“He’s right, Jessica,” my mother agrees.
“We would never ask you to consider Alpha Agnus’s decree if it wasn’t for your safety and the safety of your pack,” my father adds, rubbing his temples.
“I don’t want to be mated,” Jessica whispers.
Anders slowly takes his seat. “We know that, but your pack is too small. There are only a couple of hundred shifters in total, not enough to build a small army, not enough to protect you from what’s coming.”
Jessica leans her forehead on her clasped hands.
I recline in my seat and rest one hand on the table. Maybe I can change her perspective by making it appear like a business transaction. “There is one solution,” I offer. Everyone around the table turns toward me. My eyes remain on Jessica. “If you mate me, we can combine our packs. The Emerald Pack will include the Emerald Guards. This will solve?—”
“Are you out of your fucking mind!” she roars, flying out of her seat. A torrent of wind whips her hair, and a clap of thunder erupts above our heads. The twins duck, sneaking peeks at the ceiling. “I would rather mate with that sexist asshole from Territory Two than mate you!”
My father stands. “Enough!” The veins at his temples pop out. “There isn’t another option, Jessica!”
“There is always another option!” she growls.
“You are already a part of this pack, a part of the guards. This makes sense! Whatever your reasons are, you must put them aside and?—”
“No! I will not mate with Luke! Not. Now. Not. Ever!”
My heart deflates. Does she hate me so much that she’s willing to mate with a man she has no memory of, a man who could possibly be involved in her attack all those years ago? We still don’t have all the answers, or at least I don’t. Anger and jealousy burn in the back of my throat. I stand to reply when my father holds up his hand.
“Jessica, if you will not accept this proposal, then you will mate with the Territory Two Alpha. I have the contract on my desk. He couriered it over yesterday.”
Her face scrunches, as if in pain, and her eyes shine with unshed tears. “No!”
“Then you will accept Luke’s proposal.”
“No, I will not be his second mate!”
I close my eyes briefly. She still doesn’t know the truth. She hasn’t read any of my letters.
“You don’t have a choice!”
She glares at my father defiantly, tipping her chin slightly. “I have choices. Everyone has a choice.” She turns her icy blue eyes toward me, piercing my heart.
I didn’t have a choice. I wish she knew that.
“I’m giving you two choices, Jessica. Now, choose!” My father’s roar should scare anyone, but Jessica shifts her heated stare back to him.
“No!”
He straightens his spine, his Alpha energy building, forcing everyone out of their seats to step back, including myself.
Jessica holds her stance. “No!” she answers in a low tone, balling her fists at her sides.
“Choose!” The command is harsh. He pushes his power further. I have never seen my father do this before. I heard of it, but I have never bore the brunt of such power.
Her face cringes, and a single tear trails down her cheek. I want to stop him, but an invisible force keeps me rooted in place. The twins take another step back. My mother starts to object, and he raises a hand to stop her. She drops her chin and bows.
“Choose!” His roar shakes our surroundings.
Jessica lifts her chin higher, and perspiration beads on her upper lip and at her hairline. “No!”
My father fists his hands. “Jessica, you will be mated, and you will choose either Luke or the Territory Two Alpha!” More energy bursts from him. My body trembles wanting to fall to my knees. I hate that she’s being forced to decide. At the same time, I hope she chooses me. I close my eyes, waiting for her answer.
The air shifts. I look at her through my lashes, not able to lift my head from the pressure of my father’s influence. Jessica’s eyes and her posture change. Her facial features and hands relax. A touch of red flashes deep within her irises, and a different energy emanates from her body, swirling around her, pushing back on my father’s own Alpha powers.
