The Unwanted But Inevitable Choice

Chapter 14

"Lanie, I'm so proud of you!" We break our embrace and his eyes look white and cloudy. I watch him and a few moments later they become their normal brown color. "Thalia is such a sweet little wolf. I love you girls so much." He hugs me again and I hear Thalia laugh in her mind. She is happy.

"Wait Dad, how can you talk to Thalia?" He busts out laughing.

"I haven't told you about mind linking?"

"Um… mind what?"

"You'll love this." He tells me that werewolves can freaking talk to each other in their minds which blows me away. He said I will be able to mind link others when I join a pack, but since we are blood families, his wolf can talk to Thalia now. He teaches me how but I can't figure out how to say anything. I tell him about Thalia and how we talked all day and spent time together in my mind. He is so proud and smiles at every detail. He says his wolf Ryan is so happy to meet his daughter and cannot wait to meet me. I am about to ask if I can meet him now but my stomach starts growling.

"Oh, Lanie did you not eat dinner yet?"

"No, I've been time kinda got away frombus" I say as I point to my head. I hear him chuckle.

"How about I just order a pizza?" I nod my head and feel my stomach grumble. He walks over to our landline. He has a cell phone too but he insists on keeping that dang home phone.

"Uuughhh…" I groan and lay on the couch. "Pizza sounds soooo good, I can't remember the last time we had Papa John's." Dad puts on a new comedy movie we've been wanting to watch that happens to be on the tv today.

"Score! See We didn't need to buy it!"

"You are such a dork Dad!" He laughs and the movie starts. We wait for the pizza to come. During a commercial break dad mutes the TV and looks at me.

"Lanie… I'm really sorry I got upset with you about being with Will. Well more than upset, I disrespected you And you didn't deserve that."

"I honestly was really upset at first but I can't help but wonder… Why did you get so upset? It was like the pain I was causing Austin was hurting you personally as well…" He looks down.. "Did mom cheat on you before she died?"

"No Lanie, she did not cheat on me before she was gone." He looks sad and I think he is lying.

"You can tell me anything Dad." I walk over to his recliner and sit on the arm rest like I used to do when I was younger. "If you really don't want to talk about it, it's fine. I know you're lying" he looks at me surprised.

"Something must have happened Dad.. You've never raised your voice at me.."

"Lanie when did you grow up so much?" He looks into my eyes sad.

Dad is hiding something

"Thalia?"

Shhhhh talk in our mind like I taught you

"I'll be right back. I have to use the bathroom." My dad is looking at me funny but he shugs and unmutes the tv. I walk to my room and focus on thinking what I need to say.

Thalia? Testing one two three, is it working?

Haha, Yes! Good job Lanie!

Thank you. What do you mean dad is lying?

His wolf is keeping something from us. He whimpers when you were talking about mom.

He is probably just reminiscing Thal.

Hmm, I don't know. It seemed like he was trying to keep something from me.. Also cute nickname Lane.

Hey, my friends call me Lane

I know, *she laughs* Are we not friends?

Stop teasing we are more than friends!

Lanie! if you roll that way why do we have two male mates! *we both laugh* But really, try to get dad to tell us what he is hiding. I know it's important Lanie. I can feel it.

Okay, now we can talk without acting like I need to go number two

We both bust out laughing and I make my way back to the living room. It's already another commercial break..

"Dad?"

"Hmmm?" He hums at me, interested in some sports preview. I plop down on the couch.

"Who did mom cheat on you with?" He sighs and looks at me with a frown.

"Lanie, I don't want you to think of your mother like that."

"I don't think of her like anything Dad. I didn't even know her." His eyes turn grey and cloudy. I remember that earlier Thalia told me a werewolf's eyes do that when they're talking to their wolf or someone else. That must be what mind linking is. I don't know why I didn't just ask her then. I touch his shoulder.

"Dad, you don't have to explain yourself or anything. You don't have to tell me what she did or who she did it with. I shouldn't bring up old wounds.." He looks at me and I can tell he feels heartbroken." I know you loved her Dad. The bond I share with Will and Austin make me see how hard it must have been for you to lose your mate. You sacrificed so much for me when you didn't have to…"

"Oh, Lanie Bugg" he grabs me in a bear hug. "I have to tell you something…" We push apart from our embrace.

"You don't have to tell me Dad."

"No, it's not about your mother cheating. Lanie your mom isn't"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Well, I'll tell you after we eat. I don't want you to lose your appetite." He pays for the pizza and my werew.olf senses and hunger must be running wild because it is the most delicious smelling pizza I have ever smelt in my life.

"Dad, whatever you wanted to tell me about mom… how about me and you just go out to eat tomorrow and talk about it."

"That sounds good baby girl." He kisses my forehead and we finish our movie together. He keeps giving me sad looks and it makes me nervous for tomorrow. When the movie is finally over I take a nice hot bubble bath to relax. I use my pine and maple bath bomb which makes me feel guilty. I font wash myself just soak the day away and I hear Thalia singing in my head. she stops when she realizes I can hear her. Her voice is so soothing and graceful. she sounds like an angel. It feels nice to have someone so close. I ask her to sing to me while I bathe and she hesitantly agrees. I step into my closet and let Thalia pick out my pajamas. she is having me where my tie dyed t shirt with some plain black shorts. She asks if she cant smell my perfumes and lotions. Its not hard to turn just my senses over to her, I know she would never take advantage of me.

Mmmm I like the vanilla one

I smell like pine and maple from the bath bomb so I don't want to mask it with lotion but I will wear it tomorrow if that is okay

Oooh! Only if I can pick our your clothes tomorrow!

Sure Thal, whatever you want.

I like our mates smell anyway, but the pine is really strong. Maybe its a sign.

Ugh, don't remind me... we are upset with Will Thalia.

I know... but maybe he was just being possessive. What if he had two mates?

There is a pang of guilt in my heart when she says this. I sigh out loud.

Maybe I should just reject them both... that way I don't hurt anyone..

No Lanie, please don't reject them ..

I know, I don't honestly believe I could.

As soon as I step out of the closet I am hit with an overwhelming scent of pine.

"Will?" I hear a deep breathe then hear..

"Lanie, you got your wolf." The way he says my name sounds so incredibly perfect. Like is meant to be spoken by him. Although I am still really upset for the way he treated my dad and Austin. I cant help this stupid mate bond and the need to run into his arms. But I really don't know him. Who am I kidding. The time we spent together talking makes me feel like I know exactly who he is.

"Yes, her name is Thalia." He steps closer to me and hugs me. Why does it feel this good to be caressed by a person I barely know.

"I know I was going to give you space. But Lanie, Thalia, Blade and I missed you so much." Will's eyes turn black when he says Thalia's name and I hear purr in my mind. I scold her.

"Will, I want more than anything to have a conversation with you. But, Thalia and I just met today and you hurt us by being controlling and disrespecting not only me. But Dad and my other mate." he grabs my arm roughly.

"Don't you ever f*****g call him that. You are mine! " I am shocked but quickly push it away when Thalia growls.

"You will NEVER put your hands on me Will. Whether you like it or not, Austin is also my mate. Why, I do not know but you will not treat me like this!" I push him away from me and walk to my bedroom door. Before I open I hear Will in a small voice.

"Lanie, I'm so sorry. I would never hurt you."

"But, you were blinded by jealously and you did. Please leave. I don't want to see you tonight." he looks down and starts walking out of the door. My arm is throbbing now.

"Lanie csn I take you out for dinner tomorrow so we can talk?" he looks into my eyes pleading me.

"I'm sorry Alpha, I have plans." I can see the anger in his eyes. He must think my plans see with Austin so I let him. That is what he gets for being such a jerk. he opens my front door and slams it shut. I hear my dad's door open and he looks at me. He looks like he's been crying which makes me feel so sad for him. He must be replaying all the memories he has of Mom so he can tell me tomorrow..

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah Dad" I learn against my door and cross my arms. "Men are so confusing."

"Not picking sides but this must be really hard for them. You do what is best for you and Thalia and don't worry about their feelings though Lanie Bug. You deserve to be happy and with a good mate."

"I love you dad" I say as I close my door

"I love you too Pups" and I hear Thalia laugh. Will has me so angry so I instantly try to sleep to forget the pain in my arm. My mind instantly goes back to the pain in my dads face when he opened his door.

What if he isn't our real dad.

You are totally over reacting

What? How? Mom cheated on him.

He is for sure our Dad.

You are the one that said he is keeping something from us

He is, but its not that. No matter what happens tomorrow Lanie. When mom died, he never left us. He left his pack for us Lanie. He loves us!

I can't for tomorrow to finally talk about her.. My mother. Slowly, I feel myself drift off to sleep.