Page 38 of The Alpha's Stolen Mate

Quickly, I explained our fight at the hospital, leaving out Summer's involvement. I made it seem that Axel attacked me because I accused him of being a traitor to WaterLock. I told him about my fear of Axel being involved with the Rogues and threatening our pack. Then, I explained that I was worried that Axel would gather an army of Rogues and attack WaterLock. After I was finished, my dad was silent for so long that I had to check my phone screen to make sure he hadn't hung up.

“Well, that's it then, isn't it?” he breathed out.

His voice made a jolt go down my spine. I'd never heard him sound so defeated.

“Dad, we can't give up. We have to protect the people in our pack. I’ve been working on something for a long—”

“I would never suggest giving up on WaterLock,” my dad said. “No, I meant, this is your time to shine, Son. The only way that WaterLock will be able to survive a planned Rogue wolf attack is for you to marry the Alpha King's daughter.”

My heart stopped beating.

I should have been expecting him to say that. But after everything that happened today, Olivia and her corrupt royal father were the furthest things from my mind.

The idea of marrying anyone besides Summer was implausible. I couldn't even picture it. It was her or nothing.

“King Ezekiel’s latest offer was ridiculous,” I said. “He wanted my company and an exorbitant amount of money, too. And he was only going to give us ten of his warriors. How would that protect our whole pack from the Rogues? Just listen, Dad. We don't need the Alpha King. I have another plan that—”

He cut me off for the second time.

“King Ezekiel contacted me a month ago. He knows that the Rogue wolf problem is only getting worse, and he wanted to offer me another deal,” my father revealed. “He is willing to give us one-third of his Royal Guard. So, if we pay him and you give him your company, then you can marry Olivia.”

Marrying someone else other than Summer would be like trying to speak a language I didn't know.

It would be impossible.

“I won't do it,” I said, and even though he couldn't see me, I shook my head. “I'm not marrying Olivia.”

“Why the hell not?” my dad demanded.

“You know why! I think the Alpha King is corrupt, and if we align with him, WaterLock will be aligning with a criminal. What if he’s working with the Rogues in some way? I don’t trust him.”

“That's preposterous. You don't know what you're talking about,” he said with a hint of superiority in his tone. “I've told you. I've investigated him myself, and there's no truth to those rumors.”

“Dad, I wish you would just listen to me for once in your life.”

“How dare you speak to me that way! You may be an adult, but I'm still your Alpha,” he said.

“Right, you're always my Alpha first and my father second.”

A silence settled over us like dense fog.

“Gabriel, you have to marry Olivia so WaterLock can be protected by the Royal Guard. If you don't do this, you will sentence everyone in our pack to death. You’re the one who just said that you think Axel is going to attack our pack with an army of Rogue wolves. WaterLock cannot survive a full-scale attack without the help of the king's warriors.”

“But—”

“No. End of discussion. If you don't do this, I'll tell the Elders you aren't fit to be Alpha,” my father threatened.

My mouth dropped open.

In my pack, the current Alpha had to approve of the future leader of the tribe in order for the Alpha Ceremony to take place. Since the title was passed down from father to son, this was more of a formality than anything.

“Are you threatening me, Dad?”

“There’s nothing I wouldn't do for WaterLock. Can you say the same, Gabriel?”

And without waiting for an answer to his question, my father hung up on me.

I wanted to throw my phone at the streetlight. Instead, I paced the sidewalk for the better part of an hour.

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