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~Rhiannon’s POV~
Before I knew what was happening, we were once more seated as we enjoyed the activities, but I was far from okay.
The laughter, the dancing, the toasts—it all bled together like white noise.
My patience had run thin hours ago.
I stood up from my seat at the high table, the movent enough to draw a few curious stares, but I didn’t care. My heels clicked sharply as I walked straight to Kael.
He was seated on a raised dais beside the other Alphas, expression carved in stone as he listened to an elder drone on about trade routes.
His hand rested idly on the armrest, fingers twitching the way they always did when he was holding back.
I didn’t wait for permission. I leaned in just enough for only him to hear .
"I’ve fulfilled my part. I walked the aisle. I said the vows. I wore the damn ring. Now give what you promised."
Kael’s jaw tightened but he didn’t say anything.
Instead, Riven answered. "Rhiannon, please sit or you’ll be causing a scene."
A scene?
My brows arched. "I want to see my father," I finished, standing tall. "Or there will be no wedding night for any of you to look forward to."
That got attention.
Talon looked up sharply. Darian stilled. Riven’s wineglass paused mid-air.
Kael stood abruptly, eyes locked on mine, but before he could say anything, Lucien leaned back in his chair and cracked his neck with a loud pop.
"Well," he said lazily, "that was honest."
He pushed back his chair with a scrape and stood and when his eyes found mine, they held in place. "Follow ."
I blinked. "What?"
Lucien stepped around the table slowly, rolling his sleeves up after dropping his suit on his chair. "Kael is the signature Alpha. That ans he has to stay—smile, play nice, shake hands with all the pompous elders pretending to bless this union."
He reached out his hand toward , palm up.
"But ?" he continued, voice dropping. "I don’t have to play politics. So, follow ... and I’ll give you exactly what your heart wants."
Kael’s eyes narrowed, sharp as knives. "Lucien—"
"Relax," Lucien said without looking at him. "We’re legally bonded now, rember? She’s ours, and not just yours."
Kael’s fists clenched against the arms of his chair. "Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do," he said tightly.
Riven chuckled, raising his glass. "Pretty sure the list of things Lucien would do is longer."
Lucien gave him a wink.
I hesitated, looking from Kael’s silent warning to Lucien’s outstretched hand. Kael didn’t say anything else. He just stared at before looking away like he was holding sothing back.
"Well then," Lucien said, lips curling into that dangerous half-smile. "Do you want to see him or not?"
My pulse fluttered, but I was angry. This was probably all a ga to them: power, control, and territory, even when it was about my father.
But I didn’t have the luxury of pride, so I placed my hand in his.
Lucien’s fingers closed around mine, gentler than I expected.
He leaned in as we stepped away from the dais. "Try not to look too eager," he murmured. "You’re supposed to be pissed at us."
I didn’t respond because I was pissed.
And if this turned out to be another show, another test, another way to toy with ... They’d regret ever putting a crown on my head.
We walked away from the crowd and into the pack house.
After going through so corridors, we ca upon a door. Lucien did not say anything, but instead he stood there gesturing for to go in.
I hesitated, unsure of what to expect, but my mind wasn’t making it easy, already thinking the worst.
Still, I reached for he doorknob, turned it and then walked right inside.
As soon as I did, I saw him standing by the window in nothing but a pair of black trousers and a dark grey jacket over a black shirt.
From here, I could perceive the sll of herbs oozing off him. It looks like he got his treatnt.
Relief washed through , and just as I was about to speak, he beat to it.
"No, I am not changing for any occasion until you bring to see my daughter first."
Sothing flickered in my chest. I didn’t know what to think or say at this point.
But when my dad sensed no one was speaking, he half turned, slowly. And when his gaze landed on ...
My breath caught in my throat. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks as I took in his appearance.
He looked even frailer than I last saw him. Truly, his sickness and worry had eaten into him, but as soon as he recognised ... a genuine smile ford on his lips.
"Rhia? My Rhiannon?"
More tears stread down my face as I walked over to him gently.
Dad t in the middle and hugged so close.
"I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for not being better at protecting you."
The more he spoke, the harder it was for to feel okay about seeing him now.
I felt like I had failed him in more ways than one.
"Dad... no." I shook my head. "You did not fail . You never did."
"But I did, Rhia. It was because of you went into..."
I pulled back from the hug and shook my head. "I made that decision consciously, and you had no part in it to accuse yourself like that."
My concerned gaze raked through his body as worry etched into my creased brows.
"Dad..."
"Forget about all that. What matters now is that you are safe and fine." He held my shoulders firmly to keep from looking all around.
Tears filled my eyes again. "A-and your health?"
Dad’s smile eased my worries a little bit. "I am fine. Now let’s talk about you."
I shook my head, not ready to let him delve into the pain of having his daughter sold.
"You found a mate... no. You found mates, Rhiannon, I heard and seeing it live..."
"I... I know you forbade from going over to the other side. I’m sorry I did... I just wanted to get the Moonroot, sell it and have enough money to get your ds for you. I’m sorry."
"Shh... I guess fate can’t be cheated, huh."
My brows creased as I looked at my dad’s face. "Pardon? Fate?"
He simply nodded and walked back to the window. "We got so scared that we failed to see what was really going on."
I shook my head, not quite understanding what was going on.
"Dad, what do you an? Do you an mum and yourself?"
He lifted his head, his hands tightening behind him as his chest rose and fell slowly. I walked over to stand by his side while my gaze remained focused on his side profile.
"Dad."
"I failed... your mother and I failed in more ways than one, but I failed even more if you found yourself here again, doing what she never wanted... what she went through."
What mum went through?
Back here again?
I thought my parents, particularly my mum, left the werewolf world behind and stayed hidden amongst the humans.
So how co this...
Or was it before?
His cryptic ssage was making my chest tighten as I tried to understand what was going on.
"Dad, talk to . Explain better. I need to understand what is going on."
But he didn’t.
So I resorted to the only way I knew how—a way I had not told him about—was by reading his thoughts.
Although I did not understand it—this feeling I had—I really wanted to know what that ssage was about.
I tried to focus on him, his thoughts.
My fingers clenched beside my wedding gown.
Almost imdiately, I shifted my gaze to my father when I heard sothing disturbing in my head—his thoughts.
One of the Alphas had visited him before all these, before the agreent. Why?And who? My dad—he knew sothing.
"Rhiannon..." My dad’s voice broke from my train of thought.
I blinked, ready to speak, when suddenly, at that mont, the door swung open with a loud bang, revealing Lucien standing at the doorway’s centre with a dramatic flourish.
I sighed, shaking my head.
"Tis’ up," he said smugly.
"What?"
"You heard , mate."
"I heard you alright, but what the heck?"
"Sorry, love, but you are needed for the final farewells and the first official greeting of the Alphas and their Luna. It’s ti, let’s go."
"But... But I just got here and I have barely spoken to my father," I tried to reason, but Lucien shook his head.
"There are laws and traditions, Rhiannon. You will have more ti to speak with your father after the mating/wedding night tomorrow."
My brows drew together, and Lucien must have understood. "Since you’ll be mating with us all, we decided to give your body ti to rest before mating."
"What? Five guys?!"
I was no virgin, sorry to them. I once had a lover, soone I trusted, but it turned out he was only with for a bet with his friends.
Although he claid he fell in love later, it broke my trust, and I walked away.
And now I...
My gaze instinctively lowered down and back up when Lucien chuckled.
"Let’s go."
I rushed to hug my father quickly, who, till now, looked displeased but uttered no more words.
Resigning myself, I nodded, bade my father goodbye and left with Lucien.
But as soon as we stepped out, my gaze caught Seraphina on the sa floor. The second she locked eyes with , she smirked and lowered her head.
’What was that about?’
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