Chapter 30

Sabrina POV

I drove to my father’s temporary apartment feeling smug and satisfied.

My engagement with Nathan was not only official, it was also all anyone could talk about.

And though Nathan continued to insist that it was a fake engagement, just something to help his political career and push his campaign for Alpha President forward, I knew better.

Our engagement was real, and it was going to end in marriage.

I wasn’t quite sure how, yet, but there were plenty of options. I could seduce him and “accidentally” get pregnant. I could spread troubling rumors about his business practices, then suggest a wedding would distract everyone and boost up his approval ratings again.

So many lovely options.

But first, I wanted to take my good news to my father.

I knew he was still upset about the little scene at the clinic the week before, though why he’d care about some stupid Omega was beyond me.

Sure, apparently she had some kind of healing abilities. But so what? I was his daughter - he should be on my side, always.

The embarrassment of having to apologize in front of everyone to that lowly wolfless trash still burned inside me, but I’d make both Claire and my father pay for that some other time.

Right now I needed my father’s support - and his money - if I wanted to have the wedding of my dreams. And telling him about my engagement would be just the thing to make him forget all about that unfortunate incident at the clinic.

“Good morning, Daddy!” I called out as I entered his apartment. He was staying in the uppermost suite of the pack’s finest hotel, and the morning sun shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Ah, Sabrina,” Dad said, rising from the seating area where he’d been meeting with his Beta. “Just who I wanted to see.”

“Well isn’t that convenient? I wanted to see you too. I’ve got news!”

“As do I.” He dismissed his Beta with a gesture, leaving us alone in the apartment. “But you go first.”

I rushed into the room, taking his hands in mine. “Daddy, I’m engaged! Nathan and I are going to be married!”

The reaction I got for this news wasn’t anything like I’d expected.

I’d hoped my father would be happy for me, and excited to welcome Nathan as his son-in-law. We’d laugh and hug and I could tell him all about the lavish wedding I wanted to begin planning immediately.

But instead Dad’s face remained serious.

“Oh,” he said. “I see. Do you really think that’s wise?”

Dumbfounded, I stared at him with my mouth open for a full minute before I could even think of what to say.

“I - What? What do you mean? Of course it is! It’s perfect! Nathan and I are perfect together.”

Dad gave my hands a squeeze and then let go. He sat down on the sofa, patting the cushion beside him.

Feeling numb, still too surprised to think clearly, I sat and waited for him to explain himself.

Why was he acting so strangely?

“Sabrina, I’ve been wanting to talk to you, and this news confirms for me that this has been a long time coming.”

That instantly put me on my guard, and I watched him carefully as he spoke. What kind of game was he playing here?

“You’ve barely known Nathan for a few weeks. Yes, you knew him before, but a marriage is serious. It’s nothing to rush into lightly.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but Dad held up a hand to cut me off.

“It pains me to say this, my darling, but I’m very disappointed in your behavior lately. It’s troubled me, thinking about what that behavior might say about your character.”

“My - my ‘character’?!” I spluttered. The numbness was wearing off, replaced now by insult.

How dare this stupid old man speak to me in such a way!

“Don’t misunderstand me, Sabrina. I love you dearly. And I acknowledge that this situation is entirely my fault. I’ve been far too lenient with you, especially since your mother died.”

He sighed. “The truth is, you’ve had a very easy life, with so many privileges and opportunities most people never get. It’s time you learned a little humility, my darling. And time you paid some good back into the world.”

Reaching over to the coffee table, he picked up a piece of paper. I glimpsed the clinic’s name and logo at the top.

“I’ve been in contact with the clinic, and arranged for you to work there as a volunteer a few days a week.”

I struggled to take that in. “A…volunteer?? You want me, a royal princess, to go help take care of sick people?”

“Something your mother did regularly. She had gifts, and she had humility. While you don’t possess her healing abilities, it’s high time you learned about that humility, and serving your people.”

What was happening?

I’d all but floated in the door, riding the wave of my engagement and the thrill of my plans finally coming together. And now I felt like I’d crashed down off a cliff.

“That’s…No, that’s not going to happen. I’m simply too busy assisting Nathan with his campaign. I don’t have the time.”

My father’s expression grew firm. “You’ll make the time, Sabrina. Or - and it brings me no pleasure to do this - I’ll cut you off from the royal accounts.”

Stunned, I stared at my father.

He was cutting me off?

How dare he!

The money in the royal accounts was mine! He had no right to take away my access to it.

Except he did. He was the King. He could do whatever he wanted.

And I needed to remember that, if I was going to succeed in becoming first the Luna and then the Queen.

I needed to bide my time, and be careful.

Taking a deep breath, I clenched my jaw and spoke through gritted teeth. “Fine. You know what’s best.”

I took the letter from him, saw it included a work schedule.

“I’ll report to the clinic for my first shift tomorrow.”

Dad smiled, clearly believing he was going to teach me how to be humble.

Humble. Me.

I didn’t need to be humble. I was a Royal Princess.

Humility was for peasants.

“Excellent!” he cried. “I’m so glad you see the benefit of helping out at the clinic. Now, you’ll assist any staff that need help, but I’ve arranged for you to specifically help Dr. Green, so you can see a real healer in action. You’ll do whatever she tells you to.”

My stomach dropped.

Dr. Green - that was the name Claire was using.

My father had just put Claire in charge of me.

What was it with my father and that stupid, worthless little Omega? All she did was heal a few cuts and bruises. The woman was nothing more than a walking band aid.

Yet somehow she had my father convinced she was some kind of magical savior or something.

And maybe that was her game. Maybe Claire had been seeking favor from my father this whole time, deliberately trying to please him.

For what, money? Royal favor? Or…something more?

What exactly was going on between Claire and my father?

Dad patted my knee, clearly thinking the conversation was over and everything was settled.

But everything was far from settled.

“Send my Beta back in on your way out, won’t you, dear?”

Clearly dismissed, I held my frozen smile in place while I said goodbye, keeping a tight hold on the scream building in my chest.

I waited until I was in my car before I let it loose, screaming until my throat was raw.

How dare he do this to me?!

Seething with outrage, I struggled to even out my breathing, to calm down, to think.

And then I remembered Soren.

The Alpha of Bloodclaw pack.

Not that long ago Soren had offered to “take care” of my father, helping me gain the throne, in exchange for a royal alliance.

At the time I’d said I’d think about it.

Now I wanted to do more than think. I wanted to act.

I wanted to get that lowlty little wolfless out of the way. Then we’d see about dealing with my father.

Pulling out my phone, I tapped out a text to Soren:

We need to meet. I’ve got some trash for you to take out.