Page 39 of Fated to the Grizzly

“Yup,” dad croaks.

“Feel dizzy?”

“Yeah.”

“You’ve probably got botulism,” Orion concludes. “You need to go to the hospital.”

“No hospitals.”

Orion’s eyebrows furrow. “Why not?”

“Because they’re not going to have them after the Final Fiasco.”

Orion’s frown gets even deeper. “Is the Final Fiasco coming tomorrow?”

Dad shrugs in that gormless way of his.Who knows?

“Probably not, right. So, I think we’re good.” While Orion scratches his beard thoughtfully, I fight back a grin of delight. No one dares act sarcastic with dad, ever.

“I know you have a vehicle, because Scout told me that you used it to dump her in the wilderness.”

I see a muscle in Orion’s jaw twitch. I understand how much it’s costing him to act civil with my father, and my heart overflows with love for him.

“So, I’m gonna drive you to the nearest ER.”

“No way—” Dad starts to say, but his words are cut off by a mightyroar.

Orion lays both hands on his own chest, like he’s forcing his beast back. “No arguments. You’ve caused Scout enough misery already. The last thing she needs is you taking yourself out with your own stupidity!”

Tingles run through me. I’m so touched by Orion’s protectiveness of me, I could burst.

Orion leans right over my father. “Just one thing I want you to tell me first: Scout won your challenge, yes?”

Dad’s lips work silently. “Yup. Yes, she did,” he croaks at last.

“So, she’s the Alpha now?”

“The what?”

Orion puts his arm around me. “The leader of your clan. Empress of the preppers, whatever you want to call it.”

I snigger.

Dad’s eyes track back and forth, as if they’re moving in time with his brain waves.

“Your two sons haven’t made it back yet, have they?”

“No—” Dad gasps and clutches his stomach.

“Scout even took a rest at my place for five whole days, but she still came back first. I think she’s stronger than all of you put together.”

Dad gives me a long look. “You’re right. I’ve always known it, Scout. That’s why I’ve been so hard on you.”

I give a snarl of disgust. “You’re a very sad man, dad.”

“Say it,” Orion presses him. “Tell her she’s the Alpha.”

“You are, Scout,” dad gasps out. “You’re the Alpha of us from now on.”

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