Chapter Two

Joana's POV

I had to stay back a few days to conclude the divorce process. And damn, it was the best days of my life.

Finally, it was time to head home. I had missed my pack, the scent of cold wind as you drove through 53rd Avenue, the laughter, the coffee. It was amazing.

“Ma'am, where are you getting off?” The driver asked as he approached my father's company.

“Just drop me at the parking lot. I will make my way from there,” I responded with a smile as I watched workers walking in every direction. Thorson Infrastructure was the number one company in Genesis, infact in the entire Western hemisphere.

“Please take my luggage to the mansion. Inform the steward of my return,” I instructed the driver as I alighted the car.

“Ofcourse Miss Joana. And welcome home,” The driver remarked with a warm smile before driving off.

Nervous? Yes, I was terrified. I had no idea how I was going to be welcomed after leaving home for years without contact.

Whispers and stares followed me as I walked into.the company and made my way to the company’s elevator.

“Excuse me! Excuse me miss!” A security guard called out as he ran towards me.

“Yes sir. Can I help you?”

“Sorry miss. You are heading in the wrong direction. This elevator is for the level twelve members,” He informed me.

“Oh really. It got reduced to twelve?” I asked with a surprised expression on my face.

“Wow! Back then, only level fourteen can access it. Seems my oldman is finally getting soft,”

The security guard stared at me confused and speechless. His mouth was opened for a while before he could find the right words.

“Please, kindly use the visitor's elevator. It's by the right hall,” He pointed to an elevator by the corner.

With a smile, I nodded and began walking towards the visitor's elevator. I had barely gone paces when someone called out to me,

“Wow Joana, you look good for a runaway,”

I will recognize his voice anywhere, it didn't change a bit.

“It's good to see you Lucien,” I responded with a smile as I opened my arms to hug my cousin.

“Director Lucien!” The security exclaimed.

“I was directing her to the visitor's elevator.”

“Really?” My cousin chuckled,

“I think she can use this one. She is still a level fifteen,”

The man’s smile dropped and his jaw fell down in shock.

“I… I…sorry,” He stuttered.

“It's okay. It was nice to meet you,” I smiled at him and proceeded into the elevator with Lucien.

The elevator ride was quiet but intense. I had no idea what to say because he was the last person I expected to see.

“So you are not going to say anything,” He broke the silence.

“Five years of no contact and you have nothing to say,”

“You know why I left Lucien. I couldn't continue that life, it was killing me,” I replied in a low voice with my head bowed. I couldn't bear to look him in the eyes.

“You and I were like siblings. My mother died and you didn't even send a text or call. I got nothing from you,” He said with pain in his voice.

“Why, Joana?”

“I'm sorry. I know there is nothing I can say to make up for it but please give me another chance,”

The elevator opened up when we had finally arrived at the last floor. We walked towards my father's office and I noticed something strange. Everyone on that floor was dressed in black.

Not just black, there was a shiny stone tied to their left shoulder. It was tradition for when a member of the Alpha house passed away.

“Who died, Lucien?”

“You picked the wrong time to come back home cuz,” Lucien responded with a deep sigh.

“The pack is on edge right now,”

“What is going on?”

“He is free right now, so now is your chance,” He pointed at the open door and at the far end, my father stood, watching the view.

“Tell me something Lucien. Does he hate me?”

“I don't know but I knew you broke his heart,” He replied and walked away, leaving me with my heart pounding against my chest.

“Are you going to stand there all day?” His deep voice echoed from the office.

“I can recognize your smell anytime Joana,”

My heart leapt as soon as I heard his voice. I could hardly breathe, so I took a moment to compose myself before I stepped into his office.

Although the air conditioning was on, I could still feel my flesh burning up.

“It's good to see you Father,”

“Father,” He muttered softly with his hand on the glass window.

“ A part of me wanted to cuss you but as soon as I got your scent, all the hate went away,”

He turned to face me with a smile. I was terrified but I couldn't let it show.

“You look good Joana. Seems the Blue Moon Pack treated you nice,” He complimented with a smile.

“I know you are teasing me Daddy,”

“Tease you? Why will I? Your life had been great, you married a scumbag and built a company with him.” He said softly as he approached his desk.

“I am back home. I divorced him and I'm back,” I announced with my shoulders high.

“You're back. Welcome then, what do you want? A cup of coffee?” He replied.

“Father, you know why I came! I am here for what is mine by birth. What you have been keeping from me since I was a girl,”

“I kept it because you were not ready!” His loud voice echoed all through the room.

“You left to prove a point. Guess what? You just ended up proving mine! Marrying someone who used you for your talent and now you think I will just let you back into the family's business?”

“It's me or no one, father. I won't stand here and continue receiving insult from you!” I lashed out. I couldn't bear the heavy heart anymore.

“I left because you never valued my opinion. I was doing nothing meaningful, all I did was be daddy's little girl. Guess what! I grew up,”

“Of course. You did grow up,” He responded calmly, causing the anger in me to fade away.

“Do you know who died? Ofcourse you had noticed the choice of clothing,”

“I asked Lucien but he didn't give me an answer,”

“The alpha died, Joana. So now his son is in control,” He said, unhooking his tie from his neck.

“You mean Dire?” I asked curiously. Noone knew much about him and that was what scared everyone.

“He is now Alpha Dire of Genesis Pack. Do you know what surpasses riches, Joana?” My father asked.

“No,”

“Power,” He muttered softly.

“I have the biggest company and vast resources but I still can't do what an alpha can do.”

“What are you trying to say, Father?” I asked because I knew he was trying to bring out a point.

“I discussed immensely with the late Alpha. He shared my concerns and we arrived at an agreement,” He replied.

“Stop with the suspense,Father. Out with it!”

“You are to marry Alpha Dire because that's the only way you will have anything from my fortune,”

His words rang in my head like a warning bell.

“What? You want to force me into another marriage after I just escaped from one?”

“Thank the Goddess you left. I had already instructed Lucien to mobilize a unit to bring you home. That was when I heard the news,” He responded softly with a smirk. There was no iota of remorse on his face.

“Father, please. I beg you, don't do this to me. If this is because I left, I am sorry. I will do whatever you ask of me but please don't send me away to marry a man i know nothing of,” I pleaded with my knees on the floor.

“You are begging me to ruin your life. Joana, you can't take over the legacy without backup. This is the best one you can have, his status will shield you from so many things,” He spoke so calmly.

“I will come up with something. You don't need to give me away, I will be fine. Please,”

“The decision is made and the papers are already signed. You either marry him or you go back to the pack you came from,” He spoke without emotion.

“Mother won't have let this happen!” I blurted out in frustration. My words seemed to cut deep because he stood with us eyes widened and lips mute.

“Your mother won't have died if she had the opportunity to be with an alpha,” He responded softly with his head bowed.

“My decision is final,”

At that moment, I knew I had no other option. I couldn't return to my ex-husband, I will be used like a tool. I continued creating different scenarios in my head and noone turned out to my favour. I had no other choice,

“Okay Father, you win. What am I to do?”