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I was forever tied with another person.
I would never be alone.
Mates had a bond that was lifelong, eternal.
He would always be my protector, someone who had my best interest at heart.
I would forever be his priority, and he mine.
And when I really thought about all of that, what a gift it was to be able to have somebody who only wanted the best for you, how could I resist? How could I question something that was so rare within my pack? Why did I want to try to think things through?
At the remembrance of his lips on mine, his body pressed against me, and the way he scented me, it told me how much Tucker wanted me as his.
And that very thought—just a thought— made me weak and needy and wanting nothing more than to give in to the sexual abandon that was taking hold of both of us.
I looked over at my father, his focus now on his plate, his jaw clenched. I hated that he was upset, that for a male who was always so in control—had to be in order to be the True Alpha—in this one instance, he felt helpless. And because I was his daughter, he’d forever see me as his child, that little girl who’d grown up without a mother, who had to learn everything from her father.
He was a good male, the best male I’d ever had in my life, even if he was stubborn and hardheaded and liked to pick fights because he thought he was doing the right thing. He didn’t know any better, but I’d be the one to teach him now. I’d be the one to show him that he never had to be alone, not just because I was always with him, but because he had the entire pack who loved him and looked up to him.
And so I was now confident that I could talk to him about this, make him see reason, let him know things would be okay, because I would make it so.
I was just about to open my mouth and tell him all of that when the crowd parted and Tucker started walking toward us. My body tightened, and I snapped my head toward my dad. His eyes were of course locked on my mate, his jaw clenching so much harder that I wouldn’t have been surprised if he cracked teeth. That low rumble I’d been hearing from him intermittently rose louder. He placed his hands flat on the table and slowly stood from his seat, the scent of his aggression rising with every second.
Everybody went quiet, and for a second, the only sound that could be heard were of a couple of the kids giggling. But those were quickly silenced by their parents, as it was clear this wasn't going to be a pleasant interaction.
There was this crackling in the air, this electricity that coated everybody like honey, this thick layer that covered all our bodies.
I looked between Tucker and my father, over and over again, my heart in my throat as I tried to read them. But their expressions were stoic, masks of indifference as they hid their emotions.
Tucker stopped a few feet from our table, and for long moments, everyone just watched the Beta and their Alpha. I licked my dry lips, my pulse racing, my heart pounding so hard it was actually painful. I needed to do something, because I could feel the tension steadily rising between the two males. I certainly hadn’t wanted to talk to my father about this in front of the entire pack, but it looked like things weren’t going as planned, even though I didn’t have a plan, per se.
I should’ve spoken to him when we were in the office alone, without prying eyes and ears. I could’ve controlled the situation better.
“Is there something you need, Beta?”
I felt this chill race up my spine when my father addressed Tucker that way.
Tucker glanced at me, and the low growl that had been percolating in my father this entire time rose so loud that it echoed off the arched ceiling. I felt like the entire room stopped breathing at that sound. The forks clanging against plates sounded, and I felt my throat tighten even more.
“You look at me, not her. Your Alpha.” My father placed his hands on the table and leaned forward. “You keep your eyes on me, Tucker.” The way he pronounced my mate’s name was as cold as ice.
“Alpha?”
I forced my attention to Emery, one of the council members. He too was in his thirties and unmated, but it was clear by the look on his face, as well as the scent I picked up on—the potent mating aroma Tucker was throwing off—that our secret wasn’t so much of a secret anymore.
“You stand down,” the Alpha said low, dangerously, his focus on Tucker. “And since this is happening right here and right now, might as well clear the air, yeah?”
