Chapter 77 Father And Son Challenge
Calix Pov
I stormed across campus toward my father's office. It was late but I didn't care. I knew he would still be awake. My father never slept much. Especially not during important events like sports week.
The Alpha house was imposing even at night. Tall. Dark. Powerful. A symbol of authority and strength. I had grown up in this building. But it had never felt like home. Just a place where rules were enforced and weakness was punished.
I walked through the main entrance without knocking. The guards tried to stop me but I pushed past them. I was the heir. I had every right to be here.
"Where is he?" I demanded.
"In his office sir," one of the guards said nervously. "But he said he wasn't to be disturbed."
"Too bad," I said. I kept walking. "This can't wait."
I climbed the stairs two at a time. My anger was building with every step. I had spent the last hour investigating. Asking questions. Following leads. And everything pointed back to one person.
My father.
He had approved the obstacle course setup. He had signed off on the equipment. He had been involved in every detail of tomorrow's event.
Which meant he knew about the sabotage. He knew about the traps. He might have even helped plan them.
I reached his office door and threw it open without knocking. My father was sitting behind his massive desk. He looked up calmly when I entered. Like he had been expecting me.
"Calix," he said. His voice was neutral. "It's late. What brings you here?"
"You know exactly what brings me here," I said. I slammed the door behind me. "The obstacle course. The modifications. The traps."
"I don't know what you're talking about," my father said. But there was something in his eyes. Something that told me he knew exactly what I meant.
"Don't lie to me," I said. I walked toward his desk. "I know someone tampered with the course. I know the ropes have been weakened. I know there are hidden spikes. I know everything."
"And?" my father asked. He leaned back in his chair calmly. "What does that have to do with me?"
"You approved the course," I said. "You signed off on it. You had access. You had opportunity. You had motive."
"Motive?" my father repeated. "What possible motive would I have to sabotage a college sports event?"
"Maddie," I said simply. "You want to expose her. You want everyone to see what she really is."
My father's expression didn't change. He just sat there watching me with those calculating eyes. "The white wolf girl. Yes. She is rather interesting isn't she? I mean….. I have my way of finding out the truth.” 7
"Stay away from her," I warned. "Whatever you're planning. Whatever you think you're doing. Stop it now."
"Or what?" my father asked. He smiled slightly. "You'll challenge me? You'll defy your Alpha? Your father?"
"If I have to," I said. My voice came out hard. Determined. "If anything happens to her during the games tomorrow I will never forgive you. I will challenge your leadership. I will fight you for the position."
My father laughed. The sound was low and cold. "You think you can beat me boy? You think you're strong enough to take my place?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "But I'm willing to try. If that's what it takes to protect her."
"Protect her," my father repeated mockingly. "Since when do you care about protecting anyone? You've spent your whole life pushing people away. Staying isolated. Refusing to form attachments."
"That's changing," I said.
"Because of her," my father said. It wasn't a question. "Because of the mate bond. Because you marked her that night when you were drunk and stupid."
"How did you know about that?" I demanded.
"I know everything that happens in my pack," my father said. "Including when my son makes foolish decisions. Like bonding with a white wolf. Like claiming someone who will only bring trouble."
"She's not trouble," I said. "She's just different. She's just trying to survive."
"She's a liability," my father corrected. "She's a political nightmare waiting to happen. Every pack will want her. Want to use her. Want to control her bloodline. And you want to chain yourself to that? You want to invite that chaos into our pack?"
"I don't care about politics," I said. "I care about her. I care about keeping her safe."
"Then you're a fool," my father said flatly. "Safety and white wolves don't go together. She will always be a target. She will always be in danger. And anyone connected to her will be in danger too."
"I accept that risk," I said.
"You accept nothing," my father said. His voice got harder. "You're the heir to this pack. You have responsibilities. You have duties. You don't get to throw that away for some girl."
"She's not just some girl," I said. "She's my mate. The Moon Goddess chose her for me. The bond chose her."
"The bond is irrelevant," my father said. "You can reject it. You can break it. You can choose duty over desire."
"I won't," I said firmly. "Not anymore. I'm done pushing her away. I'm done pretending I don't care. Tomorrow when she runs that course I'm going to protect her. With or without your approval."
My father stood up from his desk. He walked around it until he was standing directly in front of me. He was taller than me. Broader. More powerful. An Alpha in every sense of the word.
"You will do no such thing," he said. His voice carried Alpha command. The tone that demanded obedience. "You will stand down. You will let tomorrow's events unfold naturally. You will not interfere."
I felt the command press against my mind. Felt it trying to force compliance. Felt my wolf wanting to submit to the Alpha's authority.
But I pushed back. I fought it. I refused to obey.
"No," I said. "I won't stand down. I won't let you hurt her. I won't be a coward anymore."
"You dare defy me?" my father asked. His eyes flashed gold. "You dare refuse an Alpha command?"
"Yes," I said. "I dare. Because she's worth it. Because protecting my mate is more important than following your orders."