His Daddy’s Fated Mate

14: A wedding

Hannah’s POV

I stepped out of the Alpha's mansion, my heart still pounding from the confrontation with Alpha Liam. The audacity of the man to think he could taunt me after everything he'd put me through… I was seething. I couldn’t shake the feeling he had overheard everything I discussed with my parents, and that just made everything worse. Sneaky bastard.

He had the nerve to look me straight in the eye and tell me I couldn’t escape him now that he had ruined my life by forcing me into servitude. Does he even understand what that means? I’m trapped. My life isn't mine anymore. I work under his command, day in and day out, for as long as he desires. He knew exactly what he was doing when he set all of this in motion.

My fists were clenched so tightly, my hands trembling by my sides as I struggled to breathe in the cool air. I needed to let it out somehow, but nothing seemed to work. My thoughts kept swirling back to his smirk, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he stared me down, taunting me without a care.

My jaw hurt from grinding my teeth, my face sore from the tears I hadn’t realized were still streaming down. No, I wasn’t sure if they were tears anymore. I couldn’t even summon the strength to wipe them away. My limbs felt like dead weight.

Twenty-four hours in White Canines Pack had felt like a lifetime. And I’ll say it again: I wish I had never returned. I wish I’d stayed home, sending my condolences to Jane’s tomb from afar. If I’d done that, I wouldn’t have had to face this nightmare. But no, I came back because I missed my parents. And yet, they didn’t even miss me. My mother never once said she missed me. She only commented on how much I’d changed, how much more beautiful I was. And in the same breath, she mentioned how much she hated my tattoos without hesitation. What is this? Where is the love that should have been there?

Has everyone changed? What is with this sudden revealing of everyone’s true colors? Why didn’t they show me who they were before I came back? If I had known, I would’ve stayed away. I would’ve saved myself from this mess.

I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand, forcing myself to walk away from the mansion. The mansion that was the grandest in the pack, a symbol of Alpha Liam’s power. Tucker and Taylor must have moved out because I haven’t seen them around.

White Canines Pack is different. The Alpha has his own house, separate from the Beta and the other pack members. We have a pack house for the children who don’t have parents or need a place to stay, but I never wanted to be one of those kids. I didn’t want to live in the pack house, and I never felt like I belonged with anyone here, except for Tucker, Taylor, and Naomi. The rest of them just tolerate me because I’m the Beta’s daughter, and that means access to the Alpha’s children. That’s all I’ve ever been to them—a means to an end.

I don’t know what people would think if they found out that Tucker was my first mate and rejected me. Has the news spread? Maybe Naomi kept it quiet for him. Or maybe my parents would have said something if they knew. They never let anything slip, even if it’s something I wouldn’t want to talk about.

And then there’s Alpha Liam. What would he think if he knew? Would he be angry? Shocked? I don’t know. But I would love to see his reaction. His son was my first mate, before him. Would he even care?

Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice when I collided with someone. The impact was gentle but enough to pull me out of my head. I looked up, surprised to see Meritt standing there. Her dark hair was slightly tousled from the bump, and when our eyes met, I could tell she didn’t recognize me at first. But then, recognition flashed across her face.

"Hannah Voss?" she asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and curiosity. "Is it really you?"

I gave a dry smile, forcing the words out. "In the flesh."

Meritt’s eyes swept over my tattoos with admiration, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel the sting of judgment. Maybe it was because I didn’t care anymore. "Wow, you really have changed," she said, her voice full of surprise. "You’re looking... different. In a good way. Did you go off to the human world or something? They love tattoos over there."

"Yeah, I work as a tattoo artist there," I shrugged, not caring if it sounded boastful. "A pretty expensive one too."

Meritt squealed in excitement. "No way! A tattoo artist? That’s so cool. You, a nerdy girl who left here out of nowhere… that’s amazing!"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Life takes weird turns. But yeah, I figured it out. We all do when we leave a place like this."

Meritt’s eyes lit up, a genuine smile on her face for the first time in what felt like forever. She looked so… lonely. Maybe she wanted to leave too. I could see it in her eyes. Maybe I wasn’t the only one stuck here.

"That’s incredible, Hannah," she said, still looking at me in awe. "So, how did you end up being a tattoo artist? I mean, it’s so unexpected, but I love it!"

I sighed, knowing the answer wasn’t simple. "It wasn’t planned. But when I left the pack, I found a way to express myself, and tattoos just clicked. It’s become my passion now."

Meritt looked even more impressed. "I love it. It’s so different, but it suits you." Her smile softened. "But what brings you back to White Canines Pack? I mean, I wouldn’t come back unless I had to."

I paused for a moment, thinking about how much I should reveal. "It’s complicated. Family stuff, you know? But yeah, I had to come back for Jane’s funeral. It just… felt wrong not to."

Her face softened with understanding. "Yeah, it hit everyone hard. The pack’s still recovering. It hasn’t been the same without her."

I nodded. "I haven’t seen Taylor or Tucker yet. Have you?"

"No, I haven’t seen them around either," Meritt replied. "I’ve just been here, trying to figure things out."

I bit my lip, wondering if I should ask about the pack’s dynamics. But before I could, she continued.

"Hey, I don’t mean to pry, but… what’s going on with Alpha Liam? You mentioned him earlier."

I cursed myself inwardly for slipping up. "It’s… complicated," I said again. "Let’s just say he’s made some decisions that affect my life here, and I’m not exactly thrilled about it."

Meritt nodded, eyes thoughtful. "Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here. It’s good to have you back, Hannah. Even with all the craziness."

I smiled genuinely, appreciating the offer. "Thanks, Meritt. I might just take you up on that."

As we continued to chat, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this conversation was a small, fleeting moment of peace in the chaos that had become my life. The past was heavy, and the future was uncertain, but for now, at least Meritt and I could share this brief connection.

And then she paused, giving me a teasing smile. "Wait, I almost forgot—are you sure you’re not back for the wedding?"

I frowned, confused. "What wedding?"

"Come on, don’t tell me you haven’t heard… Tucker and Naomi are getting married!"