Chapter 23

Prue

I sighed in relief when my house finally came into view, like a lighthouse after a storm. Somehow, I’d managed to keep a safe distance from the Alpha boy all day – a great distance, just to make sure he didn’t suddenly decide to kidnap me and drag me off to his royal wolf cave or whatever. The moment I caught a whiff of that infuriatingly intoxicating stench of his, I spun on my heel and walked the other way.

Yes, that meant skipping lunch as well. Instead, I hid in the library, gnawing on the world’s saddest excuse for a sandwich. I ate it on the go, shuffling down the aisles like some tragic, underfed phantom haunting the shelves. Romantic, I know.

When the final bell rang, I didn’t just leave school – I practically launched myself out the front door. Sprinting. Bolting. Might as well have yelled “freedom!” like some prisoner on the run. Did I even grab the right books? No clue. Did I care? Absolutely not. Priorities, darling. Survival first, homework later.

The front door creaked like a dying ghost as I unlocked it and stepped inside. Jeez, Dad, maybe invest in some WD-40? I muttered in my head as I shut it behind me, wincing when it groaned again in protest.

I dumped my bag by the stairs and trudged to the kitchen in desperate search of snacks. I’d barely made it halfway through my glass of water when a quiet sound sliced through the air – and my wolf pricked up immediately.

"How are you, Rue?"

I spun around like a guilty criminal, nearly choking as I swallowed a mouthful of water the wrong way. My eyes widened.

“Dad! You scared the cra.p outta me! What are you doing here?”

He was supposed to be at work. That alone sent a mental alarm blaring. My instincts twitched, but I tried to play it cool.

“I came home early to catch up with you.”

Catch up, huh? Oh no. No one catches up unless I’m in trouble. And last I checked… I hadn’t done anything wrong at school. Unless… Oh, Goddess. A cold wave of dread washed over me.

“That’s… great! Are we doing some extra training?” I tried to dangle something shiny in front of him, see if he’d bite.

“No,” he said with lips pressed into a grim line.

Sh.it. Don't twitch, don’t blink. Stay cool.

“We’re going to talk.” He nodded, ominously.

Double sh.it.

“Sure… what do you wanna talk about?” I asked with fake cheer, heading into the living room. I flopped onto the couch like it owed me comfort. If I was going down, I might as well go down in a position of mild luxury.

He followed me in with the sharp eyes of a seasoned interrogator. That walk, that look – I’d seen it only a few times before. Six, to be precise. And none ended with ice cream.

“I got a call today,” he said with a smirk that made my stomach twist. Triple sh.it.

“Oh?” I said, trying to keep the panic at bay. “I’ve been good girl! Almost halo-worthy.” I tried to coax a smile out of dad, clinging to hope. Please let it be the principal, please. I silently prayed for that miraculous 0.01% chance. Funny how life turns out – never thought I’d see the day when I wished the source of my trouble was the principal. Not exactly every teenager’s dream.

“Oh, have you now?” His eyebrow practically leaped off his forehead.

“So…” he began, voice dripping with that tone parents use when they’re about to ruin your week. “When exactly were you planning to tell your dad you met your mate? Or did the Alpha of the Blue Crescent Pack get his facts wrong?”

Boom. There it was. The bombshell. I stared at him, betrayed by both the universe and poor adult discretion.

“The Alpha called you?” I muttered, stunned. Why do adults have to ruin everything?

“Since when do you keep secrets from me, Prue?” Dad asked, his voice tinged with quiet disappointment. “I thought we shared everything… especially things this big – this important.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to tell you at all,” I said, arms crossed like armor. “Because he’s a dou.chebag, dad. He wanted to reject me within first two freaking hours of scenting me out. I'm playing him now, but I’m going to reject him afterwards. Thought I’d save you the emotional rollercoaster.”

Dad blinked like I’d slapped him. Then he dragged a hand down his face and slumped into a chair like he’d aged ten years in ten seconds.

“You can’t reject him. He’s an Alpha,” he said quietly, with something between regret and resignation.

“Oh wow, so Alphas are royalty now? We’re just supposed to curtsy and say yes sir, reject me harder, sir?”

He shook his head. “You don’t understand, sweetheart.”

“Then enlighten me,” I snapped. You know, sarcasm is my love language and defense mechanism – all wrapped in the delightful package that is me. Just don’t expect a pretty ribbon on top; I’ve got teeth there instead, and they bite.

He hesitated. That wasn’t like him. My dad didn’t hesitate. He acted. Always. This was… wrong.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve told you sooner,” he murmured, eyes fixed on the floor like it held answers.

“Dad…”

I hated to see him so defeated.

“I didn’t think you’d meet your mate so early. I honestly thought he might be back at the old pack…”

His voice trailed off as he looked to the right, somewhere distant and painful.

“I'm still not sure if you should know...” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I'm sorry...” he added, the apology hanging heavy in the air as he stared at the floor.

He kept apologizing, like the words might somehow shield me from whatever truth he was hiding.

“Come on, dad,” I urged, my voice sharper than I meant it to be. “Just say it. I can handle the truth.”

My curiosity buzzed in my chest, like a phone you can’t find but know is ringing. He looked at me again, eyes searching mine like he was still trying to decide if I was ready for whatever burden he was about to drop.

“I’ll arrange a meeting with the Alpha,” he finally said. “We’ll talk. Only the two of us. Figure out what to tell you both and when.”

My jaw dropped. “Seriously? You’re keeping secrets now? It’s always been you and me, dad!”

He gave me a tired smile. “Honey… I’ve always kept secrets from you.”

That hurt more than it should have. My voice came out hollow. “What kind of a parent says that?”

“The kind who doesn’t tell his child every danger in the world so she can still sleep at night,” he said with a sad chuckle.

And here I thought I’d already unearthed all our family skeletons. Apparently, I missed a whole cemetery.

“I just didn’t want to burden you,” he said softly. “You were so young…”

I blinked. “Burden me with what?”

He looked at me for a long, searching moment.

“I’m not a kid anymore,” I snapped. “I’m past eighteen.”

“You’ll have to be patient on this one,” he said.

“Why?”

“Because the fewer minds that know, the fewer that can be read – and the truth, protected,” he said cryptically, like we were suddenly living in a world full of mind-readers.

What was he even talking about now? I frowned, confusion tightening around my temples.

“Meanwhile – don’t reject him. Don’t accept one either. Get to know him first.”

He added firmly, making my jaw open.

"Yes, go for a coffee with him or invite him here, but do try to get to know him better."

Another log on the fire. My eyes widened. Great – now he was siding with the dou.chebag?

"He tried to reject your daughter, and you're taking his side?"

I couldn’t keep the hurt from bleeding into my voice.

“Why would he try to do that?” Dad asked, genuinely puzzled. “You’re an amazing young lady – smart, strong, witty. You’re exactly what a perfect Luna should be.”

He praised me like I was the Moon and stars rolled into one. Bless his soul – unapologetically biased.

“Dad, I’m a lone wolf. That’s only a step above rogue.”

“That’s a silly label. Not a definition.”

“Yeah, and he’s the one labeling me,” I growled. “And you’re telling me to get to know that?”

I spat out bitterly while he took in my words. He just looked at me with maddening calm.

“The bond always finds a way to bring mates closer – it’s written in your blood.”

“I don’t want to feel pulled towards a walking ego with no manners.” I argued.

“You already chose this path before you were born,” he said gently. “All of this – your life, him, the bond, your reaction – it’s part of the map your soul made before you ever drew your first breath.”

Ugh. The pre-birth life plan theory again. You see, my dad had this idea that destiny was mapped out in detail before we were even born. Every step of our lives, every twist and turn, already planned, already known to us. All we had to do was be born and follow it through. But if we ignored our hearts, that’s when we’d veer off course and mess up the original design.

“That’s what you believe. Not me,” I said coldly, standing up. “I get to choose who I trust.”

And with that, I stormed up the stairs, heart pounding, vision swimming with betrayal. He had always been my safe place. My one constant. But tonight, even he had let me down.