Chapter Three
1527 Words
Marcel
My boots echo off the marble floor as I approach Father’s study door. The scent of cigar smoke and whiskey fills my nose before I even knock. I knock once and then open the door.
Father doesn’t look up as I enter. He’s hunched over a wide map on his desk. His index and middle fingers clutch a thick brown cigar.
“I expected you yesterday,” he says, still focusing on the map.
“I had an injury on the rink.” I lie. I can’t think of any other reason to give for not answering his call earlier.
“Oh, really?” Father looks up, his lips pursed.
“Yes, it was pretty bad, but I feel better now.” I step closer to his table. He didn’t ask me to sit, so I stand there with my hands crossed at my back.
Father leans back in his chair and takes a puff of his cigar. The smoke spirals above his head. “You’re not a cub anymore, Marcel. As an alpha in waiting, you should learn to do things through pain. It doesn’t matter if you’re weak or down, you have to do whatever you have to do. You can’t show any signs of weakness. Other wolves are watching. I hope you know that.”
“Yes, I do.”
“I was younger than you when I started leading this pack. Sit up. And next time I call you, I don’t want any excuses, just show up.”
“It won’t happen next time.”
“Good. Have you investigated the bounty hunters on the southern perimeter?”
“I’ll do after my training today.”
“What about the potions the Healers ordered? Have you arranged for the delivery?”
I swallow. Wendy’s disloyalty has kicked up a storm in my life and disorganized everything. “I’m working on it.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
Wendy. She shattered my heart.
“I’m sorry, Father. I’ll handle everything today.”
“It’s not just about apologising. What’s going on with you?”
“I’ve been trying to balance school with pack responsibilities and my sporting career.”
Father shrugs. “Martin is handling it just fine. He’s doing a great job at the Northern perimeter, and he’s top of his class.”
“You know I don’t like you comparing me to Martin.”
“Then do what you have to do! Stop messing around.”
“Okay,” I mumble.
“I’ll be watching. So how’s the wedding preparation?”
My stomach turns.
“We’re working on it,” I say, trying to sound confident.
He looks at my hand, and my heart skips.
“You’re not wearing your ring.”
“I took it off,” I answer quickly. “I’ll going to hockey training after this.”
Father’s brows lift. “Something is off. . .”
“Everything is fine.”
He takes a sip of his whiskey. “You can’t afford to mess this up. Warner is a close friend of this family. We go way back together. His family’s name adds weight to ours.”
“I understand.”
“So your union is more than just romance. It’s strength for our families. It’s the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy.”
I clench my jaw. My shoulders ache from how tight I’m holding myself. “I know.”
He studies me, and I hold his gaze, trying not to let the storm behind my eyes show.
“Make sure she feels chosen. Make sure the pack sees you united. The Moon Goddess made no mistake. Our bloodlines were meant to converge.”
I nod. I’ll have to tell him what Wendy did at some point, but for now, I’ll keep it to myself.
He takes another sip of his drink. “So what’s delaying the wedding?”
“We’re trying to know each other better, to put things in place . . .”
“I married your mother the week after the Moon Goddess joined us as mates.”
I chuckle. “Things are different now.”
Father shakes. “Well, I need you to hasten up. When your mother gets back from the North, I’ll tell her to talk to Edna about it.”
I leave his study shortly after. The moment the door shuts behind me, I heave a sigh. I wonder how Warner and Edna will react when they hear their daughter cheated. Whatever happens, I will never take her back.
****
The rink is freezing. I lace up quickly, slap my helmet on, and hit the ice with the rest of the team. I need this. I need speed and action. Anything to stop me from thinking about Wendy.
I grip my stick tighter as Coach Micah’s whistle starts off our training game. The puck slides past me twice. My passes are late. My shots veer wide. One mistake leads to another.
Coach’s whistle cuts through the chaos. He waves me over. “What the hell was that? What’s wrong with you?”
That’s the question everyone has been asking me of late.
I grind my teeth. “I’m sorry, Coach.”
“Get your head straight. You’re not some rookie. You’re their example. If you don’t play sharp, they stop believing.”
I nod. “Got it.”
I skate back in.
The next play, I push hard. Maybe too hard. I aim for redemption and end up body-slamming Sean. He grunts and goes down hard. A wave of murmurs spreads across the ice.
Sean stays down, and the coach is glaring at me. Everyone is looking at me like I’ve gone out of my mind.
“s**t,” I whisper, ripping off my helmet. I don’t even pick up my stick. I just skate off, fast. Heat zips through my body. I head straight to the changing room.
“Marcel!” Martin steps into the changing room. “I know something is wrong. Talk to me.”
“Okay, I’m not fine. But I can’t talk about it. Not yet.”
He exhales and claps a hand on my shoulder. “Whatever is wrong, don’t let it eat up. Just calm down. Everything will be all right.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Great, let’s go home. Coach is absolutely fuming right now. You’ll fix up with him tomorrow.”
“I should say sorry to Sean, too.”
“You can do that at Jenna’s party tonight. He’ll be there.”
“Oh, I forgot all about the party.”
“Don’t tell me you won’t go.”
I think about it for a minute. Yes, my world is upside down now. And I have lots of responsibilities to handle. But some fun at a birthday party won’t hurt. “Of course, I’ll be there.”
Martin helps me off the bench in the changing room, and we head home side-by-side, in silence.
Dozens of thoughts bubble in my mind. What I did on the rink was stupid. That tackle on Sean could have ended his career. . .
“Marcel!” A familiar voice halts my train of thought.
It’s Wendy. She’s standing at the door looking like a queen. She’s in a tight black dress and sparkling silver heels. My mind flashes back to the times we used to kiss under the full moon.
“We need to talk,” She whispers when Martin and I get close.
“I’ll excuse you guys,” Martin says. He sweeps past us, and now, it’s me and Wendy staring at each other. I’ve been thinking about this moment, about this time when she’ll stand before me and explain why she did what she did.
“I’m sorry. He messed with my head. I think he used magic.”
A dry chuckle escapes my lips. “You expect me to believe that bullshit?”
“You know I’ve never been unfaithful.”
“Now you are. You let a man put his scent on you. It’s over between us.” My nails dig into my palm as I clench my fists.
“You’re really going to throw us away for one mistake?” Her voice breaks.
I stare at her. Her face is a mask of sadness, of regret. Tears roll down her cheeks, ruining her makeup. Father’s voice echoes in my mind. You can’t afford to mess this up. This is legacy.
But legacy can go to hell.
“It’s not some random mistake. You cheated!” I growl. “I didn’t ruin this. You did.”
She flinches. “Marcel…”
“Leave.”
“Please don’t do this.”
“Leave now. Tell your father he raised a bitch.”
Wendy’s nose flares. “Keep my father’s name out of your mouth! My family made yours what it is today. You’ll regret leaving me. I promise.”
She turns and walks away. I watch her disappear into the late afternoon California traffic. I don’t care whatever agreement Father had with Warner. What matters is Wendy is out of my life. Forever.
- Writer
