It’s the first time he’s spoken about Mom in years, the pain he feels visible in his eyes. He and Mom were childhood sweethearts.
“You can’t shield me from the world forever,” I tell him. “Mom wouldn’t have wanted that. She wanted me to be free. Tobe happy. She taught me that I could do anything I wanted and that being an omega would never stop me.”
“She was a wise woman.” His voice is thick. “Like you.”
My heart warms as a single tear dares to slide down his cheek. Beyond Dad’s cold, robotic front, I get a glimpse of a man who is intent on running from his pain. He’s spent years distracting himself with new wives, money, private jets, and work, not allowing himself to face it.
“Dad…” I don’t know what to say. Neither of us has ever been good at expressing our feelings, which is painfully obvious in this moment. Mom was better at it.
“I know.” He pats my knee clumsily, sparing me. “I better be off.” He jumps up and straightens his suit, back to his usual self again.
“I guess I’ll see you at the end of the semester.”
He replies with a single, decisive dip of his chin. “I’ll get my PA to check my diary. She’ll reach out to schedule a jet and pencil in a dinner with your pack if I have spare time. You know it’s a busy season.”
“I know, Dad.” Disappointment swells in my chest. I thought we were finally having an emotional breakthrough, only for it to be dashed again abruptly. “Hopefully we’ll catch up then.”
He merely grunts then storms back to the car where Warren waits to whisk him off.
I stand and watch them drive away, questions flooding my brain. Without the Valen Pack, is that the kind of life I was destined to have? Would I end up like my father, so emotionally distant and focused on work that it’s nearly impossible to spend any time with those I love? It sounds… lonely.
I look back at the cabin and see the outlines of my four alphas inside the cozy cabin, reminding me that I have another choice. A life that’s filled with excitement, laughter, and people who careabout me. For the first time, a future with them feels a lot less scary than a future without them.
THIRTY-SIX
Hale
“What do you think he said to her?” Calder strains to get a better look out of the window, but the angle makes it difficult to see.
“Give her some privacy, Calder.” Ezra flops onto the sofa, but he doesn’t recline and sprawl out like he usually does, hinting that he’s on edge too. “Kady is strong. She broke an alpha’s nose at a bar, remember?”
“What if he’s going to return with the cops and drag her back to New York?” Calder’s thoughts jumble out. “That’s what he wants, right? To control every aspect of her life? Maybe he’ll throw us in jail again and force her to walk down the aisle.”
“Could he really do that?” The color drains from Riven’s face.
“Ignore him, Riven,” Ezra rumbles. “Calder’s just being a drama queen, as usual.”
“A drama queen?” Calder’s nostrils flare. “Since when do you care about Kady anyway? You’ve been avoiding her from the moment we arrived. And I thought you didn’t even want an omega. What changed?
Ezra’s jaw tenses. “I guess I had a change of heart.”
“We need to be there for Kady, not fighting between ourselves.” I step between them, touching Riven’s shoulder in reassurance. Not only is he pale, but the way he’s wringing hishands makes it clear that he’s anxious. “Kady knows what she wants.”
And that’s us, right?
Her words are still echoing through my head. “They are my scent matches.”
We still have a lot to work and talk through, but her admission feels like we’re halfway there. Every word I said was true, and after seeing how her father speaks to her, I understand more than ever the importance of making sure she always feels like she has her own autonomy and freedom.
After pacing for a few minutes, Kady steps back inside.
“He’s on his way back to New York. I’m sorry for,” she grimaces, “him showing up like that.”
“At least there were no cops this time,” Calder grumbles.
“You’re his daughter.” I try to assuage her guilt while glaring at Calder to shut up. “He’s protective.”
“That’s one word for it.” She smiles meekly. “But the wedding’s off. Again.”
