Page 99 of Chaos At Second Sight

I rubbed my forehead; a thin layer of sweat covered it. A father who would ask a mate that kind of question was a nightmare that haunted every daughter’s dreams. Especially when the said mate had not even accidentally brushed the said daughter’s butt.

“I have not,” Logan answered evenly. But any kind of answer wouldn’t have satisfied my father.

“And why not? Don’t you think my daughter’s beautiful?”

I gaped at my father in complete shock. Even Lachlan stopped eating his nachos.

“I don’t have all day, Dark Diamond.”

For the first time, Logan looked uncertain. “Of course she is. The most beautiful.” His hand found mine under the table, his thumb brushing my palm.

“So?”

My ears were about to catch fire at any moment. “Dad! You can’t ask that!”

“We’re all adults here, Yvaine.”

“Are we?” I asked the child trapped inside my father’s body.

“No, it’s fine.” Logan sighed before he looked my father in the eyes. “Sir, I’m not a werewolf. It didn’t hurt her in Scotland, but I don’t trust it with her or anyone else.” He turned to me, different emotions swirling in his silver depths. “Also, when she’s ready⁠—”

“Right!” I cut in. “It’s time to order you some water, Dad!” Part of me burned with curiosity. Almost two weeks had passed since Scotland, and Lucien had to be an excuse. But discussing that in front of my brother and father? Absolutely not.

Lachlan licked barbecue sauce off his fingers. “Well, you should mark her before somebody else does.”

Logan’s shoulders tensed. “They can try.”

“I’m not cattle!” My fingers drummed on the table. “The decision is mine.”

Dad sized Logan up over the edge of his glass, taking a sip, which amounted to more than half of the drink. “I heard you’re a lycan.”

I sympathized with him. It must’ve been hard to be a werewolf father, hoping she’d find her mate one day, yet dreading the moment she finally did.

“Tell me about your family. We all know who your father is.” He muttered pain in the gut under his breath, but everyone heard it. “What about your mother?”

A trace of pain tinged Logan’s eyes, so fleeting I almost thought I’d imagined it. “She’s not in my life anymore.”

Dad took another pull, draining its contents, with no discernable impact on his speech…unfortunately. “Why?” he probed.

“She left when I was a kid. Pack life wasn’t entertaining enough for her.” His voice had cooled.

“Your father raised you alone?” His surprise mirrored mine. Logan once told me his parents had divorced when I asked, adding he’d tell me more another time, yet he never had.

“Him and my grandmother.”

Dad patted his shoulder. “Well, they didn’t do an awful job.”

“Thanks, sir.” Logan returned the smile.

“Lachlan, another round.”

My twin rolled his eyes but headed for the bar.

The evening was going well. My three favorite men had somehow settled into talking about wereball, and, to my amusement, Lachlan and Logan agreed on far more than either of them realized.

Dad noticed, too. “You know boys…” He set his empty glass down with a thunk. “Your rivalry started long before you became captains.”

The boys in question frowned. “And?” they both said at the same time.