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I bite the inside of my cheek, willing myself not to lose my temper. I remind myself how hard it must have been for Dad to go from a man at the peak of his power to a recovering invalid who only has the energy to focus on pack issues a few hours a day. I remind myself that I love and respect my father and take a deep breath in and out before I say in as calm a voice as I can muster, “That’s an interesting suggestion, but according to pack law, you can’t compel me to marry anyone but my fated mate. Considering Willow’s already been matched and married to another man…” I smile. “Well, I’m sure you can see that’s problematic.”
Dad motions toward his desk by the window. “The Blood Moon pack’s star chart readers were mistaken. Take a look at the charts our readers worked up last night, son. You two were born for each other! And you know my people don’t lie about those sorts of things. That’s not our way.”
“And what about the baby she may be carrying?” I ask, keeping my tone calm though my pulse is spiking. “The child that’s absolutely not mine.”
“Good news there,” Willow says with a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “My moon came this morning. I’m not pregnant.”
“And what a relief that is for everyone,” Dad says, sincerely. “Especially you, my boy. Truly, I’ve never seen such a perfect match in my life. You and Willow are like puzzle pieces, but you must feel that. I remember when I met your mother, how irresistibly drawn I was to her. Looking at her just…lit me up with happiness. From the moment I first held her hand, I couldn’t have imagined spending my life with anyone else.”
“That’s very sweet,” Willow says. “But I want to be honest with you, too, Jimmy. Maxim and I definitely don’t have that kind of connection. It’s more an ‘I hate that I’m drawn to you’ kind of thing that we’d both prefer to ignore if things were different. Isn’t that right, big bad?”
“Excuse me?” I ask, taking my turn with the chilly tone.
“You call me little wolf,” she says with a shrug. “I thought it was only fair that you have a nickname, too. Big bad bully was also an option. Or just…asshole, but that felt a little on the nose.”
My father bursts into delighted laughter, clapping his hands together as he rocks back and forth in his chair. “Oh, son. She’s perfect for you. Just what you need, a woman who will keep you on your toes. Uniting the packs won’t be easy. You’ll need a strong mate backing you up, watching your back.”
“Or stabbing me in it,” I say through clenched teeth. “I’d like a word with you alone, Dad, before you marry me off to a stranger who might want to kill me. If that’s all right?”
“I definitely want to kill you,” Willow says flatly. “But I won’t. That’s not who I am. But I won’t be treated like a prisoner or an enemy anymore, either. I’ve proven to your father with my gift that I only want what’s best for this pack.”
“It’s true,” Dad says, still catching his breath from his laugh attack. “And I’m going to help train Willow to use her pack gift for the good of our people. We’re lucky to have her, son. All of us.”
Lucky isn’t the word I would use.
I’m not sure what word fits Willow Astor, but “thorn in my paw” feels pretty fitting.
As does “noose around my neck” and “anchor tied to my ankle.”
But all of those are phrases, not single words, and I know none of that will matter. My father doesn’t care if my gut is screaming that this is a bad idea. Dad cares about star charts and prophecies and ensuring the continuation of our family line—all of which will be served by marrying me off to Willow.
From everything I read today, the prophecy makes it pretty clear that the first man to put a baby in one of the “chosen women’s” wombs will be the next king.
But I don’t believe in prophecies, and I like having my free will ripped away from me about as much as Willow enjoyed being re-introduced to her traumatic memories last night.
That’s at least one good thing to come out of this meeting—I don’t feel guilty about what I did to Willow anymore.
I just feel…determined.
Determined to regain control of my life and my pack.
Now that I know the game we’re playing, I have no doubt I’ll come out on top. Thanks to her surprise attack, Willow won this battle, but I will win the war.
Easily. Swiftly.
I don’t care if those charts are right, and she is my fated mate, I won’t be bullied into a pizza topping, let alone a marriage. She made a serious mistake when she decided to get my father involved, and she’s going to pay for it.
But in the meantime, the best thing I can do is stay on Dad’s good side and lull my little wolf into dropping her guard.
So, I force a weary, resigned sigh and nod. “Okay. We’ll announce the engagement tomorrow. But we’re not going to mention the prophecy, just that we’re fated mates. I don’t want to encourage that sort of thinking. We’re a logical people, not a superstitious one.”
Dad smiles. “Willow was just saying the same thing, how she wants to apply logic to her gift. And compassion.” He sobers, holding my gaze with an intensity that makes it obvious he’s not buying my easy surrender. “Truly, son, this match will be a gift to you. If you’ll allow it to be. Fighting it will only cause pointless suffering for everyone involved, and that includes you. Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.”
“Of course not, Dad,” I say. “My nose and face are both on board.”
But my heart and my head sure as hell aren’t and I won’t regret getting rid of Willow. Not for a single fucking second.
First, I’ll prove to her that I’m her Alpha, dominant to her in every way.
