I suddenly felt bolder than I’d ever felt in my entire life.
Enough is enough. I’ve been devastated by my father’s rejection one too many times. I won’t allow him to hurt me any longer. He doesn’t deserve that power.
“My whole life, you’ve made me feel like I was nothing,” I began as I stared him down the same disdainful way he’d done to me so many times before. “Even when Mom was still alive, you called me a freak and treated me like an outcast. And now when everyone knows the truth, you would still rather reject me than admit who I am to you.”
My father looked like he was about to say something, but I didn’t give him a chance. Nothing he could have said would’ve made me forgive him.
“You sent me to that awful training center to be turned into a weapon because that’s what you needed,” I replied, my voice straining as I tried to keep my emotions from spilling over. “Inever wanted to fight, but you promised that if I did, one day I’d be forgiven, but that was another lie, wasn’t it?”
Caelan squeezed my hand, giving me strength through our bond.
“You claim you had to protect everyone from me,” I continued. “But I’ve never put anyone in this pack in danger. I have, however, put myself at risk so many times, trying to protect them, trying to protect you and Sunny. And for what? To be told I don’t exist. That I don’t matter.”
He didn’t look away. Didn’t bother to look ashamed for what he did. He just glared at me as I went on.
“I’ve finally realized that what happened to Mom wasn’t my fault. I was only a pup. A scared and confused pup who went through something horrible, something she had no control over, and was punished for it. Not comforted. Punished. You may have lost your mate, but I lost my entire family that day.”
“But—” he started.
“I’m not done,” I said firmly. “You lied to me my entire life, saying that I couldn’t be trusted, that I’d never have a mate because the Goddess doesn’t bless wolves like me. But you were wrong.”
I looked at Caelan and smiled before turning back toward my father.
“Caelan and Luna Maty are right. You should be ashamed of yourself. You’re no alpha. You’re a coward, and I want nothing to do with you any longer.”
“You have a duty to this pack, Shade,” he growled. “You will remember your place and protect your sister like you’ve sworn todo.”
I raised my chin. “I know that the file that Dark Moon stole was mine. They aren’t after Sunny anymore. They’re after me.”
His face fell as he realized the truth in my words.
“So, congratulations, Father,” I added, feeling proud that I had finally said what I’d always needed to say. “You got everything you ever wanted. Your princess is safe, and I’m not going to be your problem anymore. I’m done with this pack, and I’m done being your doormat.”
There Is No Place Like Home
CAELAN
I couldn’t have been prouder of Shade as Alpha Butch stared at her in complete shock. I don’t think that he ever expected her to speak to him that way, too busy being his perfect little soldier. Watching her stand up to him and finally come into her own made the whole trip worth it.
Part of me had hoped for her sake that he would apologize after she’d gotten everything off her chest, but I guess he just didn’t have it in him to admit he was in the wrong.
I smiled brightly at her, my parents looking equally pleased with the future luna. I raised our clasped hands and placed a kiss across her knuckles. My mother gave me a firm nod as she and my father rose from their seats.
“I think we’re done here,” I declared. “Thank you for the meal. The food was good. The company significantly less so.”
“Caelan, wait!” Sunny demanded with a panic-stricken face as she reached out and grasped my wrist tightly. “What does this mean for us?”
“It’s Alpha Caelan,” I reprimanded as I yanked my arm free. “It’s disrespectful to be so familiar with a higher-ranked wolf. I assumed you knew that since Thunder Moon is so concerned with pack hierarchy. And there is no us. There never has been. You are officially dismissed from the choosing.”
“You can’t do that!” she cried.
“Actually, I can,” I stated flatly. “A luna should be kind, caring, and selfless. Qualities you do not possess, therefore I don’t believe you would be a good choice for a leader in my pack.”
She stared at me in disbelief.
“What belongings you left behind at Harvest Moon will be sent to you via courier,” I added, offering my arm to Shade.
“Daddy!” she demanded, stomping her foot like a toddler that didn’t get their way. “You have to stop this! Make him change his mind! I’m supposed to be his luna!”
