“What?”
Carson stands tall. “Your father. He’s on his way over.”
I grumble something under my breath. The peace was fun while it lasted—but it was short-lived.
My eyes land on Micah, who has been leading this session. “I’ve got duties that I need to see to,” I state. “You’re in charge.”
Micah’s gaze flicks between mine. “In charge?”
“Yes. Keep me updated when the session is over.”
When we turn to leave and head towards my office to prepare myself for the storm that is most likely coming, Felix is right there behind us.
“Where has he been in the last week?” Felix asks Carson and Aimee.
Carson clears his throat. “Mostly in the North. We believe he’s been looking at derelict buildings and scoping out the weakest packs. We already know he’s been tormenting one for definite. It’s probably a matter of time before it’s more.”
“We’ve been collating a plan,” Felix says as he steps towards my desk. “It’s not foolproof yet, but if we get him in a good position, then I think we’ll have him.”
I stare down at the notes scribbled onto a notebook as Felix talks me through it. He’s right, it’s not foolproof; it’s almost idiotic, but when it comes to my father, there are no shortcuts. It’s an impossible plan, but do we have any other choice?
“We did this while you’ve been galivanting off at the district town when you’re needed here,” Felix murmurs as he pins me with a stare.
I dismiss his words without replying. I don’t have time for this.
Carson’s shoulders tense. “Guards say he’s here.”
I close my eyes in defeat and watch as they all exit my office swiftly. It doesn’t take long for my father to appear in the doorway, his beard long and tangled, his shoulders rolled back, and his eyes as lifeless as ever.
“Caleb,” he rasps.
“Father. To what do I owe this pleasure?”
He flashes me a crooked smile, and I get an eyeful of his discoloured teeth. “I can’t come and see my only son with the life and world I gave him?”
My nostrils flare because I never asked for this.
When Kyle passed away, my father lost a piece of himself—then proceeded to try and make me into a clone of my brother. Kyle wanted to impress our father, but I wanted to stay as far away from him as possible.
I didn’t have a choice but to do what he asked. It was either listen to everything he said or be killed along with my closest friends. Fear is his greatest tool in manipulation.
“I have an important mission,” he says as he starts to walk around my office, the heels of his boots clicking against the floor. “And you’re going to join me.”
My arms fold over my chest as I stare at him. “Can’t.” I shrug.
“What did you say to me?”
“I can’t abandon my pack when I’ve just got here,” I state simply. “How will I earn their trust then?”
He rolls his eyes as if I’m being dramatic. “You don’t need them to trust you; you need to be stricter with them. Nothing wrong with throwing them in the dungeon to show them who’s boss. That’ll stop them from acting out.”
My eye twitches at his words. “That’s not how it works here.”
“Because you’re weak,” he seethes through his teeth. “Because you have all the authority and power right in front of you, and you refuse to take it.”
“I’d rather earn authority and power in an authentic way.”
My father stares right through my soul, and I don’t dare look away. “I thought you’d finally seen the other side, Caleb,” he grunts. “Yet, you keep disappointing me.”
