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Chapter 14 - Diana
I rushed through the front door while Dad made his way down the stairs. He eyed me suspiciously, and I shook the bottle of wine I had in hand. It was wine specifically made for wolves, but it wasn’t the potent kind.
His eyes lit up, and I darted into the living room and then the kitchen. The wine was a luxury for us and something I hadn’t had in ages.
“How about we have some wine tonight?” I called out while setting the bottle on the counter.
When I turned the radio on, and to its highest volume Dad scrunched up his nose. I laid a finger to my lips to shush him because I didn’t want to risk being heard with what I had to tell him.
Colin was watching me, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he had someone close by listening in, or maybe the house itself was bugged. At this stage, I wouldn’t put any of it beyond him.
“I figured we could celebrate properly, you know, with our new jobs and all.” I opened the wine while Dad continued to watch me with confusion.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” he drawled. “But we shouldn’t go overboard with spending, Diana.”
I pointed towards the living room while pouring two glasses. “I know, but it’s a cheap bottle, and I thought why not. I have a job, so do you and we’re in our old house and town. Sit, drink, and I’ll be right back. I’m going to use the bathroom.”
Instead of leaving him to drink, I pulled him from the kitchen to the half bathroom and locked us inside. When I turned the light on, the air vent came on and added to the noise in the house.
“What’s going on?” he whispered, and I hugged him.
“I really am happy things are looking up for us, Dad,” I replied while he patted my back. “But how long do you think this will last? Or how long do you think Colin will allow us to be happy?”
Colin’s hatred for my father was ugly, and Dad’s suffering was one of Colin’s top priorities. Jackson’s argument with Silverdawn Pack members and him starting trouble in town wasn’t something I saw stopping until it got out of hand.
I didn’t want to wait until we were on the verge of being kicked out of town again.
“Where is this coming from?” Dad asked.
“I know you love this pack, Dad, it’s in your blood, but we don’t have a place here and never will,” I replied, and he stepped back to lean against the wall while I sat on the closed toilet. “Jackson’s next in line to be Alpha, and I really don’t want to imagine the shit job he’s going to do. You don’t owe this pack anything, Dad. I hope you know that, but they owe you everything. You stood up for all of them, and they turned their back on you, onus.”
I recalled the night of the fight between Dad and Colin and that after I had to care for Dad, taking care of his wounds that were too deep to heal naturally while also nursing my own wounds. No one had come to our aid.
“We deserve better, Dad, and now we have a chance,” I sighed, and so did he. “Kaleem’s willing to extend an official invitation to us. He wants us to join his pack.”
I waited for Dad to say something, but he didn’t.
Chewing my lip, I stood. “You don’t have to answer now, but I want you to think about it. Okay? Kaleem went as far as to say he’d support us if we’d rather be rogues.” Dad’s brows rose to his hairline at that, and I nodded. “That’s what support looks like, Dad. When Colin decides he’s kept us as pets long enough, what’ll happen? I don’t want to find out.”
Swallowing audibly, Dad combed his fingers through his hair and looked towards the door. I could see a battle being fought in him, and I felt terrible for putting him in this position. Making choices wasn’t fun. I could attest to that, likewise Kaleem.
But this was important, and we’ve allowed ourselves to be everyone’s punching bags long enough.
“You’re right,” Dad grumbled after some time, and I smiled because I thought he would decline. “It’s time to choose ourselves.”
When he finally looked my way again, his eyes were glossy with sorrow, and my smile vanished. This wasn’t easy for him. He’d lost so much because, while Colin hated him, the previous Alpha, my grandfather, had loved Dad.
Dad was his secret son, but we were treated well.
“No one stood up for me, only you,” Dad murmured while running a hand down his face. “You’ve stayed by me, and you’ve suffered for it, Diana. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I didn’t keep you safe when I should have. I want you to be happy, and I want you to have that happiness with Kaleem. Join his pack, and I’ll handle Colin.”
“No way, I’m not leaving you,” I said. “It’s been you and me always, Dad, and that’s not going to change now. If I leave, you leave with me, and if you stay, I stay.”
I reached out, and he took my hands. My father was a hero, and while he thought he hadn’t protected me, he had. I learned to be brave because of him.
He was always there when I needed him, and while he never said it, I knew he needed me. Or maybe I just hated the thought of him being alone. But no matter where we lived and how bad things got, he always ensured I was okay before himself.
“How about we finish that bottle of wine because now we have something to celebrate?” I grinned, and he nodded. “I’ll speak to Kaleem and let him know we’ll accept his offer.”
