Chapter 44: Vampire visitors 2

\-Anelia’s point of view-

Standing beside Lucien, I watched as the Red Sun vampires stepped onto our territory, my expression steady even as tension quietly coiled in the air around us.

Despite myself, my attention kept settling on one man among them. He carried himself with authority, the kind that did not need to be announced because it was simply understood. There was pride in the way he moved, in the way the others positioned themselves around him without being told.

When his eyes met mine, something shifted. There was no hesitation in his gaze, no confusion, only a certainty that told me he recognized me

Just that alone, and I knew without needing anyone to confirm it.

That man was my father.

It was impossible to ignore how striking he was. He looked refined and elegant and he appeared young, no older than a man in his late twenties, though I knew that was far from the truth.

There was something timeless about him, something almost deceptive in that youthful exterior.

Perhaps we shared certain features, the same sharp lines, the same inherited traits that shaped my own appearance. But whatever resemblance existed between us did nothing to soften the danger that radiated from him.

No matter how composed he looked, no matter how polished his smile might be, I reminded myself of one thing.

This was the man who made me suffer all through my life without once showing his face to me.

So if he believed blood alone entitled him to anything from me, he would find no such favor here.

The vampires slowly took in their surroundings, their faces twisting with open disgust probably due to the scent of werewolves in the air.

The werewolves did not hide their own feelings either. Their eyes gleamed gold as they watched the approaching vampires, bodies tense and ready. They were prepared for a fight if it came, and they had every reason to be.

While I might not know anything about that clan, it was abundantly clear that they harbored a dark and ruthless reputation.

They could not be trusted.

If their leader doesn't care about his own flesh and blood, then he definitely does not care about anything else.

I pulled myself from my thoughts as the vampires drew closer to where we stood. The werewolf warriors quickly moved into position beside us, forming a protective line in case things turned hostile.

My father’s expression shifted to surprise when he saw me, followed by something almost curious. But it disappeared just as quickly, replaced by his usual composed authority as his gaze moved from me to Lucien.

“Alpha Lucien Draven,” he began, his tone formal but edged with tension. “I can’t say it’s an honor to see you.”

Lucien gave a brief nod, his expression unreadable. “Likewise,” he replied calmly.

My father looked at me again, his voice steady. “I’m sure you know why I’m here, my child. You vanished without a word. We searched for you and found nothing. In time, we believed you were gone, and we even held a memorial in your name. Imagine my surprise when I learned you were alive, living in the Nightfall Pack. More surprising still was discovering that you are the mate of our sworn enemy.”

“How did you learn that?” Lucien asked before I could respond.

My father barely reacted. “That’s irrelevant,” he said dismissively. “What matters is that I am here to take my daughter home. There is no need for unnecessary formalities, and we certainly do not require a welcoming party.”

A quiet scoff left Lucien’s lips. When I glanced at him, I saw a side of him I rarely witnessed. His eyes had turned cold, stripped of warmth, and filled with open hostility as they fixed on my father.

My father met that stare without flinching. The tension between them was unmistakable, sharp and deeply rooted.

“A welcoming party? Unnecessary formalities?” Lucien replied evenly. “Since you prefer directness, I’ll be clear. You will not be leaving with my mate.”

My father’s brow tightened as he looked at me again. “Amelia, you are a vampire,” he said, disappointment clear in his voice. “It is unfortunate that you have chosen to live among these monsters. This is not where you belong. This is not your home.”

“And where exactly is my home?” I snapped, unable to hold back my anger. “The dungeon where you kept me locked away my entire life? Why on earth would I willingly return to that wretched place I escaped from? Don’t presume, just because I spent my life in that dungeon, that I’m naive enough to follow you back there!”

He fell silent for a moment, studying me before speaking again. “Everything I did was for your safety, Amelia. You should come back with me. I am the only one who can protect you.”

“Protect her from what?” Luc asked evenly, his voice steady as he cut into the tension. I looked between them, waiting for an answer.

My father's expression hardened as he shot a penetrating glare at Luc. "You underestimate the forces at play, Alpha Lucuen. Do you truly believe that having her as your mate is a blessing? It might very well be your curse. For your own well-being, surrender my daughter to me. I am the only one capable of managing her."

His words stirred something uneasy inside me.

“Managing her?” Luc repeated with quiet disbelief. “What exactly does that mean, Mr. Moore? And why was she locked in a dungeon?”

"That is none of your concern,” my father replied sharply. “I have every right to raise my daughter as I see fit. Now return her to me so we may leave.”

“And what if she chooses to stay?” Luc asked calmly, his composure unshaken in contrast to my father’s rising anger.

I let out a quiet sigh, the last of my hope for a peaceful outcome fading. Luc had arranged seats and tried to make this meeting civil, but it was obvious my father had not come for conversation. He looked uneasy standing in werewolf territory, and the tension in the air was steadily building.

My father’s eyes darkened, a faint red glow breaking through as his anger rose. “She is coming with me.”

Luc did not react to the outburst. “If she chooses not to go,” he replied calmly, “I will not force her.”

I looked from Luc, steady and composed, to my father, whose gaze now rested heavily on me.

“We are your family, Amelia,” he said, his tone shifting. “Come back with me and I will make things right. No more confinement. No more isolation. You will live with your true family. This is not where you belong. Come home.”

For a brief moment, the offer sounded almost comforting.

But how could I trust him? He had locked me away without explanation and never once gave me a reason to understand why. I never knew whether he cared for me or resented me. He was simply distant, as though I had lost him long before I ever truly had him.

How was I supposed to believe him now?

I shook my head, steady and certain. “I don’t want to go with you.”

I hoped this was clear enough to convey my desire for him to leave my life once and for all.