CHAPTER 25 – TELLING FATHER

CHAPTER 25 – TELLING FATHER
Sloane P.O.V

Yesterday I’ve spent the whole day with Nathan, and it’s been the happiest day of my entire life. We have kissed and played around, we have cooked together, then we’ve made out in his room until it was time for me to reluctantly go back home.
Luckily, Nathan had contacted Daniel and told him what happened, and he took care of my work and appointments for the day. 
When he picked me up at Nathan’s, Daniel couldn’t stop apologizing, like what happened was his fault! He blamed himself for not being there to protect me, as I am some kind of damsel who needs protection at all times, and not a full-grown woman who happens to be an Alpha too.
 He couldn’t attend the ball because father sent him on a special mission, and as it turns out, it was a mission on Axel’s behalf, it was most probably part of his plan to get me all alone, the little shit!
But this time I won’t let this slide, I will confront Axel and beat the crap out of him if necessary. He might be taller and stronger than me, but I’m an Alpha too, and I have skill on my side. I won’t get him down easily; he can’t just go around drugging and raping people; he must be stopped.
The funniest thing is that Daniel got the results of the sample of the drug Nathan helped us retrieve at the farmhouse, and it turns out it is a very strong aphrodisiac which practically ignites a reaction similar to women’s heat; the person injected with it will feel compelled to mate, no matter who the counterpart is.
That’s horrible and disgusting, and the worst thing is that connecting the dots of Axel’s businesses, we have sex drugs, night clubs and one, but could be more, orphanage, which means he could be dealing in minor sexual exploitation and abuse under everyone’s noses.
I hate him so much for what he’s tried to do to me, and what he’s probably doing to those innocent children, so much that I want to kill him painfully and slowly. But I can’t give in to my desires, I need to find proof and bring it to the authorities, only this way can the whole trafficking be stopped and Axel can get what he deserves.
But now it’s not the time to think about that bastard of Axel, now I need to focus on what I’m going to tell father to convince him to accept Nathan as my consort. I mean, he’s my fated mate, so father should know better than to question the Goddess’s choices; but somehow, knowing how much he cares about power and appearances, I have a bad feeling about it.
I knock on his office door, and he gives me permission to enter, sounding as haughty as ever.
“Father,” I salute him with a bow of my head in respect when entering.
“Finally, you show your face. Where were you yesterday? Daniel covered for you, but don’t think for one second that you can fool me. And what happened at the ball? The guests said you disappeared; that’s not the way the hostess should behave, you should know better than that!”
Anger starts bubbling under my skin at his unfair scolding. Sometimes, I feel like I’m not the Alpha of this pack at all, like he’s surrendered his title to me, only to make the council happy, while he’s still able to pull the strings through me. To him, I’m just a puppet he can order around, but of course, I must behave as a true Alpha in the eyes of the public, instill fear and respect, behave according to his expectations.
I take a few deep calming breaths before answering. I need him to approve of our union, and starting an argument with him will not work in our favor.
“Father, I’ve not come here to discuss this today, although, the truth is that I was indisposed, there was something wrong with the wine.” It’s not a full lie. “Anyway, I’m better now, and there’s a more important matter I need to bring to your attention.”
“Don’t talk in circles, spit it out!” he orders, making my hackles rise again.
Calm down, calm down, deep breaths, soft clouds and cotton candy.
“I’m already twenty-three now, and as you and the council wisely pointed out, I need to find a person to stand beside me and help me take care of the pack. I agree with that, and I’ve found someone…”
“Axel has finally won you over!” he exclaims happily, clapping his hands. “He’s a handsome young man, he’s pack is wealthy and strong, and he definitely has an attitude to business. He’s a very good choice, I agree!”
What the actual fxxx?
“No, it’s not Axel!” I say irritably, my rude tone making father’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“Then who?” he asks perplexed.
“I’ve found my fated mate, he’s name is Nathan Anderson, he’s a senior warrior of the Glowing River pack,” I say in one go, squaring my shoulders, showing him where I stand. 
Father doesn’t speak for a while, his expression unreadable, then, all of a sudden, he says emotionlessly,
“I forbid it.”
Fuck!
“He’s my fated mate, chosen for me by the Goddess herself; what right have you to deny our union?” I ask outraged.
“Fate doesn’t bring you money and power, you are old enough to understand that. I don’t care if he’s your fated, a low warrior can’t be your consort. Reject him,” he says firmly, in a tone that demands submission.
“I will not reject him!” I raise my voice, not a shout, but something close, something I never do in the presence of father.
“Suit yourself, if you reject him or not is not important, what’s important is that you officially marry someone worthy of you, and that’s Axel,” he says with finality.
“Axel? Do you even know what kind of business he deals with? Let me tell you, drugs, prostitution, child abuse. Do you really want me to marry someone like him? Is his dirty money so important to you?” I yell, unable to contain myself any longer.
“Nonsense, those are only rumors spread by those who envy him and his fortune. You have no proof.”
“But I do have proof, and I will show it to you, because I’ve experienced it on my own skin. That night, when I disappeared from the ball, as you put it, Axel spiked my drink with one of his drugs, and then he tried to rape me. Nathan saved me before he could do anything. Do you really think I would marry a rapist? No, I won’t, ever!” 
I see my words sink in and father’s complexion change to ghostly white; he clearly wasn’t expecting it. Then his face turns completely red, and he exhales a few harsh breaths, making me fear a heart attack. But then, he composes himself and speaks again in his authoritative tone.
“If what you say is true, then Axel is not suitable for the position, and I will confront him myself for his misbehavior. However, the facts you recounted show that you are weak. If it weren’t for your mate, you would have been easy prey, you would have brought shame to our whole pack and this is not acceptable for an Alpha. I have not raised you to be weak, but you have clearly not lived up to my expectations. I will convene with the council, and we will find a more suitable candidate, you will marry him, and you will surrender your Alpha title to him. This is the best solution for everyone, for us and for the pack.”
“Better for me how?” I all but yell in his face, “You are stripping me of my title because of someone else’s misdoing. How fair is that! I’ve trained and worked for this position since I was born, I put up with all your bullshit without saying a word, and now, you just want to take it all away from me. I don’t think so. I don’t need your approval. I will mark Nathan and let the pack decide if it is the will of the Goddess, or your will which holds more value.”
I’m so furious, I’m seeing red; my wolf is ready to jump on father and rip his throat out, the only thing holding her back being my unwillingness to kill my own blood.
“You will do no such thing!” father shouts, and before I can understand what’s happening, a bunch of guards storm into his office and shackle my arms behind my back. I can feel the wolfsbane burning the skin of my wrists, and I know the wolfsbane will hinder my shift, but I won’t go down easily. I aim a kick at the side of the guard’s head on my right, it connects, and the man goes flying against father’s desk, smashing everything on its surface. From my lower position, I head-butt the guard on my left in his stomach, satisfied when I hear the crunch of ribs snapping. But before I can rejoice in my small victory, three guards are on me, and one of them holds a syringe filled with a yellowish liquid which I guess is wolfsbane. I don’t have enough time to react, and before I know it, the needle plunges my soft skin and the poisonous solution spreads through my system like liquid wildfire, robbing me of all my energy. 
In my last waking moments, I wondered how my own father could do something like this to his daughter. Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for that, and everything just goes dark.