Chapter 57 WAITING
WILLA’S POV
“I cannot believe this,” Dad muttered for the thousandth time as he continued to march all over the living area. “Gallahan Wick!? The Gallahan Wick of the Culling Army?!”
I no longer offered him any reaction and just kept staring at the door as I mentally willed Gallahan to arrive.
Even then, there was a loud pessimistic voice in my head that kept telling me he wouldn’t come. That after what I had said and done to him tonight, he wouldn’t even deign to spare me a single second of his time.
I did my best in silencing the doubtful and insecure thoughts to the point of justifying my actions. That I had every right as a mother to decide whether Gallahan would be a worthy man to be welcomed in the twins’ lives. That, after the threats Gallahan spewed, he deserved to be shoved and strangled.
“Goodness me! I cannot believe that of all people…”
“Wendell, please. He is Willa’s fated mate and the twins’ father. There is nothing to be done but ask for his help.”
“I know, okay?!” Dad exclaimed. “But can’t a father be shocked that her daughter is fated to a cruel and bloodthirsty man like Wick?!”
“Well…” Grandpa grunted, clearly annoyed now. “Control your shock, Wendell. Get a grip of yourself because that very same man will be arriving shortly. It would be in our best interest if we do not cross him tonight. We cannot afford to argue with him when we are in dire need of his help.”
Mom wrapped my trembling hand in hers just as Sarina announced that her spiritual familiar had successfully delivered the message.
“Thank you, Sarina. You have been such a great help to this family.”
“Ah, no need to thank me, Luna Felicity. There isn’t a lot that I wouldn’t do for your kind family.”
I tore my gaze away from the door, just so I could give Sarina a grateful smile.
Her eyes were mildly puffy and red-rimmed from all her crying, while her nose was pinkish at the tip. But she seemed to have gone back to calmer waters, given how she was holding herself well right in front of my parents and Grandpa.
She also managed to mirror the smile I gave her before excusing herself back to the kitchen to leave us be.
A flutter of fondness rippled inside of me as I watched her make her exit, thinking of my great luck of having such a good friend. Sure, her emotions might get the best of her at times, but Sarina had a good head on her neck. She was also kind to a fault and fiercely loyal. That was why she had been welcomed to the family so easily.
Dad quickly resumed his spiel about Gallahan once Sarina had completely disappeared into the kitchen, shaking me out of my reverie. “Now let us see if that man has the heart to be helpful. I, at least, am hoping he has the backbone to be a present father.”
“Wendell, please. Quiet down and drink your tea,” Mom said, sounding exhausted from listening to Dad, who scowled in response.
Still, he sat himself down on the armchair adjacent to the couch and picked up his tea that had obviously gone cold after being left untouched for quite some time now. His tirade, however, continued, “How come I’m the only one who’s shocked and appalled by this?!”
“Because we already know even before, Wendell.”
Dad’s head turned towards Grandpa so quickly that I was almost sure he was close to breaking his neck. “What?!”
“Seriously… Your Dad can be quite dramatic,” Mom stage-whispered to me, and the remark managed to cut a few tendrils of fear and anxiousness that had taken complete residence inside my chest.
Dad then demanded. “How come you know and I didn’t?”
He turned to me, his gaze filled with betrayal and hurt. I slightly reeled back at the implied accusation, but Mom was quick to jump in my defense, saying, “We managed to learn the truth simply because we know how to put two and two together.”
Grandpa grunted his agreement.
I knew Mom found out during the Ascension Rite after seeing my reaction about the little moment with the ancestral sash. As for Grandpa, I actually had no idea he even had a clue.
But then again, Grandpa had always been a little too shrewd and too wise for comfort.
“I had a feeling since the very beginning. After all, there aren’t a lot of reasons for a wolf to turn their backs on their fated mate.”
He paused for a moment, shooting me a knowing gaze.
“I found it odd that suddenly, Gallahan Wick himself proposed a negotiation for a ceasefire. Then the parley happened. He had demanded to see Willa back then, thinking she was the Peacemakers’ second-in-command. Of course, she has been stripped of the position by then. But what solidified my guess was tonight’s Ascension Rite. He thought he was being completely furtive, but I saw him steal a glance at his wrists. Lo and behold, the twins’ names appeared and disappeared on his skin.”
Mom hummed and patted my clasped hands affectionately. Then she drew her own hands back to her lap as she said, “As for me, I had an inkling the moment I got a good look on Gallahan’s face. It was quite easy to see how Gillian’s eye shape is exactly like Gallahan’s. So is her nose. Calisto obviously had his hair and lips. Then Willa’s reaction to his ancestral sash being touched by another woman just put more weight to my guess.”
“I cannot believe this!” Dad exclaimed. “Does William know?”
The question was obviously directed at me, so I gave my Dad a nod. “He knew from the very beginning. Sarina knew too, and Lewis found out earlier.”
“So I was the only one in the dark,” Dad mumbled.
“But you were not deliberately left in the dark, dear,” Mom soothed.
Dad didn’t say anything more, which was something I was immensely grateful for. I could do with a bit of silence for at least a little while, because I was fairly certain Gallahan would come demanding explanations, and the cottage would inevitably erupt into another round of ruckus again.
As the quiet lingered in the air, I went back to staring at the door, hoping, wishing and praying that Gallahan would arrive. My legs bounced restlessly, while I abused my lips with my teeth, gnawing at the already raw and pinked flesh.
The wait was maddening, especially when my mind kept whispering the possibility that Gallahan might not come. That he might refuse to help me. Or that he would only help me if I give up the twins to him.
“Han, please,” I mumbled to myself as my index finger continued to harshly scratch and dig into the side of my thumbnail. “Please.”
I was nearly at my wit’s end. I was desperate. The fact that I would need to get into bed with Gallahan and complete my bond with him became the least of my concerns.
I just want to mend the severed parental blood link and save my children from their own inner wolves.
It almost felt like forever had gone by before someone finally knocked on the door.
“Gallahan.”