Keifer POV

     The sun is behind the clouds when we pull up to the gates of the pack border. Opal is still sleeping soundly in my arms, and my dad is standing with his arms crossed over his chest.

     As the suburban comes to a stop, I carefully eye Ryk and Ezra standing beside my dad. None of them look happy to see us.

     My dad's own car sits parked, blocking the entrance to the pack.

    Ace is the first out of the car, running up to Ezra and offering him a fist bump. The red haired lycan tries to ignore the gesture for a minute before giving in, a reluctant smile on his face as they bump fists.

     "Got my daughter back." Ace tells them, and then adds to it by uttering under his breath. "At least what's left of her."

     It's my turn to get out, the faeries still sitting stone still in the front seats.

    I carry my sleeping mate to the small crowd, my jaw locked and keeping my face impassive.

     It's like there's a fire under my skin. I'm anxious and rearing to go, ready to get Opal behind those gates of protection and feed and bath her until she's good as new. That safety, I crave it, for her.

     But things aren't always that easy. We're about to go through a whole other ordeal that has very little to do with us.

     "This could've been avoided, Keifer. I hope you know that." My dad says, arms still folded, gaze locked on his mate's father who is still staying behind. They're likely preparing for what awaits them, what they're up against.

     "Trust me, I know. You think I enjoy bringing him here after all he's done?" My anger is hardly leashed, the rope holding my emotions in is disarray, fraying to mere threads.

     Ryk narrows his eyes on me, I ignore him, breathing deeply to try to calm my erratically beating heart.

      "I didn't mean him." Dad says, lowering his voice as the faeries exit the suburban and stalk forward. "Although that's certainly something to consider."

      So, he was talking about Opal then.

     I look down at her briefly. Purple smudges beneath her eyes, her cheekbones nearly slicing through her white snow skin.

     "Beau."

     "Alpha Veiler."

     At least my mother's father doesn't try to provoke the alpha beast before him, his head clear enough to know better.

     I'm not the only one that realizes that our beloved leader addresses the faerie with some air of familiarity. I already found out that dad tried to prevent this for years, scared it would hurt mom, but I don't know how much of it he passed on to the others.

     Ezra and Ryk don't seem shocked. They are, after all, his 3rd and 4th in command. It stands to reason that they would be well informed of everything going on.

     Savannah likely has known for as long as it's been going on. She's my Dads most trusted friend, and that's why she's not here. He always has her guard his mate, his most precious treasure.

     "And this must be your son?"  Dad asks as if he already knows the answer.

     I'm sure the pointed ears gave it away.

     "Yes, this is Lucien." Beau claps his son on the shoulder, smiling happily.

      Although the faerie is being careful around the powerful lycan king, he seems at ease, cheerful even.

      I suppose it makes sense. He gets to see his daughter after decades of watching her from afar.

     Opal shifts in my arms, whimpering uneasily in her sleep. I shush her, pulling her closer against my chest and securing her in my grip as I catch a few interested glances.

      I look at everyone around us, but shrink as I realize my father's gaze is latched on tight to me and my mate bundled up.

     Someone clears their throat, startling me slightly as I break from a showdown with my father. His steely red gaze always seems to win. Sometimes I wonder if I had been his biological son how different things would be. Would I be stronger? Would my gaze strike fear into anyone who got close enough?

     Everyone clambours back into the car, but my dad waves me forward to his own vehicle, and I know I'm in trouble.

      Judging by the purse of his lips and the line between his black eyebrows, he wants to talk.

     "Ryk, Ezra, go with Ace and the faeries. I need to talk to my son." Dad insists in that all mighty, alpha tone that leave no room for argument.

      It doesn't stop Ezra from rolling his eyes.

      Ace watches me intently, saying so much with his green eyes that I have no choice but to nod.

     I carry his slumbering daughter in my hands, and he doesn't trust me. I've done nothing to gain his trust. It breaks my heart, but I deserve that distrust. I've earned it.

     "Come on." Dad says, opening my door to his Toyota Forerunner, allowing me to slide into the passenger seat. I ease Opal down onto my lap, her head slanting against my shoulder as my dad carefully closes the door and rounds the car, shaking his head as he walks.

     When he clambours in, starting the engine and steering the wheel until we're adjacent to the road, he hardly even looks at me.

     "How long has she been asleep?" Dad asks, and I press my lips firmly together. I know where this is going.

     "A few hours." I respond lightly, staring out the window at the snow flecked trees . The white fluff sticks to the dark branches like glitzy glue.

     "Keifer..." He begins, already using a disapproving tone.

     "She's been through an ordeal, dad, she's allowed to sleep. Okay?" I demand, finally snapping my gaze to him, trying desperately to keep my voice down so I don't wake Opa up from her deep slumber.

     She needs the rest.

     Dad doesn't say anything for awhile, the only sound is the thick tires kicking up ice and salt and dirt, likely creating a sludgy mess in its wake.

     I'm unlucky, because the pack is big which means the drive is long, I won't come out unscathed.

     "She doesn't look good, son." Dad breathes into the silence, and I cringe. I don't need reminding, but there it is.

     "You don't think I know that?"

     "Don't get so defensive. Im just trying to get to the best solution here." He says, gripping the wheel and shooting me a quick, almost nervous glance.

     "And what might that be?" I ask, taking a moment to enjoy the feeling of her warmth in my arms. I tuck a stray piece of hair behind her pale ear and press a kiss to her cheek.

     "Well, I assume you know that you'll have to be gentle with her. Give her time to heal, mentally and physically. She'll need privacy."

      I growl, an involuntary sound.

     "I won't leave her side again." I bark, hating the way Opal flinches away from my harshness, even in her sleep.

     Dad shoots me an unimpressed look.

     "I meant from the pack. I've set up a small home for the two of you. It will allow the two of you to grow closer, and give her some well deserved space from the others." He explains, and I'm momentarily shocked.

     A home, a home for Opal and I. All to ourselves. Alone.

      "Where? What house?" My curiosity gets the better of me.

      There are several empty houses around the pack lands. I can think of a few that would suite our needs, and I hope dad made a good decision.

      "Eastern pack lands, the one near Ace's house. Two stories, three beds, two bath." He sighs, and I'm picturing the little blue house in my head already. "Figured Ace would want her nearby. You have some groveling to do."

     I chuckle humorously, bringing Opal's hand up to my mouth to press her fingers against my lips.

     "I know. It'll take awhile to earn his favor and respect. I'm lucky she doesn't hate me as much as he does."

     "Does she?" He asks.

     "Does she what?" I counter.

     "Does she hate you?"

     I pause, mulling over my response as dad turns the car, getting closer and closer to his house with each passing tree.

     "No. I don't think she does, but maybe she does deep down and just doesn't know it." I say, memorizing her face as she breaths evenly, gently. So delicate that she could shatter at any moment. "She should though. Even when I try my best, it still isn't what she deserves."

    Dad is silent, his mouth working before he opens it again to speak.

     "And what does she deserve?"

     "Goddess, everything. She deserves everything. She deserves the whole damn world."

      "Then work hard to make it happen. I know you can make her happy. You're well on your way already."

      I look over to see that my dad is smiling as he pulls up in front of our home, parking the car and ripping the key from the ignition.

☾❂ ☾❂ ☾❂ ☾❂ ☾❂ ☾❂ ☾❂ ☾❂ ☾❂ ☾❂ ☾❂ ☾❂☾❂

Hi 🧍🏻‍♀️