Chapter 4: Family First

-Daphne-

Her shouting drew my father into the room. He must have been walking by, and while he often didn’t want to deal with my mother’s moods, he seemed to sense I might need some help.

“What’s going on here?” my dad asked.

“Our daughter is in love,” my mother retorted.

“Oh?”

“With a werewolf.”

“With a what?” my dad inquired, and I glanced over my shoulder, seeing him step closer. “I’m sure I heard wrong.”

“No, it’s true…”

“Why? How?”

“We are… mates,” I said, the words slipping out. “True mates.”

I was surprised I’d kept it a secret for as long as I had, but I couldn’t keep it in any longer.

“True mates?” my dad asked, his voice disbelieving. “With a werewolf?”

I could see the faint smile tugging at his lips. He found it amusing.

“And?”

“And I’m sure I heard wrong.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “And he’s not just any werewolf. He comes from a powerful family. He’s an alpha. Shouldn’t that matter?”

“Not when he is a werewolf,” my dad said flatly.

“But we’re true mates! Mates go above everything!”

“Not this time,” he said firmly.

“What if he were a low-status lycan? Would it change anything?”

My parents exchanged a glance, and I had my answer. “You’re unbelievable!”

“Daphne, your reputation can’t take much more!” my mother said, her voice sharp.

“I don’t care about my reputation! He’s important to me!”

“How well do you even know this werewolf?” my dad inquired, his tone skeptical.

“Not… that well. We only met a few months ago.”

“Months?” my dad repeated, shocked.

“At the queen’s introduction party,” I explained.

“Oh, I knew something awful was going to happen once we got a werewolf as our queen,” my mother sighed, shaking her head in disapproval.

“They’re actually bringing about good changes,” I told her, trying to stay calm. “They’re bringing us together.”

“Is that what we want?” my mother asked, her voice dripping with disdain.

“I don’t see the bad in it,” I said.

“That’s because you’ve always been a bit funky, Daphne.”

I stared at her, shocked, though I really shouldn’t have been. Criticizing me had become her specialty.

“Dad?” I asked quietly.

“What?” he inquired.

“I want to be with him.”

“You heard your mother,” he replied, his tone firm.

“But that lycan won’t make me happy,” I snapped.

“Happy?” My mother laughed bitterly. “We’re talking about power here, about restoring your status.”

“I can live with how things are now.”

“But you shouldn’t,” she snapped.

“But isn’t that up to me?” I asked.

“Daphne, we are a family, and what you do reflects on us,” my mother said, her voice soft but stern. I sighed, shaking my head. They never listened, and I shouldn’t have expected more.

“But what about me?” I asked, my voice breaking.

“As if we haven’t given you everything,” my mother said dismissively. “What more could you want?”

“Love!” I shot back, desperate.

“Love,” my mother said, laughing harshly. “That’s something that can come with time.”

“I understand that,” I said, my voice wavering, “but maybe I want love with someone else! Maybe I want the werewolf!”

“No!” my mother said, her voice cutting through the air. “We’ve come too far with this union. You’re going to marry the lycan!”

“I don’t want to!” I shouted.

“Well, that’s not up to you!”

“But I’m the one getting tied to the arrogant man!” I growled, my frustration boiling over.

“Daphne, you have to do this,” my father said, his voice calm. “It’s for the family.”

“I can still bring us status. Being with this werewolf isn’t a bad thing. He’s powerful!” I protested, trying to make them see.

“Who is he even?” my mother inquired.

I hesitated, not wanting to reveal his identity. I was afraid of what might happen if I did, but then my mother stepped closer and grabbed my arm so roughly that I winced.

“Ah! Mom!” I gasped, trying to pull away.

“Who?” she demanded, her grip tightening.

“Stop!” I said, struggling to free myself.

“Who?” she asked again, her voice icy, digging her nails into my skin.

“The queen’s cousin! She introduced us!” I blurted out, the words escaping before I could stop them.

“I knew that queen would cause trouble!” my mother hissed, letting go of my arm so I could rub it, the pain subsiding slowly.

“She’s doing a lot of good,” I said, my voice softer now. “She removed murderers from our council. And isn’t that more reason to let me be with her cousin? She’s the queen. That makes him even more powerful.”

My mother shook her head and laughed, a bitter sound. “She’s a joke, and so is your mate.”

I recoiled, shocked by her words, and turned to my father, who remained completely indifferent.

“Dad?” I asked.

“The family comes first,” he said flatly.

“But he has power! I’m giving you all power. Why can’t I be with him?”

“Do we want tainted grandchildren?” my mother asked coldly. “No, we do not.”

“So this is about tainted grandchildren? You wouldn’t love them if they had werewolf blood?” I demanded, my voice rising in anger.

“Weak blood,” my mother hissed, disgust in her voice. “It’s disgusting. So no.”

I stared at her, stunned, and then turned to my father, who kept the same stone expression. I couldn’t tell if it was the traditions he had grown up with that made him so cold, or if he truly agreed with my mother.

“Dad…” I whispered, my voice breaking.

“Family first,” he repeated, like a mantra, his eyes hard.

“Please…” I begged.

“It’s over, Daphne. You will marry this lycan and forget all about the werewolf.”

My father turned and walked away, sending in the tailors without a second glance. Tears stung my eyes. I didn’t want this. But was there any way out?