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"Think about it," I go on. "Sophie never saw me as the Luna of the Rovers. She never even saw me mated to your Alpha. She just knew I was connected to your pack, and she was right. Marco would never have found me if I'd stayed with the Banes. The Rovers are what led me here, to the nightwalker's clan. This is my destiny."
"Bullshit," Mark hisses, drawing a few more worried looks around the ballroom.
From across the hall, my father sits on his throne at the dais.
How long has he been there watching me? Does he know what's going on? His face is carefully neutral, but his blood-red eyes dart between me and the two wolves. A few of the nightwalkers look between their king and my friends as if waiting for his command.
My gaze flickers down to my father's hand, propped on the armrest of his throne, and a chill runs down my spine. His palm is facing forward, the gesture subtle but unmistakable. He's holding the nightwalkers back, wordlessly commanding them not to interfere.
We're making a scene, and I can't afford to let this escalate into a confrontation. Even if my father loved a wolf and his court is willing to accept a half-breed as their princess, vampires, and werewolves are ancient enemies. It's in their nature to despise and destroy one another. Right now, my father's affection for me and his clan's respect for their king is the only thing stopping this room full of nightwalkers from descending on my friends.
"You have to leave," I whisper to them, letting the urgency show in my voice.
"Like hell we do. I don't care if you'd rather be the Night King's diamond than the Rovers' flower," Mark retorts angrily.
"It's not that simple. You're not safe here. You need to go," I insist, and Nico takes a step closer to Mark as he realizes how many nightwalkers are watching us. The music is still playing, the celebration still afoot, but even those who aren't looking in our direction are probably aware of what's happening.
Everyone is waiting.
I anxiously glance over their shoulder and lock eyes with my father once again. He arches a single brow in question.
'They're my friends. They just wanted to make sure I'm safe,' I tell him through our mindlink.
'They don't seem very friendly.'
'They're just confused. They don't mean any harm. I'll get them to leave; just let me talk to them. Please.'
From across the hall, my father nods almost imperceptibly, and his attention moves away from me to survey the other guests. The tension in the room is palpable, but he won't let anyone in his clan hurt me. He won't let them interfere.
'Thank you... father.'
"Mark, we're not welcome here," Nico says cautiously. "Maybe we should carry on this conversation elsewhere."
"There's nothing more to say," I insist. "You're leaving, and I'm staying. I know you don't understand, but this is how it has to be. Tell... tell your Alpha I'm sorry."
"Tristan," Mark says sharply, the world like a blow across my face. "His name is Tristan. And he's not just our Alpha; he's your mate. You're betraying your mate, and you can't even say his name."
"I am not betraying him," I snap back, surprised by the sudden edge behind my voice. "I can't explain it, but this is what's best for everyone."
He huffs, and Nico places a hand on his arm as if ready to pull him back if necessary.
"Tell that to the man who's been losing his mind trying to find you. He would risk everything for you, and you're just going to abandon him. I won't allow it."
"Why?" I ask with exasperation, louder than I intended. "The only reason he sought me out was to fulfill Sophie's prophecy, and that already happened. The Rovers now know about the nightwalkers, and I know where I belong. There's no reason for me to go back. It's not like he believes in the mating bond anyway. He never wanted this. Hell, neither did you!" I jab a finger against Mark's chest, a storm of exasperation, despair, and sorrow brewing inside me. "You hated me from the moment you laid eyes on me. You never wanted me in your home, and now you won't have to live with me anymore. You should be happy."
"That's not true," Nico pipes in. He stops surveying the crowd that surrounds us long enough to meet my gaze. "Tristan cares about you. We all do. That's why we came all this way to bring you home."
I shut my eyes and chose my next words like a weapon, dealing the final, desperate blow.
"I'm already home." I force myself to open my eyes again, swallowing down the heartache. "You are not my pack, and you are not welcome here. Leave now and never come back. "
Chapter Thirteen
The shock and hurt in Nico's bright blue eyes makes my chest ache, but Mark only squares his jaw, shoulders tense.
"Tristan gave orders to find you and bring you back, so that is what I'm going to do. Whatever it takes," he says without wavering, and he reaches out to grab my wrist.
But Amara taught me well.
