Chapter 22

Andrew

My father looks at me expectantly.

“She left.” He states the obvious.

Yeah, dad, she just closed the door. I saw that too, you know? I bite back the sarcasm swirling in my head.

“Yeah,” I say instead, keeping my tone neutral.

“Is she moving fast?” Dad presses on.

“How would I know?” I frown, genuinely confused.

“Feel the bond within you,” he explains, as if I’m some clueless pup. “It’s a tether to her, even if she’s not part of this pack yet.”

His tone makes me feel like an i.diot. Thanks for the condescending lecture, Dad. Very helpful.

I search my mind for the bond. It’s not easy to focus, so I shut my eyes, forcing myself to search inward. It’s like reaching into fog. After a moment, I feel it – a faint thread tugging gently against my chest, like an invisible string trying to pull me toward someone. Light, soft… almost like a butterfly fluttering further away.

“Yes,” I say slowly, “she’s moving quite fast.”

I open my eyes to meet Dad’s stare. He watches me closely, his head tilting as wry smile curls his lips.

“So why are you still here?”

The mockery in his voice cuts through me. My stomach twists. What the hell is happening? Why is he taunting me? We’ve always been tight. He’s always had my back. He never talked to me like this before. Is he siding with her? Really? Disbelief tightens my chest, and hurt gnaws at me.

“What do you want me to do?” I ask, my voice betraying my bitter disbelief. I should play it cooler, but this feels like a slap.

“Go. And get her.” He deadpans, voice heavy with authority – almost an Alpha command.

“Why should I do that?” I ask, still frowning. I’m not chasing after that manipulative, cun.ning and crazy bi.tch. She’s turned my world upside down since she arrived at school, and things only escalated after I scented her as my mate.

“Really, son?” My father raises a brow. “Let’s save that conversation for after you’ve brought her back. Before she crosses the borders. Go!”

His voice sharpens into full Alpha command. Fu.ck this sh.it. I shoot up from my seat, storming out in angry silence, but channeling my fury into speed. My hands shake as I yank off my shirt and let my wolf feed my muscles as I sprint into the woods. Why is he taking her side? I don’t get it…

---

The hot shower did little to cool me down. I think as I towel-dried my hair. I felt the familiar push against my mind. I tried to block everyone out but my dad is the only one who can force a mindlink on someone. Ugh, this will give me a bad headache.

Where are you?

In my room, I clipped back.

I hope you’re there with your dear mate, bonding like you should.

The sarcasm laced in his voice cuts deep. The only thing I’ve bonded with since this mess started is rage.

No.

Why not? His voice turned displeased.

She ran off. Fast.

I kept it short, avoiding details.

Come to my office.

He barked the command through the link.

I just took a shower.

You have five minutes.

He cut the link before I could reply. My fists clench, making me want to punch something. We were always solid. I was his golden boy. What is this? He is tearing into me like I’m some disappointment. Over her? Is one stupid female seriously going to ruin this for me? The resentment brewed hot inside me.

I should’ve rejected her on sight. Should’ve forced the rejection down her throat before she ever had a chance to blink twice.

Half-dressed, I left my room, slipping a black tee over my head as I walked down the hall toward his office. My mother was already there, standing by the window with a sad expression on her face.

I refused to sit across from him like some misbehaving child. Instead, I drop onto the black leather sofa, leaning back but keeping my stare locked on my father’s, determined not to break.

He observed me with his fingers laced under his chin – like a schoolboy summoned by the principal.

His fingers steepled under his chin, eyes narrowed. The silence crushes down like a mountain. My pulse pounds in my ears. I’ve screwed up before, but never like this. This feels like free fall.

“Tell me exactly how she managed to escape an Alpha wolf.” His voice finally broke the silence, laced with mocking amusement.

“She punctured my lungs first. Then she shifted and bolted.”

Simple. Clean. I left out certain humiliating details, like the fact that she wrote ‘as.s’ and ‘brat’ across my back in blood. I only noticed that in the mirror before my shower. Yeah, real funny.

“She shifted and clawed your lungs?” Dad raised a brow.

“No, it was two separate incidents. She was on my shoulder first, caught me off guard by extending her claws all at once – punctured my lungs. Later, when I got her again, she shifted without warning and ran.”

I explained through clenched teeth, choosing my words carefully.

“Interesting,” Dad murmured, eyes narrowing thoughtfully before refocusing on me with sharp displeasure. “Back up a second – you said she was on your shoulder?”

There it is – the judgmental drawl.

“Yes.” I force the word out.

“Is that how I taught you to treat a girl? A mate?” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

“No. But she refused to come back to the pack house.” I replied coldy.

“So instead of treating her like a lady and convincing her like a man, you carried her like luggage and behaved like a moron?” His voice dripped with venom.

My jaw tightened, my breathing grew shallow. Why are you attacking me? You should be on my side! I clenched my teeth and glared at him.

“What was I supposed to do?” I finally bit back.

“Well,” Dad leans forward, voice dropping into dark amusement. “If she was so defiant, you could have kissed her, mated her right there against a tree, and carried her limp but satisfied body back to the packhouse – bridal style.”

Oh, great advice, Dad. I kept glaring. The last thing I want is to be intimate with her.

“I thought I showed you how to treat women by the way I’ve always treated your mother.”

He said with a shake of his head, clearly disappointed.

“Mom is different.”

“And why is that?”

“Because she’s a good pack wolf. Not some feral, insane lone wolf.” The words burst out before I could stop them.

Dad leaned forward, studying me as his eyes darkened.

“I didn’t know I raised a biased little racist.”

“I’m not racist just because I refuse to repeat your mistakes!”

I snapped, jabbing my finger toward him. He flinched slightly, guilt flickering across his face. I felt a stab of guilt too for bringing it up – but he is the one who thinks I’m a child to scold.

“The history will not repeat itself.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because that lone wolf was manipulative and unstable. We all felt something was off about her deep down – that gnawing instinct in our guts. But we ignored it. We silenced that voice. And we paid the price.”

My dad said quietly, his voice laced with sadness, still trying to sway me, to pull me back onto his side.

“Well, this lone wolf is bat-sh.it crazy! You have no idea what kind of insane stunts she’s been pulling at school – and especially since I scented her as my mate!” I shouted, my voice rising with frustration and disbelief. “My gut is screaming at me to reject her before she ruins everything.”

The bitterness burned in my throat as I locked eyes with my father, unable to mask the sting of betrayal that he wasn’t standing with me. My mother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth at my outburst.

“Reject her?”

Dad echoed the word, his voice laced with disbelief, as if it tasted foreign in his mouth.

“The Goddess paired you with her for a reason!” he boomed, his voice reverberating through the room like a command.

“Yeah? Well, maybe that reason was to serve as a cautionary tale – so I wouldn’t step on the same rake twice. Maybe the Goddess just wants me to get rid of her before it’s too late,” I shot back, my words laced with venom.

Dad tilted his head slightly, unnervingly calm, but I could see the storm gathering in his eyes and the tight lines around his mouth.

“So you think you know better than the Goddess?” he asked, voice dripping with sarcasm.

“It’s not about that. This is my life. I get to make my own choices.”

I crossed my arms over my chest like a shield, trying to defend myself against the growing hostility in his voice. The cold wall between us felt like being slapped straight out of Arctica – just days ago I was his adored son, and now suddenly, I was the outcast.

“I didn’t realize I’d raised such a little arrogant brat who thinks he can rewrite fate like some self-proclaimed god of destiny,” Dad sneered, his disappointment cutting deeper than his words. This conversation was spiraling fast into a disaster.

“Honey, the Goddess pairs mates for a reason. Always.” My mother finally spoke, her voice soft but firmly aligned with Dad. Of course, she was on his side.

“Well, maybe the reason is for me to listen to my instincts and reject her, so I can meet my Second Chance mate,” I tried again, desperate to push back.

“Second Chance mates are as rare as Silver Wolves.” Dad snapped, his Alpha tone creeping in. “She is your Fated Mate – your Luna, our pack’s future Luna. There will be no rejection! Your foolish defiance could anger the Goddess and curse this entire pack for generations!”

There it was – the superstitious card.

“Guess what?” I threw another stone at him, my voice sharp. “I think she’s planning to reject me.”

“You will not accept it.” Dad’s response was instant, sharp like a knife.

“Well, I just might,” I spat. “I don’t want to be tied to someone as crazy as she is.” The curse nearly slipped out – I barely stopped myself in time.

“Enlighten me then – why is she so crazy?” Dad challenged coldly.

“Because she acts like it!” My voice cracked with frustration as I vented all the crap I’ve been holding in.

“Do you even know what she’s done since she found out I’m her mate? First, she broke my nose because she thought I was sleeping around with every girl in school. Then she kissed a girl right in front of me – and I felt every gut-wrenching pulse of betrayal. After that? She practically wore nothing and draped herself across another guy’s lap like it was nothing. And now she came here – messing with you, probably as part of her twisted plan! She disrespects me constantly and stabs knife after knife in my heart!”

I poured my grievances onto them, hoping to prove my point. But then I heard my mother’s quiet snort. I glanced over and realized she was trying not to laugh. My father’s lip twitched too before he forced himself back into serious mode.

Oh great. Now I’m the punchline.

“And here I thought your nose looked a little crooked the other day,” my mom said as she walked over to inspect me. She took my face in her hands, examining my nose like I was still a little boy.

“I’m fine, Mom.” I muttered, tempted to push her hands away.

“Okay, so she doesn’t worship you like every other girl does,” Dad said. “That stings your Alpha pride, doesn’t it?” Dad said needles. I said nothing, but my fists clenched.

Do you really get me, Dad?

“But how about you start charming her? Date her. Bring her flowers and gifts. Court her and win her over?” My dad suggests. Because I don’t want to, my inner voice snarled.

“Yes, that’s a wonderful idea,” my mom chimed in. “Show her what a lovely and caring young man you are.”

“And meanwhile,” Dad says, shifting into Alpha business mode, “I’ll gather information. Let’s see if your accusations hold water.”

The conversation was clearly over. I sat there simmering while my parents exchanged calm glances, standing united against me. Perfect. Now both of them are against me. What a fantastic life I’m living since meeting my mate. That bi.tch.