The Alpha's Daughter

Chapter 7: My Father the Alpha

It was late before my dad showed up. He looked older and more tired than I had seen him in a while. He went over and sat on the edge bed. Then motioned for me to do the same. “Viviana, you know I love you, right?” he said softly.

“Yes, Alpha.” I smiled at him as I sat beside him.

“Viviana,” he replied in a gentler tone, but did not look at me. Instead, he seemed far away, lost in thought almost like someone might be talking to him.

“Father,” I exhaled, studying his face. He seems concerned.

“Viviana, I know it doesn't seem like it, but I do this for you,” he began, and I was unsure where he was going with this.

“I am not sure which of the pack-related responsibilities we are discussing.” I tried to keep the contempt out of my voice, but after this afternoon, I was not prepared to talk to him yet.

“Viviana, I know you are upset with the succession laws of the pack. I have done my best to ensure your security in the pack.” He began calmly.

“I need authority more than security,” I defended.

“People who have authority do not have to beg for it,” he rebutted. “You can beg the pack all you want to make you Alpha, but it does not make you look strong, Viviana. It makes you look weak. It makes you look like you need an Alpha.” He replied.

“I would not have to beg if I were given the respect I deserve.” I insisted.

“It is out of respect for you that the families decided your mate would be Alpha. There could have always been a challenge for the position after my death,” he replied.

“Well, it is respect for the pack that I even go along with one of those three as my mate.” I rebuffed.

“One of those three will be your mate. Trust me when I say the pack laws about this do not make me any happier than they make you. I know all three of them can be obnoxious and overbearing. I'm not sure I hold much joy in that thought. I wanted better for you. However, I need to know that they are strong for you and this pack. I need to know that they can keep you safe when I'm not there. I also believe that they genuinely care for you in their own way.” He explained

I began to relax. Yet my nerves were on edge after talking with Zander about my mom. I zoned out and started fidgeting with my hands. “Not sure that is relevant,” I said under my breath.

"Viviana, I know you don't like to talk about it, but even the most prepared wolves can have the people they love the most taken from them." He spoke in a calm demeanor, which infuriated me.

"I survived Dad. I am not my mother. I will never be," I yelled at him angrily

"Don't raise your voice at me, Viviana, and don’t disrespect your mother in my presence. She may not have been as strong as you, but she loved this pack with everything she had. Secondly, no one could have been more prepared and trained than I," he took a deep breath. "Death comes to the prepared and the unprepared alike. It makes sense, and it is not meant to. I have done everything in my power to help you be what you needed to be, but it does not mean you will never suffer."

I turned my body facing him, "You may be right about that, but I have to hope that by being the best warrior I can be, it won't come to that."

"Viviana, about tomorrow," he hung his head, "I can’t protect you from tomorrow."

“Why does everyone want to protect me from tomorrow?” I sighed.

“It should not come as a shock to you that the pack wants to keep their Luna safe.” He laughed in a condescending manner.

“I am not the Luna,” I argued back.

“Viviana, do not start again, please. Just accept that things are the way they are, and we all do our part to ensure the safety and security of our pack. That is what a good leader does.” He fell silent after that.

There he went again with that defeatist attitude. I could not understand my father today. “Yes, Alpha.”

“Viviana,” he smiled.

“Yes, Father,” a little exasperated, “I know you don't want me to show them up tomorrow. To make them look weak in front of the pack, or to make it look like their future Luna can beat the Alpha. You want me to back down and not show my potential. You do not want me to draw attention and risk making myself a target. I will do what I always do, what you expect me to do.”

“On the contrary, Viviana, tomorrow, do not hold back your punches. I want you to show Max what it means to be an Alpha. If Max cannot beat you, he doesn't deserve to lead, and he will never deserve to be Alpha, and the rest of the pack will need to see that with their own eyes.” My father expressed. "Beta Rex also needs to see the benefit to the pack of having a fully trained Luna warrior."

“Well, thanks for the vote of confidence,” I laughed, “Sir!” I was not sure whether to feel encouraged or insulted.

“It's not like that at all, Viviana,” he said, smiling and grabbing my hands. “I fully anticipate you being victorious. In fact, I look forward to Max being the one hurt on the ground."

“And if I'm not?” I asked.

“You will still be my daughter,” he turned towards me and hugged me, “he just might actually deserve you, if it happens that way.”

I hugged my father tightly, “I love you,” I reassured him.

“I love you too, Viviana, never doubt all I do is for you.”

“Yes, Alpha,” I voiced, trying to hold back a laugh.

“Viviana,” he remarked with slight amusement.

“Yes, Father, goodnight,” I smiled at him and kissed his cheek.

“Goodnight, Viviana,” with that, he kissed my forehead, then stood and walked out the door.

I threw my body back down on the bed. Letting my thoughts wander, he was the strongest man I knew. My Alpha worried that he could not protect me, and I was worried that I could not make him proud. I am not sure I can win this challenge. Zander was right, I was favoring my right side. Max would have definitely noticed that at dinner. He will use it against me. Max does not deserve to win, but I do not know if I could beat him. It seemed the longer all of this rests in the balance, the harder it is on me. One day, that is all I have. One day, when I can just be Viviana Strong, the Alpha's daughter. After that, Victor, Zander, or Max would expect to claim me as their mate.

In one day, all I would ever be was a Luna. It is a funny thing, the mate bond, because it is not that I do not want to have a mate. I do not want to be forced into the background. I do not want to lose my rightful place in the pack just because I am a girl. Then there are my potential partners to consider. I do not think Max cares for me at all, but I know that both Victor and Zander do in their own ways. I do care for both of them. It would almost be easier if neither of them were my mate; then I wouldn't feel like I have to choose between them. My mind continued to overwhelm me.