Page 29 of My Brutal Alpha

They both looked pissed, as I imagined they would be. I was surprised they didn't show up sooner after the gym's opening day.

"What the hell is going on with this supposed engagement?" Dad asked, giving me a look I knew all too well from my childhood.

Once, it would've shaken me. It would've influenced me to do whatever he wanted without question, near the point of groveling, just to make sure he took it easy on me.

But at that moment, I was indifferent to it. I did my best to keep my cool as I met his gaze. Being taller than both of them certainly helped my efforts.

While I didn't want to cause more problems for me and Zoe, and a part of me didn't want to keep pulling her along for it, I had no choice but to lean into it.

"It's true," I began, wearing the faintest grin, aware that I had to really sell it. "What you saw and heard at the gym was true, hence why I can't marry Nora. That's the main reason why I refused."

They both looked shocked, as if they half expected me to admit it was all a ruse and that I never actually withheld anything from them. Almost like they were hoping I'd back down from it and admit I was all wrong.

But that wasn't going to happen.

"You can't be serious," Mom muttered, looking thoroughly disgusted at the idea of me taking control of my own life.

Regardless of our engagement not being real, the audacity and entitlement that came from them very much was.

Even while I tried to explain that I was taken, even though it was fake, they refused to accept what I had to say.

It was so typical of them and only continued to remind me of exactly why I left them behind in the first place.

"I'm entirely serious," I said firmly, feeling as more anger flared within me. "You coming here doesn't change any of that."

Dad clenched his jaw. "While I understand you didn't know about this arrangement with Kody before, that's no reason to continue with this ridiculous engagement."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Ridiculous?"

He scoffed. "That's exactly what it is. You really believe you'd get anything out of being engaged to that woman?"

The way those words left his mouth with disdain and a lack of respect woke up that protective side of me—the bond that linked us together. It took a lot of willpower to hold it back, regardless of how much I wanted to snap at him.

"You don't get to decide what I do or who I value in my life," I returned, tone sharp and unwavering. "It doesn't matter what plans you made behind my back or what promises you foolishly agreed upon. I am engaged, and that won't change just because you've asked me to."

"We're not asking...we're telling you to," Dad added, his eyes doing their best to throw me off my rhythm.

But I didn't let them. Instead, that irritation grew into anger as I looked down at him.

I hated how they felt like I needed to answer to them. That I was still someone to be ordered around despite being my own man and alpha.

They lost the ability to control me the moment I left their pack, even if it meant leaving everything behind. I did it for me, and that was probably the one smart decision I ever made.

At least I could get that one right.

"That's bold coming from someone standing in my territory—and one who was never invited in the first place."

"We're your parents; we don't need an invite," he returned, his eyes glaring with anger.

"Is that so?"

A sense of anxiety came from Mom then, much to my surprise, given how angry she had been herself. She glanced nervously between us. "All right...that's enough."

As much as I didn't want to back down, I caught the awareness in his features, surely unable to ignore his Luna's request. Instead, Dad bit back whatever else he wanted to say and took a small step back.

As if trying a new approach, Mom took a deep breath and looked at me. "We wouldn't have bothered you if we didn't think this was absolutely necessary...if you don't call this engagement off and follow through with this arrangement, your father's status will be at risk."

I bristled at the implication that I was to blame just because I wanted to make my own decisions and not be steered by whatever they wanted me to do. "How does that correlate at all?"

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