Page 14 of The Last Ultimatum: Part 1

“She’s right. What’s it to you, anyway? You didn’t even know her.”

“I know she left me. We had an arrangement.”

“You really believe she did that on purpose?”

“I think the timing was quite calculated or suspicious at best. I know she was not thrilled with the mating, but I didn’t think her to go to such lengths to get away from me. But that is also none of your damn business.”

“No. Chelle wouldn’t do this. She wouldn’t. Chloe’s not a liar. Something terrible has happened to her.”

I thought he might soften just a bit, and then he stiffened again.

“It’s of no concern to me.”

So this was to be my life with this uncaring arsehole who could so easily exchange one sister for another. This was bullshit.

“We’ll leave tomorrow first thing. You’ll tour my territory and all those formalities. It was already scheduled for Chelle. So I suppose you’ll just have to do now, Matilda.”

The fact that he called Chelle by her shortened named yet refused to do so for me only pissed me off more.

He got up with that awful arrogance about him. His sharp chin jutted out almost in challenge.

“Tomorrow then. Be ready early.”

And then he let himself out as I sat there staring after him.

“He’s horrible. Youcannotmate him,” Kayla insisted.

“I’m not sure I have a choice.”

“You need to ask your Dad if I can travel with you. I do not want you going off into Campbell territory without me, or at least some protection.”

“I’ll talk to him. I don’t want to go alone. He’s awful.”

“Are you going to summon him here or think they’ll actually let you leave this room?”

I laughed. “Well, let’s try and see.”

Getting up, I walked to the door and opened it. Two men stepped in to cover it.

“Move out of my way.” When they didn’t move, I spoke a little louder. “Move! I need to speak to my father.”

“Sorry ma’am. We have orders.”

“By whom?”

“Aiden,” one of them admitted.

“With full support of your father,” the other added.

“I am not a prisoner, and you cannot keep me here. Kayla, let’s go.”

Together, we pushed through them. They let us go, but followed. It was infuriating.

I stomped down the hall like a toddler having a tantrum all the way to my father’s office. Knowing better than to just barge in, I pounded my fist on the door and waited.

“Come in.”

Kayla followed me inside. She always had my back in everything in life.

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