6
1675 Words
KNOX
I didn’t realize how hard my jaw was clenched until I stepped into the packhouse and felt the familiar air hit my lungs. The scent of Dark Vine hadn’t changed. It was just as I remembered it, cold, grand, and suffocating.
But tonight, it felt worse because she was outside and I had left her there.
I followed Alpha James down the corridor, forcing my expression into something neutral. Inside, everything in me wanted to turn around, walk back through that door, and pull Celeste out of the storm before it broke. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. I needed a moment to think and recalibrate before I said something I couldn’t take back.
James was muttering something about being famished as he walked ahead. I couldn’t believe the man’s composure. His daughter had just come home after a decade of being gone, poisoned, scarred, and shaking, and he had the appetite for lunch.
Unbelievable.
He didn’t even look shaken. The man was stone. The same cold, calculating bastard I remembered. But it wasn’t the Alpha’s frostiness that unsettled me most; it was that she had inherited it.
Celeste stood her ground like she’d done this a hundred times before. Like she’d been fighting her father’s control all her life, and I’d left her there. I’d brought her here.
Fuck.
Worse, I’d also lied to her. I told her I hadn’t known she was my betrothed until she disappeared but I had known grom the very beginning.
We turned down a familiar hallway, and the memories hit me hard. This was where I’d first met her.
We’d both been too young then. But she was wild, sharp-tongued, and too clever for her own good. I was an i***t, already carrying the burden of an Alpha’s expectations but too young to understand the damage arrogance could do.
She’d hated me instantly. I’d known it by the way she rolled her eyes when I spoke, the way she refused to yield to me during training sessions our fathers arranged and yet, every glare, every insult she threw at me had lit me up inside like fire under my skin. I was obsessed with her.
The bratty heiress who thought she could outwit the world had owned me without even knowing it. So, I did the only thing a foolish young Alpha could do: I provoked her. I poked at her pride, teased her, and pushed her limits because when she was angry, she looked at me. When she hated me, she saw me.
I’d thought that was enough. Then one night, she was gone and I’d spent ten years trying to forget the sound of her laughter echoing through these halls and failing miserably.
So when I found her on the outskirts of my territory, dying from silver-poison, I didn’t think. I acted. Every instinct screamed at me to protect her.
I brought her back. I thought fate had given me another chance and now this.
Alpha James’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “This way, Alpha Morrison.”
We turned down a long hallway toward the private dining room. He gestured for me to take a seat.
“Sit, Alpha Morrison. You’ve done well bringing her back.”
My throat tightened. “She’s not a package, James.”
He looked up sharply. “No. She’s an heir. My heir and she has responsibilities she’s neglected for far too long.”
I bit back the urge to curse him.
“A Callahan doesn’t run from duty.” He growled.
I leaned back in my chair, forcing a breath out through my nose. I gave a short, humorless laugh. The silence stretched between us. I could feel my wolf stirring under my skin.
Finally, I said quietly, “You know she’s not going to take that offer.”
James raised an eyebrow. “Then she’s no longer my daughter.”
I stared at him. “Just like that?”
He met my gaze without flinching. “Just like that.”
For a second, I couldn’t speak. This man… this cold bastard… had just told me he was willing to lose the only blood he had left and Celeste thought I was the monster.
I looked down at the table, jaw tight. “You always were a heartless son of a bitch.”
He smiled faintly. “That’s why I’ve survived this long.”
I wanted to throw something. Instead, I ran a hand through my hair and exhaled slowly. “You think this is going to fix the alliance? Forcing her into something she doesn’t want?”
“I think,” he said, pouring himself a glass of wine, “that this will fix you both.”
My head snapped up. “What?”
“Don’t act like you’re not still in love with her.”
The words hit me harder than I wanted to admit.
“I know that look, Morrison,” he continued, sipping his wine. “You’ve had it since the day I introduced you to her.”
I clenched my fists beneath the table. “That was a long time ago.”
He smirked. “Then why did you lie to her?”
My blood froze.
“I saw it,” he said, voice lowering. “Don’t look so surprised.”
I glared at him, fury simmering beneath my calm exterior. “You just threw her into the fire and you’re proud of it?”
“I’m restoring order,” he said simply. “You and Celeste were meant to unite our Packs. The goddess chose this bond. I’m merely ensuring it’s honored.”
“You’ve backed her into a corner, James.” I spat. “You’ve given her an ultimatum like she’s some pawn.”
He shrugged. “You’re welcome to convince her otherwise.”
“Now I see why she didn’t want to come back,” I growled under my breath.
He leaned back, studying me in that quiet, assessing way that made even seasoned warriors squirm. “And why exactly did you bring her here, of all places?”
But all I said was, “She needed a safe place.”
He didn’t buy it, but he let it go.
The meal arrived. Alpha James reached for his fork, but I noticed his hand trembled slightly. His face was stone, but his eyes betrayed him.
He wasn’t eating. Neither was I. Silence stretched taut between us until he said.
“You said she was poisoned.”
“Yes,” I growled.
“How bad?”
“It’s a miracle she’s alive, bad. She’s supposed to be dead, bad.” I snapped.
His jaw tightened. “Do you know who did it?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. But someone wanted her silenced.”
He grunted, his expression unreadable. “And you’re certain she didn’t bring this upon herself?”
My hands curled into fists under the table. “With respect, Alpha, that’s your daughter you’re talking about.”
He looked up sharply, eyes glinting. “With respect, Alpha Morrison, you barely know her.”
The silence dragged. The storm outside began to build, thunder growling low across the mountains.
He let out a deep sigh. “I may have taken it too far with her. I may have made a mistake,” he said finally, his tone softer, almost weary.
“You did!” I growled.
He gave a short, bitter laugh. “I regret it now.”
Something twisted in my chest.
“Why push her, then?” I demanded. “Why give her an ultimatum like that?”
He sighed, long and deep, and lowered his fork. “Because sometimes being her father isn’t enough. You wouldn’t understand.”
I leaned forward. “Try me.”
“I tried all I could.” He admitted. “For years, I sent scouts, trackers, mercenaries. But she didn’t want to be found. Every trail went cold. Every lead died. I thought she was dead.”
I looked away, my throat tight.
“And when I saw her just now…” He paused, shaking his head. “I didn’t know whether to hold her or punish her.”
Outside, lightning split the sky, the thunder so loud the windows rattled. The storm had arrived in full.
Alpha James pushed his plate away. “Eat,” he said quietly.
“I can’t.”
“Neither can I,” he admitted, rubbing his temple. “So tell me, Alpha, what would you have done differently?”
“I’d have let her choose,” I said.
He looked at me, weary eyes meeting mine. “And if her choice wasn’t you?”
I didn’t answer. Because I already knew the answer.
The wind howled outside, rain slamming against the windows in angry sheets. Somewhere in the distance, a door creaked.
Alpha James frowned, glancing toward the noise. “She wouldn’t…”
He didn’t finish.
Because the dining room doors burst open and there she was.
Celeste stood in the doorway, with fury radiating from every inch of her. Her hair clung to her face, her chest heaving, her eyes blazing beneath the candlelight.
“I accept your terms.” She declared.
My heart stopped.
Alpha James straightened, shock flickering across his features. “Celeste ”
“I said I accept!” she snapped. “You want me to marry him? Fine. You want your alliance? Fine. I’ll do it. But don’t you dare think it’s for you.” Her voice cracked. “It’s for me.”
She turned her gaze on me then. “And you,” she said, stepping closer, “don’t look so damn surprised. You wanted this, didn’t you?”
I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.
“Congratulations, Alpha Morrison,” she spat. “Looks like you finally got what you wanted.”
And before I could stop her, she brushed past me, grabbed the decanter of wine from the table, and poured herself a glass with trembling hands.
She downed it in one breath.
- Writer
