Daughter Of A Ruthless Alpha

CHAPTER 3

The entire ballroom falls silent and it feels like the sound gets sucked right out of the air.

All I can hear is my heartbeat, loud and heavy in my ears and it’s almost drowning everything else out. Everyone is watching.

Every single person in the room is focused on Alpha Ethan and Alpha James and I’m just sitting there, completely frozen.

My mind is blank. Completely blank. That never happens. There’s always something running through my head, always noise, always thoughts but right now there’s nothing. Except him.

My wolf, on the other hand, is losing it. She’s pacing and pushing and practically vibrating inside me and it’s making my head pound, but even that fades when I look at him.

At Ethan. At the way he’s holding Alpha James off the ground like it’s nothing. At the way he looks like something dangerous and controlled all at once.

I don’t even notice Ryker move until he’s suddenly right beside me. Ethan turns and his eyes snap to him. A low growl rips out of his chest.

“It’s alright.” Ryker says quickly. “I’m her brother.”

Ethan looks him over slowly like he’s measuring him. Like he’s deciding something and then his gaze shifts back to James. And then he lets him go.

Not gently. James hits the ground hard and the sound echoes while no one moves.

No one breathes. Ethan turns back to me. And everything about him changes.

The anger fades and the tension shifts. His expression softens in a way that makes my chest tighten.

“Can I escort you outside?” He asks, his voice lower now. “Somewhere more private.”

I glance around. Everyone is still staring. I can’t handle that. So I nod. I don’t trust my voice.

I grab my clutch and he offers me his arm. The second I touch him everything explodes.

It’s like electricity shoots up my arm and spreads through my entire body and it’s sharp and warm and overwhelming all at once.

I suck in a breath and he stills slightly, like he feels it too. He has to. He leads me out of the ballroom, down the stairs and into the gardens. The noise fades behind us until it’s just quiet. Just us.

The fountain comes into view and I sit on the edge of it because my legs feel unsteady and he sits beside me. Close but not too close.

“Alpha Ethan Embry.” I say, my voice barely steady.

“Yeah.” He says with a small nod. “I figured you’d know who I am.”

“Everyone does.” I admit. “Second most powerful pack in the country.”

And somehow…he’s my mate. It still doesn’t feel real.

“What’s your name?” He asks.

“Oh.” I say quickly. “Sorry. I’m Summer. Summer Everstone.”

The moment the name leaves my mouth I see it. The shift. It’s subtle but it’s there.

His posture tightens slightly and something flickers in his eyes and my stomach drops.

“You’re Everett’s daughter?”

“Yeah.”

The word feels heavier now. Uncomfortable and wrong.

“I saw you come in with Ryker.” He says slowly. “I thought you were just another pack member. I didn’t even know he had a sister.”

I let out a quiet breath and look down at my hands.

“Yeah.” I say softly. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

Of course he didn’t know. Dad barely acknowledges me in our own pack so why would anyone else know I exist?

The thought stings more than I expect. And then it hits me. The rejection. This is it. This is where it’s going to happen.

Why would someone like him want anything to do with someone like me?

“With a daughter like Everett’s.” My mind whispers cruelly.

“It’s beautiful out here.” He says suddenly, glancing around. Like none of this is happening. I swallow hard, and I force the words out.

“If you’re going to reject me, can you just do it?” I asked.

He looks back at me instantly and the surprise on his face is real.

“What?”

“This.” I say, gesturing between us. “This is torture. If you’re going to reject me, just get it over with.”

He stares at me like I’ve said something insane.

“Why would I bring you out here to reject you?”

“Because it’s private.” I say quickly. “And because I saw your face when you found out who I was. You weren’t exactly thrilled.”

Silence stretches between us. His eyes search mine and I can see something shifting behind them. Something complicated and intense.

His eyes flicker darker for a second, almost black and I feel his wolf push forward. He’s fighting something. I can feel it.

“I have no intention of rejecting you.” He says finally, his voice firm. “I swear. Even if our packs don’t get along.”

“What?” I frown. “I’ve never heard of any feud.”

“Your father doesn’t talk about it.” He says. “He pretends we don’t exist.”

“Why?” I ask.

Ethan exhales slowly. “It started with my father and yours. I don’t even know why. But when my father died your dad kept it going. He hates us. No matter who’s in charge.”

“Yeah.” I mutter. “That sounds like him.”

He studies me for a second and then his expression shifts again.

“What do you think he’ll do when he finds out about us?” He asks. “Does he hurt you?”

My chest tightens as I think about earlier. The slap and the way it felt. The way it didn’t surprise me.

“No.” I say quietly.

It’s a lie but I don’t know how to tell the truth.

“I don’t know what he’ll do.” I said.

“We need to be careful.” He says. “He won’t like this. I don’t want you getting hurt because of me.”

“I can handle my father.” I say quickly. “I’ve been doing it my whole life.”

He looks at me like he doesn’t believe that. Like he knows more than he’s saying. And maybe he does.

“I don’t want to leave you there if you’re not safe. You’re my mate. I want to take you with me. Protect you. So I need you to go home.” He says. “Pack your things and leave. I’m not allowed on your territory but he can’t stop me from coming to get you.”

“It’s not that simple.” I say, shaking my head. “He won’t just let me walk out. And my mother… and Ryker… I can’t just leave them.”

The words feel heavy. Before he can respond, I hear footsteps. Ryker.

He approaches us and Ethan stands. They shake hands like they’ve done it before. There’s no hostility. Just understanding.

“Summer.” Ryker says, his tone urgent. “We need to go. I had the car brought around.”

He glances at Ethan. “Sorry. I gave you as much time as I could. I had to keep James busy but he’s probably already called Dad.”

My stomach drops. Of course he has.

“Alpha James is friends with your father?” Ethan asks, his voice hard.

“Yeah.” I mutter. “The creep himself.”

Ryker pulls a piece of paper from his pocket and hands it to Ethan.

“Her number.” He says quietly. “Dad doesn’t pay attention to her phone. It’s safe.”

“I appreciate that.” Ethan says.

I look at him and something in my chest twists.

“Do we have to go?” I ask softly.

I don’t want to leave. Not yet. Not when I’ve just found him. Ethan steps closer and his hands cup my face. The sparks hit again but stronger this time and it steals my breath.

“It’s alright.” He murmurs. “We’ll see each other again soon. I promise.”

And then he presses a kiss to my forehead. And it feels like everything. Ryker pulls me back gently and we head to the car. Just as we get in I see Alpha James storming out onto the veranda looking for me so Ryker doesn’t hesitate.

“Go.” He tells the driver.

The ride home is quiet. Too quiet. Ryker is already thinking, already planning what to say, what not to say and we both know one thing for sure. We can’t mention Ethan.

Not if we want to survive this. We take the long way home trying to buy time, trying to make it look normal. But when we arrive, they’re waiting.

“How did it go?” Mom asks brightly like nothing is wrong.

“Struck out again.” Ryker says easily.

“Yeah.” I say quickly. “Me too. He was there, but… you were right. He rejected me.”

“Honey.” Mom says softly. “I’m sorry. There’s always a second chance mate.”

“Oh please.” Dad scoffs stepping forward. “She’ll never find one. She didn’t have a chance in the first place.”

“Dad, that’s enough.” Ryker snaps.

“I’m just being honest.” He says. “You, on the other hand, will find your Luna. Or you’ll do what I did and choose one.”

“I’ll wait for my fated mate.” Ryker says firmly.

Dad’s eyes flick to me. Sharp and suspicious. And it makes my stomach twist.

“It’s been a long night.” I say quickly. “I’m going to bed.”

I don’t wait for permission. I just leave.

I shower and I scrub everything off. The makeup. The night. Him. But it doesn’t work.

Because when I crawl into bed all I can see are emerald green eyes. The scar above his brow. The way he looked at me. And my phone buzzes.

UNKNOWN: Hi Summer. Now you have my number too. I’ll be seeing you again soon. Ethan.

And even when I finally fall asleep…he’s still there. And I don’t hate it. I don’t fear it. I want it.

“Summer.”

My eyes snap open. My mother is shaking me.

“Get up.” She says urgently. “Get up now.”

“What?” I mumble still half asleep.

“Your father is downstairs.” She says. “With Alpha James.”

“They’re planning your wedding.”