Chapter 23 Slap of Duty
Calix Pov
The pack house great hall was massive. High ceilings. Stone walls. Tapestries hanging everywhere showing our pack's history. Battles. Victories. Alphas from generations past staring down with judgment.
I hated this place. Hated the weight of it. Hated what it represented. Duty. Tradition. Sacrifice. Everything I was supposed to be but wasn't.
My father sat at the head of the long table. Alpha Hawthorne. Leader of the Crescent Pack. My blood. My curse. The man who made my life a prison.
He was reviewing documents. Signing papers. Doing Alpha business. Didn't even look up when I walked in.
"Father," I said. My voice echoed in the empty hall. "We need to talk."
"I'm busy," he said. Still not looking up. "Make an appointment with my secretary."
"This can't wait," I said. I walked closer. Stood on the other side of the table. "It's about Simone."
That got his attention. He looked up. Set down his pen. Leaned back in his chair. "What about Simone?"
"I won't marry her," I said. Clear. Firm. Final. "I refuse the betrothal."
Silence. My father stared at me. His face was blank. Unreadable. Then slowly his expression darkened.
"Excuse me?" he said. His voice was quiet. Dangerous.
"You heard me," I said. "I won't marry Simone. I don't love her. I don't want her. The betrothal is off."
"The betrothal is not off," my father said. He stood up. Walked around the table. "It was arranged when you were children. It's been decided. It's final."
"I don't care," I said. "I'm not doing it."
"You don't have a choice," my father said. He was right in front of me now. Taller. Broader. More intimidating. "You're the Alpha's son. You have responsibilities. Obligations."
"I have a mate," I said. The words came out before I could stop them. "I found my mate. That changes everything."
My father's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
"That doesn't matter," I said. "What matters is I'm not marrying Simone. The Moon Goddess gave me a mate. That's sacred. That's final."
"Your mate," my father said slowly. "Is it that wolfless girl? The new transfer?"
I didn't answer. Didn't need to. My face probably gave it away.
He turned away. Walked back to his chair. "You will marry Simone. You will fulfill your duty. That's the end of this discussion."
"No," I said. Louder. "It's not. I refuse."
My father turned back. His face was red now. Angry. "You refuse? You think you can refuse me?"
"Yes," I said. Standing my ground. "I'm not a child anymore. You can't force me to marry someone I don't want."
"Can't I?" my father asked. He walked back over. Got right in my face. "You seem to forget who I am. What I can do."
"I don't forget," I said. "But I also don't care. I'm not marrying Simone. Find someone else."
That's when he hit me. His hand flew across my face. Hard. Fast. The slap echoed through the hall. Loud. Sharp. My head jerked to the side. Pain exploded across my cheek.
I touched my face. It was hot. Stinging. I could taste blood in my mouth. Bit my tongue when he hit me.
"You will marry Simone," my father said. His voice was ice. "Or I will make your life pure hell. And anyone you care about? I'll make their lives hell too."
Threat. Clear. Direct. He knew about Maddie. Knew I cared about her. Was threatening to hurt her if I didn't comply.
"You wouldn't," I said. But I knew he would. My father didn't make empty threats.
"Try me," my father said. "Refuse this betrothal. See what happens to that girl. See what accidents start happening around her."
My blood went cold. He was threatening to kill her. To hurt her. To make her disappear.
"She has nothing to do with this," I said. "Leave her out of it."
"Then marry Simone," my father said simply. "Honor your betrothal. Do your duty. Then I have no reason to touch her."
I was trapped. Completely trapped. If I refused he'd hurt Maddie. If I agreed I'd lose her anyway. There was no winning. No way out.
"Why?" I asked. "Why does it have to be Simone? Why can't I choose?"
"Because the beta's daughter strengthens our alliance," my father said. "Because it's good for the pack. Because I said so."
"That's not good enough," I said.
"It's going to have to be," my father said. He walked back to his chair. Sat down. Picked up his pen. "Now get out. I have work to do."
"Father please," I said. Hating how desperate I sounded. "Please don't do this."
"I'm not doing anything," my father said. Not looking up. "You're the one making this difficult. All you have to do is marry Simone. Simple. Easy. Problem solved."
"I can't," I said. "She's not my mate. I can't marry her."
"You can and you will," my father said. "Or your mate will suffer. Her choice really. Marry Simone and she lives. Refuse and she dies. Which do you prefer?"
I stood there. Shaking. Furious. Helpless. My cheek still stung from the slap. My heart was pounding. My wolf was snarling.
"I hate you," I said quietly.
"Good," my father said. "Hate me all you want. Just do what I say."
I turned. Walked toward the door. Each step felt heavy. Wrong. Like I was walking away from everything that mattered.
"Calix," my father called. I stopped. Didn't turn around. "The wedding is in six months. Right after graduation. Start preparing."
Six months. I had six months to figure this out. Six months to find a way out. Six months before I lost everything.
I left the great hall. Walked out into the cold air. My face was throbbing. My chest was tight. Everything hurt.
My wolf was raging. "We should kill him. Challenge him. Take the pack by force."
"We'd lose," I said. "He's stronger. More experienced. More ruthless."