It's a week before Christmas and we were out of school for the holidays. I felt like a little girl again. All excited and bubbly. It has always been Mom, Clara, and I on the holidays, but after finding out my dad is still alive, the little girl in me is thrilled. I've always wondered what it was like to have a dad playing Santa on Christmas day. I didn't expect him to actually dress up as Santa, but the thought was nice. If I'm honest with myself, having my complete family around has always been on my mind. I've always wondered why mom didn't remarry. I know the reason now and I understand it, but I didn’t like that I had been lied to. Mom was still trying to make up for her lie, but she doesn't realize that I've forgiven her for it. And I didn't exactly tell her either. Who was I to pass up her award winning gingerbread man cookies? 

As I munch on one, I couldn't help dancing in my seat. They were always so good. Mom probably put her everything into them too. Her detailed decorations on them were professional and cute. I should tell her though. "Maybe after Christmas." I bit into my treat once more. This time kicking my feet to get the porch swing going. 

The blissfulness of my wandering thoughts ended with the echoing, brisk steps of my dad stomping up the concrete steps. Normally, he would see me, smile, and chat with me, trying to get mom's current mood out of me, but judging by the look on his face and his non-subtle way of not acknowledging me, I knew something was wrong. I never seen him look that serious or angry before. 

Halfway to the door, I had shoved and chewed the remaining piece of my cookie into my mouth. The moment I pulled the door open, I heard dad calling for mom. Following her reply, I found them both standing just outside the kitchen.  

“He knows, Maya.” Dad stalked beside mom.

The confused expression on her face reflected mine. “Who, Romulus? And will you calm down? You know I can’t understand you when you’re pacing around like a bear.”

He shot her a frown, which she promptly returned along with narrowed eyes. Running a hand through his hair, he looked at me. His eyes were full of fear drawing me closer. “Emperor Conrí knows about Amelia.”

Dread morphed my mother’s face. That alone alerted me to the severity of the situation. I just didn’t understand how bad the consequences were for my dad breaking some rule made by a king. 

“He won’t come here, will he?” Mom looked at Dad. “We have to hide her.” Hervoice shook with rising panic. 

Dad slipped his arm around her waist, moving to her side and rubbing her back. Concern flickered across his face, but his voice held anger. “He won’t come here. Don’t worry about that.” He held up an envelope. “He summoned me instead. This letter is my order to appear in front of him.”

Mom snatched the letter, which was on the other side of the envelope. Unfolding it, because it was a bit crumpled, her eyes read over its contents. 

“He wants me to bring our daughter, but there’s no way I’m risking Amelia’s life.” A low growl left him.

Mom lowered the letter. Her face is a mixture of emotions. I half expected her to burst out in angry shouts and cusses, all thrown at Dad. Instead tears formed in her eyes. “This can’t be happening,”she whispered.

We both heard her, but it was dad who turned around and punched the wall, causing us to jump where we stood. His shoulders were tense and I could feel myself wanting to shirk away from him. I did take a step back and look at the ground. I didn’t know what else to do. I heard him pulling his fist from the wall. 

“I guess I’m going out to kill an emperor. Shouldn’t be that hard. The man isn’t that good in a fight.”

His words had me looking up. I might not understand the way things are done in the supernatural world very well, but I did know that trying to kill an emperor wasn't a good thing nor was it as easy as he was making it sound. The emperor was on top for a reason. Dad could get himself killed and I’ll lose him again.

“You’re talking about treason against the Crown, Trevino,” Lucian made his way toward us. 

I didn’t hear him come in. Why was he here? We had planned to meet up later in the week. 

"What am I supposed to do?" He spinned around. His eyes were glowing amber balls of rage. "Present her before him like she's a criminal walking to her death?"

Lucian stopped next to me, but I noticed he stood a step ahead of me. "That's not what I'm saying, Alpha. The consequences of not answering that order could mean death by ripping your heart out."

"What are you talking about? The emperor wouldn't deheart a direct heir from the Trevino bloodline," he said through clenched teeth. 

Lucian shook his head. "You've been out of touch with the way the Emperor does things now. He's changed things years ago. The Cutler Bloodline was wiped out not long after you disappeared and the Lykaios Bloodline had been attacked by a group they couldn't remember. Emperor Conrí tightened rules and made adjustments. Not answering his summons can be an one way ticket to death if your reason isn't up to his standards. You have to go, and Amelia does too." 

That had my heart racing as I looked at mom, and then dad. I wasn't liking the way things were turning. Much less, this emperor. He sounded like a tyrant and they usually weren't good people. 

"No!" The growl shook the house as dad started pacing again. "She goes nowhere near him. Not Amelia and not my mate." 

Lucian dropped his gaze and locked his hands behind his back. He didn't move from near me. "If you don't go, he will send someone here. You could be putting your mate and my mate at risk. I should have told you, but at the time, I didn't want any of you to worry. I saw someone the night Amelia first shifted. I had been following him, but he tricked me off his trail." 

"So? You chasing some stray has nothing to do with this." 

"It does. Four days after that night, he let me find him. He knew about me and Amelia and had been watching us for a long time. The wolfhound informed me that I was to bring Amelia because he knew you wouldn't. Reading between the lines of his warning to me from the emperor, he threatened to make my life hell. I couldn't do that to my pack or Amelia. I won't risk my mate's life, but I won't make her a fugitive unless I have to either." 

"The Emperor's gaueko was here." He growled again, clenching his hands. He cussed and turned around, starting pacing once more while running his hands through his hair.

A what now? I looked between the two while searching my memories. I couldn't remember if dad had mentioned however-you-pronounce-that-creature's name. 

"He sent out the big dogs and I don't know how word about Amelia got out to him. What I do know is death awaits us if we don't go." Lucian paused before adding, "Or worse."

"What's worse than death?" I couldn't stop the question from slipping past my lips. 

Lucian looked at me. His eyes softened. "Eternal solitary confinement and the loss of our mate." 

The loud sound had us looking back at Dad. He punched another hole in the wall. It was next to the first one and I couldn't help throwing a look at mom. I just knew she was going to have a freaking cow about her walls. I wasn't even allowed near them with dirty fingers as a girl, but here Dad was making holes. 

I found myself frowning when I saw that she had her arms wrapped around her. Her gaze was downward, off to the side. It was a defeated look if I ever saw one and I didn't like seeing it. She was so strong. If this kind of news did this to her, did we even have a choice? 

Silence darkened the room, leaving us all to our thoughts. I couldn't let dad go all the way across the world and get himself killed. And I didn't want Lucian getting hurt. Or going through whatever it means to be in a lifelong prison. I knew he would do whatever he could to protect us in my dad's place. Not to mention, his pack. I haven't met them yet, but they were innocents in all of this. I didn't want them getting in trouble or hurt either. "I think we should go, Dad." He faced me slowly, and I dropped my gaze to his nose. I didn't want to see betrayal or disappointment there in his face for not agreeing with him. "Innocent people are involved and I don't want to lose anyone." 

Just as he started to speak, another voice beat him to it. "She's right, Romulus Trevino. You can't fight your way through this nor can you run." A man I didn't know had entered the house and was stopping just beside Lucian. 

He was taller than Lucian and bulkier. More on the muscular side. He was good-looking for a red-haired man who wore half his longish hair in a ponytail. He looked a couple years older than Lucian. 

"How are you involved, Edward Knight? Your brother, I can see, but you're just the alpha. If anything, they shouldn't know anything about you." 

Dad looked like he was about to beat someone to a bloody mess. Hopefully he wasn't looking at hurting Lucian. And did he say that man was Lucian's brother?

"Unfortunately, I involved myself. I was given a note to appear before the emperor as well. Lucian is a pack member, so I too must answer to his judgement. Best thing is to go and see what he wants." Edward didn't look away or moved when he addressed my dad.

I couldn't help wondering why. But more importantly, he said he was involved. Did that mean, Lucian's pack was in trouble anyway? Was it really wrong for someone like me to have been born?