Chapter 25
I’m Not Leaving Her
SHADOW
Seven Years Ago
An angry text message from Anders wakes me from a deep, restful sleep. I can’t remember the last time I slept in this late. I’m usually an early riser, even if I only manage a couple of hours. I smile, remembering last night.
Jessica was so happy. I love the way she interacts with Emily and Sixes and playfully banters with the twins and Ean. She always includes me and Elijah. No one is left out when she’s around. Most of all, I love seeing her smile, the way her face lights up when she experiences new things for the first time.
These past couple of weeks, I learned so much about her—she’s smart, observant, and kind. I can’t help falling more in love with her, so much more than just the bond between us.
For the first time since I can remember, I feel alive. I feel free. Even the stupid voice in my head is quiet, and I haven’t had the urge to drink to keep my emotions under control. Jessica is the antidote to my plastic existence, my roiling inner turmoil. I plan to make myself a permanent fixture in her life and her in mine.
On his command, I enter Anders’s office. The smell of aged books wafts in my direction, so different from the Alpha King’s office, which usually smells of parchment and pen ink. He doesn’t look at me when I arrive. I didn’t use my magic, my mind too preoccupied with daydreams of Jessica in my life, possibly in the recruit program, and after. My mind wanders to us exploring outside of the LS and the career options she could pursue. No doubt my delay pisses him off since I usually show up at the drop of a dime.
“You requested to see me?” I ask, helping myself to a seat in front of his desk. I cross my legs, fold my hands in front of me, and school my face—well, to what my face looked like before. I wait for him to address me.
He sighs and throws his pen down on his mahogany desk, identical to the King’s. “What the hell has gotten into you?”
His dangerous tone should cause me concern, but I don’t let it deter my good mood. “Can you elaborate? I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Stop fucking playing games with me!” he shouts. “You took Jessica out of the territory, and last night you took her to a concert. A fucking concert!”
“Chris ensured there were fifteen guards present.”
Anders clenches his jaw. “You took my daughter out of the territory without my approval. You know damn well that you put her life in danger!”
“I had permission from her legal guardian.”
His face contorts in anger, and the temperature drops in the room. “She was on stage, singing! You put her life at risk by exposing her!”
“Charlie introduced her to the crowd as ‘little bird,’ his muse. As I mentioned, fifteen men were on standby, not to mention that Charlie and half of his band members are also guards. Shewore a hat and sunglasses to disguise her identity, so no one recognized her,” I reply matter-of-factly.
He glares at me.
I should be afraid, but I’m not. He needs to understand that he can’t lock her up and isolate her from living life.
“I honestly don’t know what the hell has gotten into you,” he murmurs. Resting his elbows on the desk, he places his head in his hands. “First, the subtle changes, uncontrolled emotions, and rage. But this is like dealing with a defiant teenager.”
“I’m not trying to be defiant. I wanted to take her and our friends out for her birthday, which was ruined by that Powers girl. She never asks for anything. She never asks to leave the territory or to go to Emily’s roller derby tournaments, or even the movies. It’s good for her to see Charlie living his dream, a dream she helped him achieve. If you saw Charlie’s face when we all went backstage to surprise him, you would understand that last night meant as much to him as it did for her. I never experienced friendship like this before. I wanted to do something with all of them. They had a good time, and experiencing their excitement made me feel things I never have before.”
Anders lets out a frosty breath and lowers his hands to the desk. “Explain to me the sudden decision to remove yourself from being Young Alpha?”
“You heard about that?”
“Yes. Your father called me last night.”
I need to toe the line, to be careful on how I respond, or I might end up dead. But I won’t lie to him either. Shrugging my shoulders, I lean forward in my seat. “I turn twenty-two soon. I haven’t experienced life the same as most young men my age. Being Young Alpha prevents me from living a life I never thought I wanted before.”
He studies me for a few minutes. “And when did you come to this realization?”
“Since I started to feel… feelings and no longer function as a walking, talking robot on autopilot. I want to live my life, and I want to enjoy it.”Enjoy it with Jessica.
“What does all of this have to do with my daughter?” And here we are. Nothing gets past this man. I don’t answer right away.
“I’m not an idiot, Shadow. Stepping down from the title of Young Alpha also changes the betrothal agreement. So not only are you free to live a life outside of your pack and territory, it also means you can freely choose your own mate.”
