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He might have beat the shit out of her, but the way he talked about her, you’d think he spent every second of her life kissing the ground she walked on. People were weird about idolizing the dead, I supposed. Or maybe he remembered things differently than I did.
“This isn’t enough to protect you,” he said, extending the bat so it was pointed at me.
“It’s better than nothing,” I said.
He shook his head, then dropped the bat to the ground. “You’re my daughter. I know we have our differences, but the pack respects a man who takes care of his family. When they see you thriving, they know it’s because you come from good stock. Helps them to trust me.”
My stomach twisted. That was all I ever was to him. I hadn’t seen him in six months and I’d almost forgotten how terrible it was to be in the same room as him. It was as if all my oxygen was being sucked away.
“I do a good job running this place,” I said, hoping to stroke his ego. “Patrons like it. They can tell I learned how to work hard.”
“And that was enough for a while,” he said. “But not anymore.”
“This is my bar.” My tone was too defensive, too rash, but I couldn’t help it.
He held his hand up, the sign for me to be silent that he’d used since I was a kid. I hated that I closed my mouth and obeyed. I knew what happened when I didn’t and my body just reacted. Balling my hands into fists, I reminded myself that the sooner he got whatever he needed to say out of his system, the sooner he’d be gone.
“Owen is going to ask for your hand in marriage,” he said.
My resolve exploded. “Are you kidding me? Do you know what he did here in my bar last night?”
“He tried to win you back, and you embarrassed him,” my dad spat.
“He fucked my high school bully,” I screamed. “That isnothow you win a girl back.”
“You are impossible to win,” he said. “He had to try something. At least he cares about you enough to bother. Do you know how many shifters I’ve turned away for your hand? Everyone wants to breed you. Even though you don’t shift in public, they know you’ll have good stock.”
“Good stock?” My mouth dropped open. “I am not a prized mare. And how do they know? I rarely let anyone see me shift. What if I’m a crappy wolf?”
“You aren’t because you’re mine.” He growled, and his eyes flashed, a warning that had me taking a step backward.
“You will accept Owen’s proposal when he asks you,” he said, his tone deathly calm.
“What if I refuse?” I asked.
“You won’t,” he replied. “Because this is not a choice. It’s an order. As your alpha, I can ask this of you; as your father, I can require it. Remember, under our laws, you are my property until you’re wed. I can’t wait for you to be someone else’s fucking problem.”
“Get out of my bar.” I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin, doing my best to look intimidating and in control of my emotions. Inside, I was breaking.
“Gladly. I’ve always hated this shit hole. I wonder if your new husband will make you sell it. It’s not like you’ll have time to run it once you’re chasing after your pups.” He grinned, enjoying every second of reminding me how little he valued me or any other female in this pack.
I would not let him win. I stared at him, unflinching, devoid of emotion. After several long seconds, he got bored and turned away. I maintained my mask until the door closed behind him.
Jasmine’s arms were around me before I hit the ground. She stroked my head, whispering calming words, but I was shaking so hard I couldn’t hear them.
If I didn’t marry Owen, my father would kill me, I knew that much. But if I married him, I might as well be dead. Either way, my life was over.
ChapterFour
Luke
The woods had feltoff since my father’s death. Quieter, less active. In my wolf form, I was a predator and used to seeing smaller animals scatter as I approached. Lately, there hadn’t been any animals at all.
I’d been running patrols around our borders since I was a child. There was something wrong with our lands but I didn’t know what it was. Aside from the lack of animals, it was a feeling. Something just off about the way it felt. I hadn’t shared it with anyone. A brand new alpha telling his pack that something was different about the woods without proof wouldn’t sit well.
A branch snapped, and I whirred to see Clayton’s wolf approach. He tensed, startled by the noise he’d created. The fur on his shoulders raised, but he shook it off quickly.
I snorted, then lifted my chin in silent command for us to continue our walk of the perimeter. Clayton was newly eighteen and eager to help the pack. He’d been beyond surprised when I knocked on his door this morning before dawn and asked him to join me on patrol.
