Chapter 46 Chapter 46
Brendan held himself tall, refusing to look weak in a moment that was shattering him from within. He looked Suki in the eyes and exhaled, “It’s alright, you can do it. I understand.”
“Quiet, boy,” Machiavelli spat, “don’t act like some hero to her. You broke the rules. Now, Suki–”
“No,” Suki said calmly.
“Suki, don’t argue with me.”
“You can’t make me reject him; that power isn’t within your hands, it’s in mine and my mates.”
Her father frowned. “Dearest, you need to think wisely about this. If you choose to bond with him, you’ll become a Rogue. By default, his rules would’ve been broken, and that means neither of you can stay in the pack. I’d never see you again.”
She wept, “You never see me now.” Her words silenced her father. “Dad, I love you, you’re my only family, but ever since Mum died, you’ve been more and more distant with me.”
He swallowed. “I’ve been busy with–”
“Everything,” she interrupted. “You’re the Beta, I know and respect that. After her death, you buried yourself in work to distract yourself from the heartbreak of your broken bond. I could see and practically feel how much that had hurt you.”
“I didn’t realise you noticed and even felt my grief.” His eyes softened. “I tried to stay away so you wouldn’t, I didn’t want you to see that. I didn’t want you to see me broken and weak.”
Suki stepped forward, took her father’s hand and squeezed it as tears blurred her vision “Grieving the loss of your mate wasn’t weakness, it never has been, and it never will be. I had Rey there with me to keep me from falling apart, and I was willing to do the same for you.”
Her father shook his head. “That’s a burden you shouldn’t have had to bear.”
“Dad, I would still do that now if you needed me. I’m not a youngling anymore. You raised me to be strong, to think for myself and care for my brothers and sisters of the pack. You need to not only trust me but also trust yourself that you taught me right.”
Michiavelli held his chin up. “I must say you did learn to counter your arguments fairly well.”
She smiled faintly. “I learnt from the best.”
He mirrored her smile, but it vanished just as fast as it appeared. “All this being said, I can’t allow you to bond with a Rogue; it’s against your duty that you’ve been raised to do.”
“So you would rather have me feel the pain of my bond with him being ripped away from me? Just how you felt the bond being ripped away from you.”
He held a finger up. “That’s different, Suki.”
“It’s not, and you know it.” She stepped over to Brendan, taking his hand in hers and leaned into him. “I care for him, I want to get to know him more, and I want to make my decision myself — no influence from anyone else. I’ve listened and done everything I was ever told my entire life, but now it’s my turn to take control of it. I deserve the choice to pick my mate.”
Taking a moment to look at his daughter and Rogue mate beside her, Machiavelli crossed his arms and exhaled, “Very well.”
Suki blinked. She looked at Brendan, who looked at her, equally shocked. Looking back to her father, she breathed, “Really? You mean that?”
“You’ve given a compelling argument. I should trust that I’ve raised you right to make the right decision.”
Inhaling sharply, Suki knew that meant he was hopeful she would pick Reynard over Brendan, but she would accept the win, even if it felt ambiguous.
“However, this also means no more lies. I want to know when you’re with him.”
She nodded happily. “Yes, sir, I can do that.”
He hummed, “Ideally, I would want a guard with you when you’re with him…”
“Father, please,” she whined. “I can take care of myself, and he won’t hurt me.”
Machiavelli looked to Brendan. The deep eye contact made Brendan’s back straighten, as if it were ingrained into him – muscle memory from his training all those years ago. “Can I trust you around my daughter, truthfully?”
A bowing nod, “Yes, sir. I promise, I would never do anything to hurt her, or anyone for that matter, but especially her. I care for her deeply.”
Machiavelli hummed a questioning groan.
Brendan swallowed thickly. “I apologise for my rudeness earlier. It’s a… It’s a defence mechanism I developed growing up, since everyone sees me as some evil monster. It’s no excuse, but know that I am truly sorry.”
“Know that I don’t fully trust you, I’m unsure if I ever will, but I’m choosing to put trust and faith in my daughter, and by doing so, I’m also putting the same trust and faith in you. Should anything, and I mean anything, happen to my daughter, you will meet your end by the same blade I threatened with you today.”
“Understood,” said Brendan, dryness hitting his throat as he spoke, full of fear at the idea of something bad happening to Suki. “I will protect her with my life, you have my word,” he bowed again, this time holding his fist across his chest – a silent warrior’s oath.
His eyes narrowed. “You have the mannerisms of a high rank. Where are you from, boy?”
Suki chimed in, “Actually, Father, that is something I – well, we – need to ask your help with.” Her father’s brows furrowed, subtly asking for an explanation. “I think you need to get a meeting in with Nighttide.”
Eyes widening, Machiavelli gasped, “Nighttide? They’re impossible to get in contact with; they’re seeking no alliances with any pack. If I am to get a meeting with them, I need a very, very good reason to convince them.”
Suki looked up to Brendan. It was his past, his story to share; she wouldn’t tell it unless he allowed it. She didn’t even have to ask through the bond; he knew what she was asking, and he nodded without any hesitation.
She squeezed his hand and turned back to her father. “I believe the threat against the werewolf species could be the same threat that attacked Nighttide almost 10 years ago.”
“There was no attack on Nighttide…?” Her father replied, confused.
“Actually, sir, there was. You wouldn’t know about it due to our secrecy of hiding our weak moments, but it did happen,” Brendan said.
Arching a brow, he questioned, “Did you say ‘our’?”
“Yes, I was there to witness it. It was once my home.”
With eyes almost bulging out of his sockets, Suki’s father made one final demand. “You need to tell me everything. Now.”
So they did. Suki let Brendan explain in his own words, from beginning to end. She would only add in when she knew Brendan was being too harsh on himself, yet somehow the harshness on himself seemed to make Machiavelli believe him more – it reminded him of how warriors criticised themselves the most during their training to ensure they would consistently improve and do better to protect the people of their pack. It was a rumoured trait of the people of Nighttide, which continued to feed his growing belief.
When the two finished explaining everything, Machiavelli stood there with a monotonous expression on his face, stroking his chin with his index finger and thumb, analysing every word given to him.
“Alright,” he broke the silence. “I will believe this tremendous story, for now. I will try to make contact with Nighttide and see if we can get answers from them, but I’m afraid that if they know you’re involved, Rogue, then they might back down from all communication.”
Brendan nods. “They will, they can’t know I’m involved, it’ll only scare them away more, but I’m afraid if this threat is coming, it might start with them.”
“We’re spread thin as it is; we might not be able to get this meeting in at all to investigate if this is all connected.”
Suki stepped forward. “Send me.”
“No, Suki–”
“I don’t have to go alone, I’ll take Rey with me. We can do this, Dad. This is what you raised me for. Trust that I’m strong enough to do it.”
He smiled faintly but proudly, “I do trust you, dear. Very well, I’ll entrust you and Reynard with this.”
A wide grin grew on Suki’s face.
“Besides, I get a little more comfort knowing he’s there to keep an eye on you.” He tussled his daughter’s hair, and she giggled. “But first, let’s see if we can get this meeting.”