77

77


Jane

The ride home felt endless. My mind was spinning with worried thoughts, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was waiting for me. Vishal kept squeezing my hand gently, trying to comfort me and let me know everything would be okay.

I tried to smile for him, but my heart felt heavy with dread. He didn’t understand what my father was really like. He didn’t know how cruel and manipulative the man could be.

This sudden call to come home and take over as beta - I knew there had to be more to it than that.

Now, with Vishal beside me, I had to pretend everything was fine. I had to act like I’d forgiven my father. But how could I be nice to someone who had treated me so badly?

What if he tried to hurt me again - or hurt Vishal? These thoughts kept eating at me, making me more anxious as we got closer to home.

When we finally arrived at my old pack territory, nothing had changed. Everything looked exactly the same as when I’d left years ago. On our way to the beta house, we ran into Lissa and her friends.

“Oh, look who decided to come back,” Lissa said with a nasty smile.

I kept walking, trying to ignore her. I wasn’t here to fight with anyone, especially not with someone like her.

But Vishal stepped forward, ready to defend me.

“Oh, you finally found someone just like you,” Tara, one of Lissa’s friends, sneered. “You two are perfect together. I’m so glad the Alpha King rejected you. Who would want a weak girl like you anyway? I guess you found another weak wolf to be your boyfriend.”

Anger burned inside me. I wanted to show them exactly how wrong they were about me being weak. I was about to attack, but my mate held me back.

“Why won’t you let me teach them a lesson?” I asked him through our mind link. “Why?”

“Don’t pay attention to them,” he replied calmly. “We’re here for something important. Don’t let them make you angry enough to fight.”

“Oh! Did you think about attacking us?” Celine mocked. “I’d love to teach you a lesson, you weak, pathetic girl. You’re a disgrace to this pack. Your mate rejected you. Your father threw you out. Nobody here wants you.”

I ignored their cruel words and kept walking toward the beta house with Vishal. When I knocked on the door, my mother opened it with a warm, loving smile.

“It’s so good to see you again, my precious daughter,” she stated, pulling me into a tight hug. “Welcome home.”

“How are you, Mom?” I hugged her back, feeling her motherly love.

It had been so long since we’d seen each other. I had missed her terribly. But as I looked at her, I noticed something that worried me. My mother looked so thin and tired.

“Mom, what’s wrong?” I asked, concerned. “Why do you look so thin? Are you eating enough?”

“Nothing’s wrong, sweetheart. I’m fine. I’m just so happy to see you again after all this time.”

I could see her looking curiously at Vishal. I knew she was wondering who he was.

“Mom, this is my mate, Vishal,” I announced. “Vishal, this is my mother.”

“Oh my goodness! The Moon Goddess blessed you with a second chance mate!” she exclaimed joyfully. “Praise the Moon Goddess! I’m so happy for you, my darling daughter.”

“What’s all this noise about?” my father’s voice boomed as he came outside. “Why are you screaming like that?”

“Come here! Come meet your daughter’s mate!” my mother called out excitedly. “Look how strong and handsome he is!”

“Whose daughter’s mate?” my father asked suspiciously. When he saw Vishal, his expression darkened. “Who are you, young man?”

“This is my mate, Vishal,” I introduced him, trying to keep my voice steady.

“You must be joking,” my father said coldly. “He can’t be your mate.”

“Why would I joke about this? This is my mate, Beta,” I said as calmly as I could.

I was grinding my teeth in anger. I didn’t want to lose my temper in front of Vishal, but my father was already starting his games.

“You have no sense when it comes to men,” my father shouted. “This boy can’t be your mate. I need to speak with you privately. Now.”

“Why are you acting like this?” my mother stepped in. “This is her second chance that the goddess gave her. Stay out of this. I won’t let you ruin her life again.”

“Shut your mouth and stay out of this!” my father snapped at her. “I’m talking to my daughter. You have no right to interfere.”

“Mom, it’s okay,” I responded, not wanting things to get worse. “Let’s go talk, Beta.” I turned to Vishal, kissed him softly, and told him I’d be right back.

My father and I walked into his private office. The same office where he’d hurt me so many times before.

“Sit down,” he said, pointing to a chair.

“I called you here because I want you to become the beta of this pack. Your people need you. And you’re going to reject that pathetic mate of yours.”

My heart stopped. “What? You want me to reject my mate so I can be a female beta? Are you insane? I will never reject my mate for anyone or anything. I won’t let you or this pack destroy my happiness again. You already disowned me as your daughter. This pack already rejected me.”

“You know I’m a tough man, and you need to understand me. Don’t expect any apologies from me. You should be mature enough now to know the difference between personal feelings and what’s best for your family and people,” he said coldly.

I couldn’t believe how shameless he was being.

“This pack has been fine without me as beta, and they’ll continue to be fine. I don’t have to sacrifice my happiness for them,” I told him firmly. “I won’t sacrifice my happiness for your people.”

“You’re being unreasonable, and it’s all because of that useless mate of yours. He’s done nothing but poison your mind and change you for the worse,” my father yelled. “Reject him now. I want you to be with the Alpha King. He is your true mate. Your fated one.”

“I will never listen to you. You mean nothing to me,” I cried out. “I won’t sacrifice my happiness, and I won’t reject my mate because of you. You’re not my father anymore. Vishal fixed my broken heart when that bastard destroyed me. He was there for me when you abandoned me to suffer alone.”

“What are you talking about? That rejection happened long ago. Now the Alpha King wants you back. You should stop playing hard to get and go back to the man who is your fated mate. The both of you were blessed by the Goddess, and you shouldn’t ruin that by choosing some nobody over the Alpha King,” he declared, slamming his fist on the desk.

“Reject that loser now, or there will be hell to pay. I will make your life miserable if you don’t obey me.”

“And why should I do that? Tell me!” I demanded. “Who are you to tell me to reject my mate?”

“I have every right to tell you to reject him. I have the right to choose for you because I’m your father.”

“I’m disowning you right now as my father,” I said with a bitter smile. “Go to hell, you cruel old ugly man.”

I stood up, furious and hurt. “I came home because you said you were dying. But clearly, you’re healthy enough to fight with me and try to control my life. All you wanted was to destroy my new life and my happiness. I won’t let that happen.”

“All I’m trying to do is what’s best for you and the Alpha King. I won’t let your stupid decisions ruin everything,” my father said coldly. “You won’t be able to run away from the Alpha King anymore. He already knows you’re here.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

How could the Alpha King already know I was here? I had just arrived. How was that possible?

Suddenly, I heard shouting and commotion outside. I rushed out to see what was happening.

My mate and my mother were already outside, and there in our yard stood the Alpha King with his bodyguards. My heart sank as I realized the truth. This was all a trap. My father had set me up again.

“Long time no see, little mate,” the Alpha King said with a cruel smile. “Did you miss me?”