The Alpha's Runaway Daughter

Chapter 5

Cleo

Eric and I followed his grandparents into the Alpha’s office.

The first thing I noticed was the size of the room.

It was enormous.

Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched along the outside wall, with a long porch running parallel to them.

Beautiful.

Expensive.

And completely impractical.

Anyone standing on that porch could potentially hear everything being discussed inside.

So much for confidentiality.

Apparently, privacy wasn’t high on the list of priorities when this office had been designed.

My attention shifted to the man sitting behind the enormous timber desk at the opposite end of the room.

Alpha Lake.

He was the first thing about this pack that truly intimidated me.

Not because of his position.

Not because he was an Alpha.

But because of his eyes.

They were the bluest eyes I’d ever seen.

Cold.

Intelligent.

And incredibly observant.

His gaze moved from Eric to me, lingering for several seconds before shifting toward his grandparents.

“Sally. Clyde.”

His voice was calm, but there was authority behind every word.

“What exactly is the meaning of this?”

Eric’s grandmother stepped forward.

“Alpha Lake, this is our grandson, Eric.”

Lake’s eyebrows rose slightly.

“Eric?”

“You remember our daughter Sarah?”

Recognition flickered across his face.

“She went to the Blue Thunder Pack. She’s the mate of their Beta.”

Clyde nodded.

“This is her son.”

Lake looked back at Eric.

Then at me.

“And the girl?”

His expression hardened.

“More importantly, why do they both reek of rogue?”

My stomach tightened.

Here we go.

Sally glanced nervously between us.

“We don’t know, Alpha. We asked Eric if she was his mate, but he insists she’s only a friend.”

Lake’s eyes settled on me.

“And who are you?”

There was something different about the way he asked that question.

A pressure.

A command.

I knew exactly what he was doing.

Alphas possessed an ability that could compel lesser-ranked wolves to answer when they held their gaze.

Unfortunately for him, there was one little problem.

I wasn’t a lesser-ranked wolf.

I had Alpha blood.

His ability wouldn’t work on me.

But I wasn’t about to announce that fact to an entire room full of strangers.

So I deliberately lowered my gaze.

“I asked you a question.”

His voice hardened.

“Answer him,” DJ added.

Something about his tone made my stomach twist.

It reminded me far too much of the Beta and Gamma.

My fingers curled around Eric’s.

He immediately looked down at our joined hands.

I squeezed tightly.

Not because I was afraid of Lake.

Because I was afraid of what would happen if I lost control.

Eric squeezed my hand back.

A silent reassurance.

I’m here.

I looked at Alpha Lake.

“Alpha Lake, could Eric and I please request an audience with you?”

His eyebrows lifted.

“Just you?”

“Just you.”

I glanced toward the windows.

“There is a great deal we need to discuss. Some of it is private.”

I paused.

“And judging by the windows, this room isn’t exactly designed for keeping classified information classified.”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

I could practically hear everyone’s jaws hitting the floor.

Someone gasped.

Another person muttered,

“Such disrespect.”

“Who does she think she is?”

“Filthy rogue.”

I ignored them.

My eyes remained on Alpha Lake.

I expected anger.

Perhaps even an explosion.

Instead…

He smiled.

Not warmly.

Amused.

Very amused.

“Clear the room.”

Everyone froze.

Then suddenly the room erupted into movement.

DJ disappeared through the door.

Sally and Clyde followed.

The others practically sprinted out as though they were expecting bloodshed.

Within seconds, the door closed.

Silence returned.

Alpha Lake gestured toward the chairs in front of his desk.

“Sit.”

Eric and I sat.

Lake leaned back in his chair.

Then he looked directly at Eric.

“I think it’s time you told me exactly what happened.”

Eric nodded.

“I’ll tell you everything.”

“Good.”

“But I have one request first.”

Lake’s expression became curious.

“What?”

“Whatever we tell you stays between the three of us.”

Lake studied him.

“You’re asking me to keep something from my pack?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Eric hesitated.

“Because once you hear what happened, you’ll understand.”

Lake remained silent for several seconds.

Then he nodded.

“Your grandparents and uncle have served my family loyally for years.”

His gaze hardened.

“You have my word.”

Eric exhaled.

“Thank you, Alpha.”

Then he began talking.

He told Lake everything.

The beating.

My father.

My stepmother.

My brother and stepsister.

The Beta.

The Gamma.

The basement.

The restraints.

My attempted assault.

Our escape.

He didn’t leave anything out.

I sat beside him, staring at the floor as memories I desperately wanted to bury were dragged back into the light.

I didn’t look at Lake.

I didn’t need to.

I could feel his emotions changing.

Shock.

Disbelief.

Anger.

Then rage.

By the time Eric finished, the silence was suffocating.

Finally, Lake spoke.

“So let me make sure I’ve understood this.”

His eyes settled on me.

“You are the daughter of the Alpha of Blue Thunder.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“And your father knowingly allowed his own daughter to be abused?”

My throat tightened.

“Yes.”

“And then left you alone with those men?”

I nodded.

Lake’s jaw clenched.

For a moment, I thought he might actually break the desk in half.

Then his expression changed.

“You know what I find difficult to believe?”

I looked at him.

“Your story.”

Eric’s head snapped up.

“What?”

Lake shook his head.

“Alphas don’t usually behave this way.”

He leaned forward.

“They understand the consequences. The Alpha Council. Other packs. War.”

He looked between us.

“If another Alpha discovered something like this, Blue Thunder could be facing consequences far beyond losing their Alpha.”

My anger flared.

“So you don’t believe us?”

Lake’s expression hardened.

“I’m saying I need proof.”

Eric looked stunned.

Lake continued.

“What kind of Alpha would allow the things you’ve described?”

I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Apparently mine.”

Eric looked at me.

I stood.

“Come on.”

“Cleo—”

“Let’s go.”

Lake’s voice suddenly dropped.

“If you walk out that door, you will be taken to the cells.”

I turned toward him.

“There it is.”

His eyebrows lifted.

“The power trip.”

Eric groaned softly.

“Cleo…”

I pointed at Lake.

“That’s exactly what my father used to do.”

Lake’s expression changed.

Not anger.

Something else.

Interest.

Eric gently reached toward my shoulder.

I recoiled instantly.

He immediately pulled his hand away.

“Sorry.”

His voice softened.

“I know.”

I swallowed hard.

“Sit down,” he whispered.

Reluctantly, I did.

Lake watched the exchange.

His expression became unreadable.

Then he asked,

“What proof do you have?”

I gave him a bitter smile.

“Well, unless someone secretly recorded what happened, I don’t exactly have a video.”

“Your attitude isn’t helping you.”

“Neither is accusing us of lying.”

Lake looked at Eric.

I couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Think about it.”

His eyes returned to me.

“Eric was supposed to become the next Beta.”

I pointed toward him.

“His future was already decided.”

My voice shook with frustration.

“He was supposed to serve my brother when my brother became Alpha.”

I stared at Lake.

“Why would he throw away everything he’s ever been promised just to disappear with me?”

Lake didn’t answer.

“Exactly.”

I sat back down.

“He already gave you the answer.”

For several moments, Lake said nothing.

Then he sighed.

“Fine.”

He leaned back.

“But before I make any decision about allowing you into my pack, I need to know something.”

“What?”

“I need to know whether either of you poses a risk to my people.”

My stomach dropped.

“You’re going to test us?”

“I’m going to have you both examined.”

Eric nodded.

“When?”

“Now.”

Lake stood.

“I’ll take you to the medical building myself.”

He walked toward the door.

Then glanced over his shoulder.

“Come on. I don’t have all day.”

I stared at his back.

“What a pompous ass.”

Eric’s lips twitched.

Lake stopped.

Slowly, he turned around.

“Be that as it may…”

He looked directly at me.

“…you’d better follow this pompous ass to the medical building.”

He opened the door.

“After all, I get the final say on whether you stay here.”

Then he disappeared into the hallway.

I stared after him.

I didn’t like him.

Not even slightly.

There was something about Alpha Lake that rubbed me the wrong way.

The authority.

The arrogance.

The way he expected everyone to obey.

He reminded me far too much of my father.

And as Eric and I followed him toward the medical building, I made a decision.

The first chance I got, I was going to ask Eric about leaving Lightning Ridge.

Because if Alpha Lake was anything like my father…

I wasn’t going to make the mistake of staying long enough to find out.