Chapter 35: FAMILIARITY

Alpha Leonard   POV

Her feet shook, though not in the sense of her actually standing and then toppling over. It was more from her near lack of knowledge about so many things—great things. She was, for lack of a better word, shaky and untrustworthy.

But was it her fault?

No.

I knew enough about her—if not everything.

“Tell me,” I said, walking over to my desk and slowly lowering myself into my seat. “As strategic as your life is, why so indecisive about things?”

“Is this about my loyalty?” she asked hesitantly.

“I don’t know what you want from me,” she said after a pause. “You’ve told me enough to know you’re not going to do anything about her. Why wouldn’t you? And yet, at the same time…”

“Leave.” I gestured to the door.

She hesitated for a moment before walking unsteadily toward the door. I could see it, even from where I sat—the way she sighed as she began her retreat.

The question remained: What was I going to do about her?

She was, without a doubt, a liability. The worst part about it was that she didn’t even know how much of a liability she was. I couldn’t explain it to her either. She would have to figure it out on her own.

Had I made the wrong choice?

The rest of the day came and went far too quickly. Eventually, I left the mansion and headed to the Great Hall for a meeting with the Elders.

“Rose,” said General Lysander, with Alistair seated beside him. The latter eyed me with barely veiled contempt. Still, I knew enough about them to understand that their disdain wasn’t entirely directed at me.

“It’s her father,” Lysander said. “I think you might want to talk to him.”

“What now?” I frowned, feeling frustration building inside me. As though the day hadn’t been difficult enough already.

“If I say he’s causing trouble, that’s an understatement. But I think it’s best if you have a conversation with him. He’s currently apprehended,” Lysander explained. “He’s the first—none other than the leader of the ungodly trio: Mario, Ferdinand, Steven, and of course, Mario.”

“In my opinion, justice should be swift when dealing with him,” Mario continued, oblivious to the disgust his voice often elicited in me. He reached up to his receding hairline and began placing—or perhaps replacing—stray strands of hair.

I was convinced his blood must have thinned out at some point in the past centuries. Werewolves like my kind rarely aged in the traditional sense. Our genetics ensured that we didn’t deteriorate with time; rather, we aged like fine wine. Mario, on the other hand, was aging like milk.

Some suspected he was on something—something bad, dysfunctional, and destructive. Not that I cared. I didn’t give a damn.

“And so, what exactly do you propose we do about her father?” I asked. “Kill him?”

“Oh, nothing of the sort.” Mario raised his hands nervously, a chuckle escaping his lips. “Merely that I wish something more permanent be done to his… disposition,” he said, inclining his head in a mockery of respect.

“Which is?”

“You know what I hate, friendly Mario?” I asked, raising three fingers and pointing at him and his company. “You lot. You cannot seem to understand one undeniable fact that rings true, no matter how many times you wish to subvert it.”

I leaned forward onto the desk.

“You talk all you want, dragging processes along. But none of you seem to offer solutions. Don’t get me wrong—identifying the problem is one thing. But always having no lack of solutions or ideas is a clear signal that you are, perhaps, regressing.”

His eyes widened in surprise, his cheeks turning pink as sweat gathered on his forehead. The light above made his skin glisten, exaggerating the shine. It was evident that I’d struck a nerve. Mario didn’t seem to have it in him to continue the conversation.

“I received word,” I said. “Michaela and Griffin…” I began tapping my fingers on the table.

“Gavin?” I turned to my Beta.

“Quite right,” he replied. “They’ve extended invitations to come. They insist they must speak with you in person. Forgive me, but I find their demands incredibly imprudent.” He frowned, closing his eyes briefly in frustration.

“Tell them I’ll accept,” I said.

“Why?” Steven raised his hand. “Are they not part and parcel of the enemy? Why agree to meet with their ilk?”

I shrugged.

“Because,” I smiled, “they are Elders. At least in name. If they aim to negotiate on that basis, well… why not think of the possibilities? Besides, if I’m going to start a war, I need to send a message.”

The room fell into an uneasy silence, the air thick with tension. Finally, Thorn burst into laughter.

“That’s quite funny,” he said, smacking his hand on the table. “I thought you said you’d send a message for war!”

I frowned, keeping my expression even as I looked at him. Slowly, comically, his smile faltered.

“Oh my goodness, you’re serious,” he muttered, cocking his head to one side.

“Have I ever joked before this Council?” I asked. “Thorn, don’t get too familiar.”

My frown deepened as I rose to my feet.

“If there’s nothing more to say…” I gestured for my Beta. “Lead the way.”

The journey to the basement of the Great Hall was short and silent. The Great Hall served many purposes—one of which was as a prison for those close to the capital city.

Rose’s father was locked up in one of the less-guarded cells, periodically smacking his hand against the reinforced iron bars. By the time he noticed me, he stepped several paces back. His thin bottom lip trembled with fear, or perhaps anxiety.

“I didn’t know you would come,” he stammered. “I was expecting Rose…” He stepped further back.

“I’m sorry,” he added quickly.

“If you want to see your daughter, I’ll call her easily enough,” I said, shoving my hand into my pocket. I saw no need for intimidation games with this one.

“She wouldn’t see me,” he murmured.

“But why wouldn’t she?”

He was, for lack of a better word, a deadbeat father.

“She wouldn’t answer,” he mumbled again. “I tried—I’ve done everything I could, but she doesn’t…” He shook his head, his eyes strangely filling with tears.

“I feel she’s becoming like her mother. She’s going to leave me too, and I don’t blame her. I was going to do this finally before… You know, I want to end it.”

His eyes met mine, filled with a strange but potent emotion—the strongest I had ever seen someone like him exhibit.

Interesting, I thought, my lips stretching into a smile.