Chapter 4

* Three Weeks Later *

✧ ✧ ✧

The drive back to the Moonstone pack was eerily silent.

Machiavelli had barely said a word to his daughter since the arrangement was cancelled between Suki and Everett. It wasn’t at any fault of Suki’s, but instead the unexpected arrival of his true mate, therefore making their forced bond unnecessary.

The Alpha-son of the Silver Moon pack, with his true mate, was able to come together to heal the pack of their dreaded 18-year curse. Everyone was full of joy, except Suki’s father.

“Father, please say something,” Suki spoke faintly, “I promise I had nothing to do with–”

“Quiet,” he growled, cracking his knuckles as he balled his hands into fists to prevent his claws from breaking through.

Adjusting her dusty rose dress, she didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye to the new Alpha and Luna of Silver Moon before her father decided they should just leave before any more embarrassment was bestowed on them. Suki swallowed thickly, “Please,” she placed her hand over his fist, “I was going to bond with him, just as you wished, we both were accepting and willing to do it. I swear it.”

His jaw clenched. “This would have been a perfect opportunity for a great life for you.” Pulling his hand away and taking out his phone to angrily answer emails, “We lost an alliance with another pack recently, the Moonstone pack is in danger of losing all trading if we don’t do something about it. Since the Alpha has no daughters of his own to marry off into a powerful pack to form a union, the responsibility goes to you.”

Suki looked out the window and sighed, “I know, Father, Silver Moon would’ve helped us, but we’ll find another way.”

“We must,” he exhaled and faced his daughter, his body finally relaxing as he gave her a sympathetic stare. “I’m sorry, dear, we’re under a lot of pressure right now.”

Looking over to her father, she smiled faintly, “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

“Other werewolves from all packs are watching us closely right now. We need alliances.”

“Why are we losing alliances?”

Her father paused for a moment before pressing a button to raise the privacy screen of their car, shielding their conversation from the driver.

A chill trembled through Suki. She looked down at her lap, at her hands tightly fiddling with the skirt of her dress.

“Word is spreading that a threat to the werewolf species is approaching.”

“What?” Her eyes widened, “What kind of threat?”

Machiavelli shook his head, shrugging slowly. “No one knows, witches with seer abilities are rare, and the one who shared what she saw has disappeared.”

Suki said nothing in response. What could she say? This was out of her league. She was surprised her father would even share such information with her.

“Packs are becoming scared, they’re pulling their resources to protect their own.” He sighed, “Now more than ever, we must do everything we can to keep our pack strong, and for now, that means sticking to what we do best, which is sticking to our traditions. Traditions have always kept us strong. We can’t afford anything unexpected right now, it could lead to our demise as werewolves.”

“Yes, Father,” Suki said, trying to hide the sadness lingering in her tone.

Machiavelli’s words were always harsh, just as his father’s were, and his father before him, and so on. Suki was used to it, had even become accustomed to it, but that didn’t mean it didn’t sting to know that her situation was something that could never come to light. Her father’s pride in holding onto their family traditions and legacy was more important than the power of fate itself.

✧ ✧ ✧

The car came to a slow stop.

Suki awakened to the sweet floral and almond scent of the cherry trees, bringing back memories of Suki’s childhood when she picked the delicious fruits with her late mother. The scent brought a mix of nostalgia and bliss for her, as well as a twinge of grief that would never truly escape her.

“What time is it?” Suki yawned.

“About 5 am,” their driver, Charles, responded before exiting the car to open her door.

Blinking away the dryness of her tired eyes. She exhaled, “I don’t understand why we had to drive home during the night.” She took the driver’s hand, who helped usher her out of the car and thanked him. Dusting herself off, she turned to her father. “We were welcome to stay in the home that Everett provided us.”

Her father removed his bowtie and his jacket, draping them over his arm before he spoke, unamused at his daughter’s complaints, “I have business to attend to.”

“You always have business to attend to,” she muttered, turning away and locking eyes with glistening blue eyes. “Rey?” She smiled, “Rey!” She leapt into his arms as he approached her, lifting and spinning her in circles.

“Welcome home, Ki,” he said, squeezing her tightly in their hug.

Suki pulled back enough to look at him, “What are you doing here? Oh, ew, you’re sweaty, ” She giggled and scanned his attire, “Did you just finish training?”

“I had night training and heard through the grapevine you were coming back today. I wanted a friendly face to welcome you back, so I made my way here right after training.”

Biting down on her lower lip, Suki was entranced by his enhanced scent from his training. She could feel herself melting into her urges. “You must be exhausted, you didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to,” he smiled, tucking her slept-on hair behind her ear. Reynard stepped back from Suki as her father approached. Bowing his head slightly in respect, Rey cleared his throat before speaking, “Beta Machiavelli, good to see you, sir.”

Machiavelli held out his hand, “You too, Reynard.” He shook his hand once firmly and continued, “How’s your training going?”

Fighting back a soft smirk, “As expected, a lot of hard work.”

“Are you still the best in your group?”

“Trying to be, yes, sir,” he held himself tall. Suki tittered at his prideful stance and leant into him

Her father arched a brow, “Modest as always, I see. Trying to impress anyone special?”

Reynard’s cheeks flushed red, “I… No, sir. I mean,” he looked at Suki, then back to his superior, “Well, I–”

Slapping a hand on his shoulder, Machiavelli chuckled, “Relax, son, you’ll be a fine warrior one day. Keep your strong spirit up.” Rey nodded in acknowledgement. “I must get ready and head off. Stay out of trouble, you two.”

“Yes, sir,” they both said in unison as he walked off.

Suki shook her head, “Sometimes I wonder if my father loves work more than me.”

Rey scoffed, “Nonsense, he’s got a weird way of showing he cares, but he loves you, Ki. I mean, how can anyone not?” She arched a brow and narrowed her eyes at him. He held back a laugh, “I’m thrilled you’re home.”

“Me too. Honestly, I thought you’d be mad and not want to talk to me.” Her face relaxed, and her shoulders dropped.

“What? Why?”

“Well, the last time we saw each other was… eventful”

Images of that night flashed through Suki’s mind, seeing Reynard and Brendan both discover that they shared a mate, the fury on both of their faces. They were ready to tear each other apart until Everett and the guards he pulled together to protect Suki approached the home. By some stroke of luck, she managed to frantically send the boys away without anyone getting caught, and without them killing each other.

Rey places a hand on her cheek, “You underestimate how much I care for you, Ki.” He looked deep into her eyes, stroking her cheek with his thumb. ‘Even before our bond.’

Suki almost forgot about where she was and her surroundings as she leaned into him more. Until she was brought back to reality by her father’s driver placing the last of her luggage on the ground.

“Shall I take your bags inside, Miss Twyla?” Charles asked.

She cleared her throat, “No,” she stepped back from Rey, “you must be tired too. Go home and see your family.”

A soft smile appeared before he bowed to her, got back into the car and drove off.

“I hate it when they bow to me,” she sighed, walked over to her bags and picked up a suitcase.

Taking it from her, Rey spoke softly, “Hey, that would’ve happened a lot more if you became Luna of the Silver Moon pack.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me. You don’t have to take my bags–”

“Shut up and get inside,” he interrupted, smiling cheekily and ushered her towards the front door as he picked up the rest of her luggage.