“Don’t,” he said, voice soft. “I fully expected this to happen. I wouldn’t have allowed you to go if I didn’t believe they’d treat you like one of their own. I don’t want you to feel guilty, and neither would Alpha Harley.” He tugged her into his arms again for a quick embrace. “Now come inside. We have a lot to talk about.”
“Yes, we do.” She let him take her hand and lead her to the open door of the farmhouse.
The quiet suddenly struck her as odd, and she glanced around at the obvious lack of people. “Where is everyone?” Not that she’d expected a big welcoming committee, but maybe her brother at least.
“I told them to keep their distance for an hour or so. I didn’t want to overwhelm you. Especially if you were feeling as conflicted as I suspected you might.” He glanced over at her, and she realised again how lucky she was.
Not everyone had a father, an alpha, like hers.
Her thoughts immediately went to Sara. “Thank you,” she whispered and squeezed his hand. “It’s good to be home.”
And it was. She could appreciate that now and still accept that she missed Cam and his pack.
Slipping an arm around her shoulders, he led her inside to a table laid out with a feast that would feed at least ten.
“Wow.” Her mouth watered at all the food on display, and as though sensing its presence, her belly rumbled.
“I thought you might be hungry after your drive.”
“I’m starved.” Service station food was nothing like home-cooked fare.
They took seats next to each other, and as Rachel helped herself to a Cornish pasty, she began the lengthy explanation of exactly what had happened with her, Sara, and Sara’s father. She’d only told him the basics over the phone the night before, deciding it would be best to give him the details in person, where he could see for himself that she was okay.
