\[Serenity’s POV\]
Tristan’s words echo around me, causing the fear that was already beginning to build to grow and then bubble over.
My blood could change wolves into humans. My blood. How was something like this even possible, and what did that mean for my future?
“It’s amazing, right?” Tristan asks, breaking the silence that is falling around us. “You’re like this supreme goddess who can make or break the wolf world!”
Amazing. Ha! That was most certainly not a word that I would use in a situation like this. If anything, it was terrifying, not only because of what others could do if they found out, but also because of what my parents would do when they found out. With how overprotective my father already was, I was certain that he would insist on keeping me locked away, but that in itself would only draw more suspicion.
“We should head back and inform your father of my findings.” Tristan murmurs. “I’m sure he will come looking for you soon.”
“No!” I gasp, not wanting to tell him. “We can’t tell him!”
“Can’t?” Tristan repeats, furrowing his brows. “What do you mean we can’t?”
“If he finds out, he’ll definitely put a leash on me.”
I knew that I was probably asking a lot of Tristan here, but I just couldn’t reveal this.
“And how do you plan on explaining that man’s condition?” Tristan challenges. “He’s no longer a wolf, and soon enough, that is going to become clear. We can’t possibly…”
“Can’t there be a chance that maybe he found his humanity in his condition, and that was how he became like that?”
I knew that it was a farfetched explanation, but I was a desperate woman, and I didn’t want to be trapped in my home for the rest of my life.
“Please,” I continue, grabbing Tristan’s arms and lifting my gaze to his. “Please!” I repeat more firmly. “Don’t tell my father!”
“Don’t tell me what?”
Eyes widening, I slowly turn my gaze to the doorway to find my father standing there with his arms crossed and his gaze narrowed.
“Tell me,” he continues, beginning to move forward. “What exactly am I not supposed to know?”
As he speaks, his gaze shifts to where I still hold Tristan firmly. Noticing the same thing that I am, Tristan quickly shakes me off and scurries backwards.
“Alpha,” he says, his voice cracking from nervousness. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to hear my daughter begging you to not tell me something.” My father responds. “So, someone want to explain what that is about?”
“It’s…” Tristan begins, but stops as I cover his mouth.
“Nothing.” I say quickly, knowing good and well that there was no way he would believe me. “It’s really nothing.”
Goddess, what in the world was I even doing.
‘Just tell him the truth.’ Mahogany huffs, being the traitor that she is. ‘This isn’t something that needs to be hidden from others.’
‘But he will lock us away!’ I whine. ‘I won’t be able to continue my training or go to The Academy!’
The Academy was where all wolves of upper rank went when they were sixteen to begin preparing to take their parents places as leaders. How could I possibly not go? People already gave me a hard time because I was meant to be a female alpha. What would they think when I became a shut-in?
“Someone better start talking.” My father growls. “What the hell is going on?”
“I’m in love with Tristan!” I gasp before I can stop myself. “I’ve been in love with him since I was a child.”
‘What?’ Mahogany sputters. ‘Are you really going with that?’
‘Shut up.’
Pushing her aside, I turn my attention to my father and watch as he stares at me with an unreadable expression.
Dammit. Was he going to believe me? Was what I said too far-fetched?
Cursing myself for saying something so crazy, I look to Tristan, who is giving me a look of amusement that makes me want to smack him.
“No.” My father says slowly, his voice growing cold. “There’s no fucking way I’ll allow something like that.” As he speaks, he reaches out and grabs me, pulling me against his body. “What the hell do you think you’re doing trying to seduce my daughter under the pretense of testing?” He continues, laying into Tristan. “Do you think I won’t hesitate to throw you into the fucking dungeon?”
“Not at all.” Tristan responds. “How was I to know that your daughter was so infatuated with me? I assure you that my motives are purely for the sake of science.”
“And if that is the case, what have you discovered?”
Feeling my heart drop, I give Tristan a pleading look as his gaze shifts to me.
“She...” he says, lifting his eyes to my father’s once more. “Is normal.”
His words feel like a ton of bricks being lifted off of me. Thank the goddess; he was going along with me.
‘Thank you.’ I mouth as he sneaks a peek. ‘I owe you one.’
“Normal.” My father repeats. “Then what the hell is going on with that man?”
“That is yet to be determined.” Tristan explains. “There could be many reasons that he suddenly lost his wolf gene. Maybe it has something to do with rogues? We don’t know much about them since they usually stay in their own territories. If you’d like, I can do more testing to see if I can find a reason.”
More testing. He was making that man sound like he was an experiment instead of a human being.
‘That isn’t our concern.’ Mahogany huffs. ‘He tried to kill us, remember?’
‘Maybe,’ I agree.
I did know that he wasn’t my concern, but I couldn’t stop myself from feeling responsible for him. Was it because he was changed by my blood? I didn’t know, but I just couldn’t leave him alone.
“Do what you must.” My father sighs. “Serenity,” he continues, turning his gaze toward me. “Come along.”
“Yeah.” I respond, knowing that there was no arguing with him. “I’m coming.”
Giving Tristan one last look, I begin to follow my father as he makes his way out of the room and back down the hall to where the man in question remains.
When we arrive at our destination, his gaze comes to rest on me. Instantly, I feel something flare through me, and when his lips twitch into a smile, my heart skips a beat.
“You,” he says, moving before anyone can stop him. “Please allow me to dedicate my life to you. If it weren’t for you, I would still be in that painful darkness.”
“What?” I gasp as a snarl erupts from my father’s lips. “What are you talking about?”
‘You,” the man responds, lifting his large amber gaze to mine. “You are my goddess. When all was dark, you were the light that brought me back from that place. I am forever indebted to you for what you have done.”