Page 44 of Fall of the Alpha

“I do not.” Her father shrugged. “It was not personal. And trust me, I was very disappointed he missed you.”

Bella sucked in a breath. Why was her father antagonizing Malachi? That was practically a threat! She also wondered what Malachi meant by the Omega who would have been her mate, though she wasn’t surprised to hear that there had been one. He was an older Alpha, after all. It would have been more surprising if he’d never had an Omega he wanted to mate.

Rather than waiting for Malachi to answer, her father continued.

“And I suppose you’ll want an ambassador from Zone One here as well? A hostage for good behavior?” The sarcasm threaded through his voice made it clear what he thought about that.

“I won’t need one. We’ll seal this treaty with a mating. Your daughter to me.”

26

NEGOTIATIONS

Bella

Cora had said if she wanted to see her parents, she would, but Bella wasn’t sure she wanted to.

Not after she’d had to listen to her father negotiate her marriage with the Wolf.

Even knowing she was listening hadn’t stopped her father from trying to get the best deal possible out of the proposed treaty. Part of her understood—the needs of everyone in the Zone were more important than her, but it still hurt. Because he was her father. She wanted what was best for everyone, too, but there was a little voice deep inside her that wailed at having to witness her father not putting her first.

And she was very aware of the things he wanted that benefited no one but himself.

Her mother seemed too traumatized to be taking most of it in. She was rocking back and forth in her seat, her expression tight and growing tighter every time her father pressed the Wolf on an issue rather than immediately agreeing with him. It was clear to Belle that her father might care more about the Zone—and seemingly himself—than he did about her, but her motherwould have traded the world just to see her right now and see that she was safe.

Turning her head, she looked at Cora and Trace. If she was going to be the Wolf’s mate, his Queen, it was time to start acting like it.

“I want to see my mother. Now. Please.” Just because it was more order than request didn’t mean she had to be rude.

Was it a bit of a test to see what they would do? A bit. But she also wanted to see her mother. And she was quickly losing interest in watching her father negotiate.

The moment she made the request, Trace headed for the door. Something inside Bella relaxed, and not just because she was going to be seeing her mother soon. Trace hadn’t hesitated, reacting the same way to her that he did to Cora. Even Alek and Aria didn’t get that—she’d seen every glance the two Alphas exchanged when it came to dealing with those two. They always paused to make sure they were in agreement.

Cora’s hand came down on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze, as though she understood Bella was struggling. It also felt supportive. Like an equal to an equal.

No matter what her father might have thought.

No matter how the Wolf might be acting.

Was another reason she wanted to see her mother because she wanted to prove her own power? To show she could interrupt what they were doing for her own wants?

Maybe.

On the screen, the door opened, and Trace stepped into the room.

“Bella would like to see her mother.”

Before anyone could respond, her mother was on her feet.

“Yes.”

“Carina—”

Bella’s mother ignored her mate, rushing to where Trace was waiting for her beside the door.

“Carina!” Her father slammed his fist down on the table, getting to his feet as he glared at her mother. “They could take you hostage! They could?—”

“We could do that now, if it was what I wanted,” Malachi replied dryly. “Your daughter would like to see her mother now. What my mate wants, she gets.”

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