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I grunt. “I’m sorry about that. You were obeying orders from your Alpha. He shouldn’t have put pressure on you to disobey.” I gather the stack of messages, flipping through them as I add, “And you’re too old for a time out.”
“Logically, I understand that,” Sam says. “But my inner child was shaking in her boots. Getting put in time out by your dad as a kid was like…the worst thing that could happen. No matter how sweet he was about it, I cried every time I got caught breaking the rules.” She shudders. “So embarrassing.”
My jaw clenches and a wave of longing rushes through me.
My father is like a father or grandfather to this entire pack. During his time as Alpha, he ruled with a firm but kind hand and our people loved him for it.
I already know I’ll never be that sort of leader—I’m not the paternal type—but that doesn’t keep me from wishing I could be. I want that for my wolves and…for myself. I miss watching my father make his rounds at pack gatherings, seeing every face light up with not just respect or appreciation, but love, as Jukebox pulled them in for a hug or a handshake.
I was so proud to be his son.
I still am, but it’s more complicated with so much resting on my shoulders. I didn’t realize what a delicate dance being Alpha would be, how carefully I’d have to balance compassion and consequences, tolerance and punishment, truth and the gentle fictions that keep the peace.
My father made it look so easy.
But it isn’t easy and the complexities of ruling a pack is one more thing he didn’t prepare me for.
Just like this fucking prophecy.
Dumping the messages—all variations on “Come to my place as soon as you get this, Maxim, or else”—in the trash, I tell Samantha I’ll be back for the four o’clock advisory meeting and where she should be able to find me until then.
Two hours should be enough time with my father. He may have more to say, but he won’t have the energy to say it, and I don’t want to waste any more time with this prophecy nonsense than absolutely necessary.
I have a plan, I’ll communicate that to Dad, and he can…deal with it. I’m Alpha now, and as much as I love and admire my father, I have to do what I think is right for our people. And buying into superstitious mumbo jumbo isn’t anywhere on my list of priorities.
All the way up to my father’s apartment, I compose my speech, one I hope will placate him, while also making it clear I don’t intend to let a prophecy dictate my choices. If I take a mate, it will be because she’s my fated mate or I’m irresistibly drawn to her for some other reason, not because deluded people believe she’ll make me a king.
And what if your fated mate and the king-maker are one and the same?
I ignore the inner voice and the memory of how fiercely I wanted to make Willow mine when we were kissing in my living room. And not just mine for an afternoon, but mine. For keeps. I didn’t just want to fuck her, I wanted to possess her, claim her, and breed her while I was at it.
That was the most troubling thing. Children aren’t anywhere on my radar, or they weren’t until that curvy little wolf showed up and threw my entire life into chaos.
I’m thinking about Willow and how much she must hate me, acknowledging how unlikely it is that I’ll ever get my dick inside her now—let alone my baby—when my father’s guard detail shows me into his study and…there she is.
Willow.
Sitting across from my father in one of the matching leather armchairs, a teacup and saucer balanced on her knee, laughing softly at something my father has just said.
But as soon as I step into the room, they both stop laughing.
My father turns to me with a scowl, snapping, “It took you long enough,” and Willow’s gaze goes frosty over the rim of her cup.
Frosty, but not fearful.
Looks like I got my wish, and my little wolf has rallied from her brush with terror last night. But she clearly hasn’t forgotten about it, or that I’m the one responsible for her suffering.
She makes that clear as she adds in a cool voice, “I don’t mind that you took your time. Jimmy and I worked everything out just fine without you putting your oar in.”
My brows pinch together. “Excuse me?”
“Yes, it’s all settled,” Dad says with a satisfied nod Willow’s way. “We’ll announce the engagement tomorrow night. That will give you the full thirty days of reflection customary for an Alpha taking a mate, but you’ll be married before the winter solstice, when pack fertility levels will be at their peak.” He motions toward me with two fingers, but scarcely spares me a glance as he adds, “Hopefully that won’t be an issue for you, son, but your mother and I did have some trouble when we were first trying. I had to take herbs to get my swimmers moving a little faster.” He winces sympathetically at Willow. “Sorry, sweetheart, I’m sure you don’t want to hear about your future father-in-law’s fertility issues, but I want to be totally up front with you about our family and our pack. From here on out, there are no secrets between us. Family should be kind whenever possible, but honest always. That’s my motto.”
“What the hell are you two talking about?” I demand tightly, though I have a pretty good idea.
Still, I don’t want to believe my father would arrange a marriage behind my back.
“You’re marrying Willow,” my father says, erasing any remaining doubt. “We’ll announce the match tomorrow at a small ceremony, I think. Or a larger one. Up to the two of you.”
