I nodded, focusing on her and ignoring Xen’s gaze burning into me from the side. “Maybe leave it another month or so to be sure of not upsetting anyone in your pack.”
Haylen Frost levelled me with a stare that seemed to see right through me. “What about upsetting someone in your pack, Mr Allen?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” I met his gaze, unflinching, using all my training not to react in a way he could detect.
“Dad,” Myla hissed. “We talked about this. Remember?”
Frost shot an irritated glance his daughter’s way but let it go. “Regardless of what you both might think, now is the perfect time for the two of you to start spending time together. It’s been almost three months. More than enough mourning time to appease my pack. I need Myla bonded and ready to take over as soon as possible.”
I froze. My heart stopped as his words sank in, then set off at a gallop as all the implications hit me.
Bonded.
Tied together forever.
By the look on Myla’s face, this was as much of a shock to her as it was to me. She turned in her seat. “Marriage. That’s what we agreed. You never said anything about bonding.”
Frost sighed. “What? So the two of you can play at being happily married for a year or two until this blows over and then go your own ways?”
“I wouldn’t do that,” she gritted out. “And neither would Jake.”
It was really fucking tempting, but I’d given my word. Unless we found a legitimate way to get out of the whole thing, then I’d keep it. I wouldn’t abandon her. For one thing, as long as my dad was alive, Xen and Frost held all the cards.
“Do you really think you can lead our pack with anyone other than a bonded mate?” Frost said, voice surprisingly calm. “That they’ll take you seriously, accept you as their alpha, if you can’t even do that right?”
When he put it like that, I was forced to agree with him, but… to be joined in that way, on such a base and primal level, there’d be no coming back from it ever.
Myla bit her lip, her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and I wanted to reach over the table and grab her hand, reassure her that it wouldn’t come to that. But I couldn’t, and from the way she took a breath and straightened her shoulders, her chin tilting in defiance, she’d have bitten me if I’d tried.
“Fine,” she said, a flatness to her voice that left me cold. “Jake and I will sort it out between ourselves.”
Frost nodded. “See that you do.”
He stood abruptly. “I think we’re done here. I expect to see a detailed report of your planned meetings by tomorrow.”
“Of course.” Myla stood too, looking my way as she did so. “I’ll be in touch, Jake.”
“Okay.” I pushed my chair back before Xen got any ideas about keeping me behind for a chat. “I’ll walk you to your car.” Before anyone could protest, I was around the other side of the table, offering my arm to Myla. The last thing I needed was Xen catching me alone and adding more restrictions to his alpha order.
Myla set her hand on my arm with a raised eyebrow and let me guide her outside. With Xen and Frost still within earshot, I kept it short. “Why don’t you come by the house tomorrow evening? We can talk then.”
“I need to check something first. I’ll text you.”
“Okay.” I stepped back before Frost and Xen walked out, needing to make my escape. “See you soon.”
“You all right?”Max asked, making no attempt to get out of the car.
He’d parked on the street outside my dad’s house, but the minute he’d turned the engine off, I’d grabbed his arm, asking him to wait.
I stared at the house I’d grown up in. “I just need a second.” Even after my mum died, I’d never associated this house with anything except love and warmth and family. Never not felt welcome the moment I stepped foot inside. So why was it so hard to get out of the car?
Maybe because you left it so long to come back here.
“He knows we’re here,” Max said softly, his hand wrapping around mine, offering me his strength when I couldn’t find my own.
I clung on tight. “I know he does.”
Closing my eyes, I sought out the place deep inside me that knew my dad hadn’t done what Xen said he had. Found it and clung to it too, because I couldn’t go in there with any part of me blaming him for what happened. I’d done that the last time I was here and it had got us nowhere. At the very least, I needed to keep an open mind. “Ready,” I breathed.
