Chapter 38: CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT - COMPROMISE

MONA'S POV

“What is happening?” My father asked me,  looking from Luka's face to mine.

“I was just in the process of having Luka kicked out,” I replied bluntly, folding my arms as I looked at him.

“Why? What is going on?” he asked again as the guards let go of Luka, allowing him to straighten himself up.

“I called things off with Luka and he came here to try and change my mind,” I said with a shrug.

“You called things off with him? Are you with Aster now?” My father asked, turning to me expectantly.

“Nope, things are over with both of them.” I said coolly, “I would not be picking a mate from either of them.”

My father looked at me for a second, like he was waiting for me to break into a smile and show him that I was joking.

News flash, I wasn't.

“What do you mean by that?” he asked me, not seeming to enjoy what he was hearing.

“I mean, I am no longer interested in doing any of this, you can pick a random guy in the pack as my mate, but I will not be choosing any of them,” I said, pointing at Luka who gave me an exasperated look.

“Why?” My father asked me, seeming concerned and I shrugged

“Luka, you can leave now,” he said, not even glancing at him.

Luka gave me one last look before, walking out of the house, leaving me and my father alone.

“So what was all that about?” he asked, stepping closer to me as I folded my arms.

“I meant what I said dad, I don’t want to be involved with either of those guys.”

“And I want to know why. Don’t you know that they are the only people I can allow to be Alpha after me?” he asked, seeming annoyed.

“So what does that mean? Does that mean that even if I tell you how they make me feel you will still make me choose from them?”

“Tell me what they did then, and if it’s something important, I will speak with their father,” he replied and I paused, sighing deeply.

“They keep treating me like I am a parcel to be won and it is suffocating,” I expressed and he gave me a blank look.

“Is that all?” 

What the hell?

“Is that the only reason you don’t want them anymore?” he asked me, walking over to the couch.

“Well.. yeah,” why did he say that like it wasn’t important.

“If it is, then I am sorry to inform you that it is not good enough,”

“Wow dad, you should really win father of the year,” I observed sarcastically.

“I don’t think you understand how important your decision is to this pack Mona,” he said with a serious look and I rolled my eyes.

“I understand that I need to choose an Alpha and all I am saying is that things aren’t going well with the men you have selected for me and I would like a do over, is that really too much to ask for?”

“I don’t care about what you want right now Mona?!” my father suddenly yelled at me, making me flinch in shock.

Was he serious right now? 

He sighed, seeing my reaction, “I didn’t mean it that way, but you need to understand how unreasonable your request is, we have less than three months to your birthday and I am growing weaker each day. So how do you expect me to find a new person for you to choose from that would be good enough to lead this pack after I am gone within that time?!!” he reasoned and I bit my lower lip, fighting the tear that threatened to fall from my eyes.

I hated that he was right.

My request was unreasonable but still I—

“Mona?” he called me suddenly, cutting through my thoughts.

“You are my daughter and I know that I don’t show it enough but I love you,”he said, making my heart soften as I looked up into his sincere eyes.

“You may not be aware, but the rogues have been making slight attacks, threatening to destroy our border and attack this pack. We would not be able to hold them off much longer, especially now that my body is slowing down. We are going to need a strong Alpha to take my place and I believe that Aster and Luka are capable of that, so the only thing that I am asking from you is to pick  one of them for me,” he said, looking into my eyes and making me feel sober.

“I just can’t dad, being with them is too exhausting,” I said pleadingly. 

“Stop being selfish for once in your life Mona and make a fucking choice!!!” he yelled at me suddenly, his green eyes blazing at mine and I stared back at him, unable to believe what I had just heard.

“Wow, dad,” I said, stepping backwards. “I guess my feelings have never mattered to you, you brought me back only because of what you had to gain,” I said, feeling tears roll down my eyes.

“Mona… I—”

“Just forget it, I will make a choice. Who cares what I want anyway?” I said sarcastically as I stepped away from him and walked away.

I woke up the next morning with red eyes. I had slept in my prom gown after crying through the night. As I sat up, I walked towards the table where my mother’s ashes were placed and sat in front of it.

“Hey mum,” I said, trying not to cry again.

“So… I hate my life, and somehow as poor as we were, I think our life was so much simpler,” I said, stroking the jar slowly.

“And I miss you mum,” I said, feeling my eyes water again. “Maybe if you were here right now, things wouldn’t be so confusing.”

Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door.

Sighing deeply, I wiped my face and stood up to open the door, only to find my father standing outside.

“I want to apologize for yesterday,” he said soberly, looking into my eyes.

I did not need to hear this right now, I thought, holding back from rolling my eyes. 

“So you want to listen to me now?” I asked him and he smiled.

“I have thought of a way to compromise for you,” he said and my eyebrows went up in shock.