\[Rosco’s POV\]
“She’s being protected just fine.”
The words are out of my mouth before I can stop, and as I reach my father, a look of amusement crosses his features.
“Not well enough.”
That is all he says before he begins to move, making his way out of the room and back down the hall where my mother rests. I am sure that he is going to have her moved from here to Crystal Fang, and nothing I said or did would stop him.
“Rosco,” Denali says softly, getting up and making her way toward me. “You really should try to mend your relationship with your dad.”
As she speaks, she snakes her arms around me and buries her head in my chest. Where our bodies mesh, I can feel the warm thrums of energy from our bond, and as much as I want to argue what she just said, I remain quiet.
“He was the one who made the decision to disown me.”
“And you,” she counters, lifting her blue gaze to mine. “Are the one who decided to go along with it instead of trying to come up with a compromise.”
Once again, I find myself wanting to argue, but deep down, I know that she is right. During that time, tension was high for all parties involved, and things were said and done that couldn’t so easily be undone.
“I think while your father is still here, it would be a good idea for the two of you to actually try to talk.” She continues when I don’t speak. “Otherwise, it may be too late.”
Heart squeezing, I completely understand what it is that she is getting at. Currently, we were up against skilled opponents, and there was no way to absolutely know that we would win, but I would be damned if I didn’t go down fighting.
“Fine,” I huff, knowing that she wouldn’t let me off if I said no. “I’ll try, but I can’t make any promises.”
“That’s all that matters.” She beams, standing on tiptoe and giving me a kiss.
Immediately, my desire ignites, and my arms are snaking around her waist. Deepening our kiss, I let my hands slide down her back until they came to rest on her ass. Giving it a squeeze, I pull her harder against me while my dick begins to grow hard.
“Wai...” she gasps, pulling away. “We… can’t…”
Ignoring her words, I begin to kiss down her jaw and her neck, only stopping long enough to kiss my mark, which shines brightly on her throat.
“Rosco!” She yelps when I bite down on her collar. “I just gave birth!”
Eyes widening, I release her and stumble backwards while reason comes crashing back into me. Dammit. I needed to go.
“Sorry,” I manage, worrying whether or not I hurt her in my explorations.
“It’s fine,” she breathes. “I also want to. But Cecile said we would need to wait at least six weeks.”
“Six weeks.” I grumble, wondering whether or not I could actually last that long. “Is that an exact?”
Rolling her eyes, Denali plops back down on the bed.
“Get your head out of the gutter and go talk to your dad.” She sighs, beginning to get comfortable. “We don’t know how long it will be before he leaves.”
Giving her one last look of longing, I turn and prepare to leave, but when I look down and realize that I’m still hard, I stop.
“What’s wrong?” Denali asks, not missing my action.
“I’m going to need to shower first.”
After a cold shower, I change and head toward the infirmary, where my parents should still be located. When I arrive, I find that I’m lucky, as my father argues with Olga, our top doctor.
“What do you mean I can’t move her?” He demands, trying to intimidate the woman. “She can be perfectly cared for in Crystal Fang!”
“She suffered brain trauma.” Olga argues, not backing down. “You can’t just move her!”
“Who are you…”
“Dad,” I call, deciding to stop their useless back-and-forth. “Stop harassing my people.”
“Then tell her to let me take my wife home.” My father snaps. “I’m not leaving her here.”
“You heard Olga.” I counter. “She can’t be moved just yet. Letting her stay here for one night won’t hurt anything.”
“Are you kidding me?” He growls. “You’re lands were just!”
“We won’t be caught off guard again. They only managed to get in because they took underground tunnels. Since those have been closed, their only option is crossing the borders, and I have those heavily guarded. However, if you’re that worried, you can stay for another night.”
“Not possible,” he snaps. “I have to go back to Crystal Fang to protect them while William is here with you.”
“Has William even agreed to that?” I sigh. “He is in a very sensitive time in his training to become alpha.”
“He won’t have a choice.” My father responds. “Even if he will be the next alpha, I am still the current standing alpha, and he must do what I say.”
“Right, right,” I chuckle. “You’re all powerful.”
For a moment, my father doesn’t speak as he takes me in with an expression that screams he wants to kick my ass for being insolent.
“Did you only come here to piss me off?” He finally says, narrowing his gaze.
“No,” I say. “I came here because my wife insists that I should try to mend my relationship with you.”
At my words, my father’s expression shifts and his eyes widen.
“That woman really likes to stick her nose in other people's business.” He says slowly. “Even when I said such a horrible thing to her.”
Horrible thing. What the hell did he say to her when I wasn’t there? Did he insult her? If he did, I would...
“Mend things then,” he says as the need to destroy him starts to bubble. “Or do you expect me to be the first to say sorry?”
“Of course not.” I knew better than expecting that out of him, but even if he wouldn’t say it, he could answer some of my questions. “Let's have a talk,” I continue, motioning for him to follow me. “We can chat in my office.”
Once again, my father grows quiet as he looks from me to my mother, and when he finally lets out a long breath, I begin to move.
“This better not take too long.” He says as we walk side by side. “I still fully intend to take your mother back to Crystal Fang.”
“If Olga lets you.” I counter when we reach my office. Pulling open the door, I motion for my father to enter. “She’s a stubborn one, but she’s the best at what she does, and I would take her advice seriously. If she says keeping mom here for a bit longer is the best, then it is.”
Grumbling, my father walks into my office and then takes a seat.
“She’s my wife, and I know what is best for her.” He counters as I make my way to my desk. “I won’t leave her, and that’s final. Now say what you need to say.”
"What did you and Denali talk about?" I ask, voicing my biggest question. "You didn't say anything cruel to her, did you?"
"I simply told her the reason I thought she was good for you." He shrugs.
"Good for me?" I bark, disbelief rising. "Then why the hell did you threaten to kill her in the past?"