“I don’t need your support, boy; I can walk,” my father grumbled as August helped him walking inside our home. He looked extremely pale and sick but didn’t budge a little, even when he couldn’t walk without the support.
“Arnold,” my mother scolded him as he tried his best to push August away from him. I chuckled, and my mother narrowed her eyes at me.
August's eyes danced with humor as well. I knew he missed his scolding more than his grumpy face. His eyes met mine, and they twinkled more.
“Dad, show some respect to the alpha,” he said in fake seriousness and almost laughed at the word alpha. As if on cue, our father pushed him away, and his eyes started searching the room until they finally settled on me.
“Ow… Dad, for a guy in a coma for almost a year, you are not bad and definitely not weak,” August muttered lowly, rubbing his hand where he got hit. Diana was by his side in seconds, and my father watched both of the couple in surprise. Even though surprise was not the word to describe the horrific reaction on his face.
“She is his mate, Daddy,” I said finally and took cautious steps towards him. He looked at me, and there were so many emotions in his eyes. The most prominent one was pride.
He hugged me as if his life depended on it, and I returned the hug. He soon pulled away and put his right hand on my head. “I am so proud of you, Emmy.” He said the words I had wanted to hear for so long.
I wiped the tear escaping my eye and pulled his right hand onto my shoulder to support him. His eyes scanned the house silently, and I felt bad for him. He had lost one and half years on that bed, lying unconscious, completely out of touch with the real world.
I made him sit on the couch and dragged a stool near him. August took a seat at the farthest corner and dragged Diana on his lap instead. Diana flushed but didn’t say anything. This scene didn’t miss my daddy because he glared daggers in his direction. After all, he was the one who told us never to trust the witches.
“Here, drink your tea.” My mother delivered him his cup, and I could feel she was very happy to make tea for him again. She always complained how she hated it because nobody liked tea but him. But after he went into a coma, I have seen her countless nights making and drinking his tea alone.
I admired their bond, their love. I admired everything. They were the best ideal couple I had ever seen. My thoughts soon drifted to the owner of the ocean blue eyes. I shook my head as soon as his beautiful face popped into my head. Not now.
My father took the cup, examined it thoroughly, even sniffed it, and took the first sip before sighing deeply.
“You are the best, Adriana,” he said in between. We talked and talked about me being the alpha for the first year, which was literally hell, and August helping me in it. I deliberately omitted the last few weeks’ incidents.
“You are doing great, kiddo,” he complimented me before nodding at August as well. “How did you meet your mate?” he asked August, eyeing Diana suspiciously. I knew he knew she was a witch.
Before August would have said anything, I cut him off midway. “Dad, I need to talk to you about something important,” I said, and his eyes furrowed, but he still gestured me to continue.
“Not here. How about we talk in your study?” I asked, and he shrugged.
Just when he was about to stand on his feet, we heard the sound of footsteps approaching us from the stairs, and soon Reed walked downstairs with something in his right hand.
“Hello, Mr. Rockwood. I am grateful to the moon goddess that you are now in good health.” Reed said in a sweet voice. I could feel the effort he had put into that single line.
My father turned painfully slow, and his face worsened. His face was the ultimate epitome of disgust and fury. I was still doubtful, which was now in more proportion.
He looked between him and me, and I shrugged innocently, shifting on my feet.
“Dad, he is my mate.”
“So, I guess this is the precise summary of everything that happened in the last few months,” I said, completing the whole story, from the first fact that I knew Reed was my mate, the day I met him when he attacked my pack, to the witches, the Oracle, Hecate, and yes, the last few days in explicit detail.
My dad didn’t speak a word and kept glaring at Reed. Reed tried his best not to get fazed by it. Somehow I doubted my decision to make them see each other’s faces so early.
“You made a deal with my daughter?” he asked, looking directly into his eyes. As if in shame, Reed lowered his gaze to the ground.
“Dad, please stop. It was me who rejected him. I don’t want anything to do with him at that time,” I said, trying to rescue Reed from the fury of my father. For an old man coming back from the coma, he was still very active.
“Mr. Rockwood, I know I am not worthy for your daughter, but I would like to prove it to you and her,” Reed said, this time looking up straight into his eyes.
“I will try my best every day to be worthy for your daughter. I will work harder every day until I gain your trust,” he said desperately as if he wanted him to trust him. I had unknowingly crossed my fingers at my back.
Dad sighed but didn’t say anything. He looked at me, and I shifted on my feet embarrassingly. For some reason, I felt like I had done something wrong and was caught red-handed.
“I want to talk with my daughter,” he said gruffly. Reed stood and started walking toward the door. “I mean it, Mr. Rockwood.” With that, he left us alone.
“Sit down, young lady. But first things first, lock the door,” he said sternly. Oh god! This was not going to be fine. I locked the door and sat opposite to him in my chair.
He was sitting on the wheelchair August had brought for him, and he hated it at first sight, but the doctors had already cleared it that he had to use it for at least a week until he was fully healed.
“Tell me, did your mother know that he was your mate?” I nodded silently. I felt like a young girl brought to the principal’s office.
“Okay, now. What is the matter with the witches?” he asked this time more sternly. I know he was really angry since I said their names.
“They have some kind of blade. The blade that could kill an alpha.” I said, and it caught his attention because his eyes widened. Now, it was my cue to turn the tables.
“When were you going to tell us that alphas are immortal?” I asked, and my inner me folded her hands. He looked everywhere but me.
“This was a very delicate subject I reserved for after either of you become the alpha,” he said, deep in thought. “What blade? Where did you hear of it?” he asked, and I knew he was lying. He already knew about the blade; he already knew who used it. He already knew who killed Alpha Andrew.
I lifted my eyebrows. Seriously, Dad? He saw my reaction, and he smiled apologetically.
“Okay, cut the crap. Now, who has the blade?” he asked, and I knew he was losing his patience. All he wanted to know was if Reed still had the blade. He was still shady and mysterious and kept things to himself. But now, I was the alpha.
“No, Dad, Reed doesn’t have the blade; the witches have it, and I think someone is helping them,” I said, and there was a mix of emotions crossing his face. His eyes knitted together before he hummed in understanding.
“I think you are right,” he said and looked towards the door. “You keep your eyes and ears open, Emmy. I don’t trust him. Neither should you.”
I pursed my lips before standing to open the door. Before I could open it, his voice interrupted me again.
“I saw something on his neck.” I closed my eyes and grinned, knowing he couldn’t see me. Nothing could be hidden from my old man.
“You need to rest, Daddy. I will meet you later,” I said and threw my hair behind my back before storming toward my room.