AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Another coughing fit took hold of him. Several moments passed before he could speak again. “I know that you and Lincoln will watch out for my baby and keep her safe.”
I couldn’t breathe. My chest tightened as I cried harder.
Sawyer squeezed my dad’s hand harder. “You have my word, sir. I love Sloane. So does Lincoln. We will protect her, and we will protect the pack.”
My dad closed his eyes. “Good.”
I shook my dad’s chest. “Dad, no, you have to stay with me. Please, I’m not ready to let you go. Mom needs you. We all need you.”
My dad let out a shaky breath as he cracked his eyes back open. “I wish I didn’t have to go. But Luna wouldn’t give you something you couldn’t handle, my sweet girl. I love you. Tell your mother, Erica, and your brothers I love them.” His voice grew more strained with each word.
His chest almost seemed to be caving in now with each breath. “Remember what I said about appearing weak. Don’t give some idiot a reason to challenge you tonight. I…I love you, Sloane.”
His body went lax, and he let out one last shaky breath. He never drew a new one in.
I screamed and then fell forward, burying my face in his chest. I begged him to draw another breath. Just one more. Another shriek bubbled up my throat as I called out his name.
I shook him. “Please come back. Don’t leave me. I need you. Daddy, please.”
My pleas were unanswered. He was gone. My heart splintered into a thousand pieces. I inhaled his scent, but all I could smell was his blood. My last memory of him would be this horrible moment.
He still had so much life ahead of him, and it had been stolen away by a tyrant. There were so many things we were supposed to do together. I’d always been able to go to him for anything. He’d always told me what I needed to hear, whether or not I wanted to hear it. I still needed him. I sobbed harder. My eyes hurt, and my throat was numb from crying so hard.
Sawyer was saying something to me, but I couldn’t make it out. It didn’t matter right now.
My dad was gone. He was dead because of me.
If I’d done what Alpha Dane had wanted, this wouldn’t have happened. He’d still be here, alive and well.
Sawyer’s voice filled my mind. This is not your fault!
I gritted my teeth. Alpha Dane was a tyrant. He took pleasure in hurting other people. He had to be stopped.
My dad was right. I needed to be strong. The pack had lost its alpha, and it was my job to step in to keep everyone calm.
How was I going to do that, though, when I was hollow inside? My dad was dead.
I rocked back and forth, putting my hand over my stomach.
Sawyer reached out for me. “We’re going to get through this. Lincoln and I are right here with you. Your mother and siblings too.”
I mashed my lips together as my face crumpled. I sobbed, but I’d cried so hard I couldn’t anymore.
Sawyer moved so he knelt next to me. He turned me so I faced him and put his hands on my shoulders. “I know you don’t want to hear this right now, but you have to be strong. The rest of the pack is going to find out, and you can’t be weak.”
My mouth popped open in shock, and I glared at Sawyer. Dad had just told me that, but it sounded so cruel and unreasonable. He had just died. Didn’t I deserve a moment to mourn? How was I supposed to pretend like I was okay?
He brushed his hand over my cheek, rubbing it with his thumb. “I know it’s hard, and right now, you want nothing more than to fall apart.”
He kissed my forehead. “But the pack needs a leader. If you let yourself go to grief, someone else will capitalize, and the last thing you need is fighting amongst the packs here.”
I jerked away from him. “Are you telling me not to grieve?”
He grasped both my hands and tugged me close again. “I’m telling you that when others are watching, you must appear strong. Believe me, there will be at least one or two who will try to step in. Appear strong for the pack.”
He pressed his forehead to mine. “When you’re alone, you can let go.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. What Sawyer had suggested was impossible. But my dad had said the same thing. I had to do it for the pack. But how could I pull myself together when all I wanted to do was curl up under my comforter and cry?
