Chapter 91

Ethan

I stare at the black computer screen, my reflection looking directly back at me. Fiona works silently at her desk, refusing to look at or even speak to me unless absolutely necessary.

It’s my fault, too.

As soon as I caught her scent outside the office last night, I should’ve ended the call. I’m not sure how much she heard, but with the way she’s acting, Fiona had heard enough. The constant battering from Elder Johnson and my father would hurt anyone’s feelings, especially Fiona who already has doubts and fears about our relationship.

By the time the call ended, she was gone, locked up in her room, and I’d been on the other side of her doors before. If she doesn’t want to open the door, she won’t, which is fine. I told her I would give her any space she needed, and after what she just heard, I don’t blame her for keeping me out and that she’s been ignoring me since.

“We need to make her understand that she’s the only one for us,” my wolf says for the millionth time.

“I know but reminding her of what she heard last night when it clearly still bothers her probably isn’t the best idea. We’ll give her the day to think then talk to her tonight,” I tell him, hoping I’m right. I need to clear the air between us because she’s too important to let slip away.

“She won’t. They can’t force us to reject our mate.”

The sounds of her tossing and turning all night kept me awake as well. Her sad sighs were easy to hear through the walls, and when she got up to take a midnight shower, I wanted nothing more than to join her.

I glance out of my office window to see her staring blankly at her computer. She looks lost, like I have been all morning, and my fingers twitch. I could go to her now, take her away from here, and make things clear.

“Let’s take her home,” my wolf agrees. “We can make things better if we explain.”

Sighing, I stand. He’s right. Letting her stew in her doubt and stress won’t do either of us any good.

“Sir! Excuse me, sir! You can’t—”

“Be quiet!” My father’s voice snarls, pulling my attention to the hallway just in time for my father to storm past Fiona who tries to stop him from entering. She stumbles to the side when he bares his teeth at her, and I catch the faint stutter of fear that causes her heart to skip a beat.

My anger from last night returns ten-fold as my father bursts into my office. He’s followed by my mother as well as the Alpha and Luna of the Midnight Pack. Then, Angela saunters in behind everyone, bringing up the rear of the group with a smug smile plastered on her face.

My father leads the charge, stopping in front of me with barely contained rage. My wolf growls at the challenge, and I don’t stop him.

He may be the former Alpha, but the audacity he has to travel across the ocean to challenge my authority after our call last night has me and my wolf prickling with anger.

However, I don’t give him the satisfaction of revealing my anger. It’s what he wants, to find some sort of flaw that can give him a thread he can use to unravel all my hard work. For someone so set on pushing me into the Alpha and King titles, my father sure seems like he’s ready to tear down all his hard work over one decision.

He’s practically shaking with fury.

“Father. Mother.” I nod to each of them before turning to the leaders of the Midnight Pack. “Alpha. Luna, welcome to the Silverclaw Company.”

They offer their own respectful bows but straighten up quickly so as not to betray their elder status. Right now, I couldn’t give two fucks that they’re older than I am. They came here with the intention of keeping me from my mate, so they’re lucky I’m being welcoming at all.

“Ethan?”

Fiona’s soft, confused voice makes everyone turn, and I almost growl at them. They have no right to glare at her that way. She hasn’t done anything wrong.

“Everything is fine, Fiona. Hold my calls and meeting until I’m finished here,” I tell her, keeping my tone flat and unemotional. I don’t need my father attacking her. Usually that wouldn’t be a fear I have, but with the anger he’s displaying right now, I wouldn’t put it past him to at least try to scare Fiona away.

“Let him try,” my wolf growls, my vision flickering between the haze of my wolf’s eyes and mine.

Fiona watches me for a moment longer before nodding and closing the door behind her. I force myself to keep my eyes on my father and the others who take up space in my office instead of on my mate.

I hate the look of hesitation and fear that already cemented itself on her face. This meeting could only make things worse before they get better, if they get better. I wouldn’t blame Fiona for wanting to leave after she’s heard what my father thinks of her.

“She’s anxious,” my wolf growls. “They need to leave.”

“I’m working on it.”

“What brings you all here today?” I ask even though I know what their answer will be. My father was crystal clear last night, but so was I. Bringing the Midnight Pack leaders here today is not how he should have handled this situation.

“Maybe he’s becoming senile in his older age,” my wolf quips. “Senile or not. Your father or not. If he challenges me for my mate, he will not succeed.”

“Agreed.”

“We are here to formally complete the alliance between the Silverclaw and Midnight Packs,” the Alpha of the Midnight Pack announces. “This cooperation has been in the works for years, and now that both Alpha children are of marriageable age, your father and I believe it is time to establish the alliance.”

“Do you believe it wise to ambush a potential ally with this conversation instead of setting a time and place to discuss whether this alliance is needed or wanted?” I question, hoping they’ll see that coming here was a mistake.

Everyone in the room pauses before my father growls.

“Of course, this is needed. We’ve been in discussion for years, Ethan. This isn’t something you can stop because you’ve got a crush,” he shouts, moving closer.

I cut my eyes at him, daring him to take another step. He came here with no warning, with ill intent, and with the desire to get rid of my mate. My patience for my father’s entitlement is at its end.

“Honey, we’ve talked with the Midnight Pack about your marriage since you and Angela were children,” my mother protests, stepping up beside my father. “We agreed that if you didn’t find a mate who was an Alpha daughter, you and Angela could marry to unite the two packs.”

“We can be allies without merging in marriage,” I growl. “And how could you think that a marriage between us would be a good idea? I know you don’t want to lose your friends, but you should have thought of another way to ally with other packs besides marriage.”

My mother shakes her head, giving me that pitiful frown she always gives me when she wants me to take her side. As if that would sway me. When has she ever taken my side? Everything she does is to make my brother’s life better.

“Angela is the daughter of an Alpha,” my father announces, pulling my attention back to him. Angela stands beside him like a doll on display that he is showing to interested buyers. Does she not feel like she’s being used?

I scoff.

“My daughter would make a stronger and better Luna than any human. She is one of your own kind and has been trained since birth in the ways a Luna should act and lead,” the Midnight Pack Alpha says, nudging his daughter forward.

“Stop,” I declare, holding a hand up to keep them from continuing. “I will not marry your daughter even for an alliance. She and I should be free to find our own mates and have happy relationships as the Goddess intended.”

An irritated growl rumbles through the room, and I look at the Midnight Pack Alpha as he pulls out a sheet of paper.

“If that is your decision, and if you continue to refuse the marriage terms set forth by your elders, I present this letter of severance to the Alpha of the Silverclaw Pack,” he states, lifting the paper high in the air. “Our packs will no longer be allies if you reject our daughter, and there will be no chance at reconciliation.”

The Midnight Pack Alpha’s wavering heartbeat betrays his confident words. To anyone else, he may sound assertive, but the quickening beat of his heart, the sweat dotting his forehead, and the gulp of anxiety give him away.

He doesn’t truly want our alliance to be broken because that would mean he loses the shield we provide in times of unrest. While I don’t want to be cornered into giving my mate up, I also don’t want to sever ties with a pack we’ve been close with since I was a child. If there’s a way to keep our connection, I am duty bound to honor it.

“I will agree to take a meal with Angela, but anything that may or may not come from this meal will be up to me and Angela,” I tell the group, and just like that, our parents deflate and calm down.

In the end, there will be no marriage, but to quell their anger and keep them from making a decision they’ll regret, I will take Angela out.