Page 49 of The Wolf She Shouldn't Desire

The sound of a glass being clinked by a knife interrupts us before I can respond. “I would like to make an announcement” my father’s voice booms throughout the room.

I turn to see him smiling towards Zander and I, and my stomach drops in dread.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to announce that my daughter is engaged to be married to Zander, leader of the Timore coven!”

Cheers come from those around us, but I notice it is not enthusiastic and is in fact halfhearted with some subtle and not so subtle glares thrown towards where Zander and I stand and others at my father. Yeah, no one is really happy for this engagement except for my father and Zander. Those close to us congratulate us, and Zander takes the opportunity to thank them with brags about being able to marry the woman he hasalways “seen as his future bride.” I stand in silent disgust at his boasting, refusing to thank anyone for the congratulations they throw my way, no matter if they are sincere or simply saving face.

I catch sight of my father through the movement of bodies in the room. An urge to walk up to him and pummel his face until he is a bloody, unrecognizable sight overcomes me. Before I realize what I’m doing, my feet are moving, taking me across the room and towards my father.

“Ah Talia,” he exclaims with his arms spread wide. “I hope you are enjoying the congratulations after the announcement of your engagement to Zander.”

“Did you not see how people reacted to yourannouncement?” I hiss at him in response.

“They cheered and have been congratulating you and Zander. See?” he gestures back at Zander who is shaking hands with a man I don’t recognize.

“They barely cheered, and if you would have looked a little closer rather than ignoring everyone but yourself, you would have seen the glares and looks of hatred they were throwing at you, Zander, and I, either blatantly or subtly. I told you this was a terrible idea, and I was right!”

“Or you are imagining things around you to fit your own narrative and feelings, daughter,” he calmly throws at me with a threatening undertone. “I know you do not agree with this arrangement as you have made that very clear on many occasions, but this marriage is going to happen.” He comes closer to me and stands over me trying to threaten me. “And I will drag you by your hair to the alter if I have to,” he hisses at me. “Don’t forget your place and what will happen if you don’t stop with this incessant bitching!”

Yet again, he refuses to acknowledge the truth around him and threatens me rather than listening to me.

“Very good,” he says after I refuse to say anything to him. “You are learning. Now, go mingle with our guests and enjoy the congratulations they have to give you on your betrothal. I have business to talk about with Brad.” He walks away from me without another word.

How the hell is this my life? How is that my father doesn’t care what I think or want? He has always been cold and distant with me to a point but never this bad. He never used to be this idiotic when it came to handling business with the coven either. We wouldn’t be the most powerful coven in the city if he was, but lately, he seems to have lost his touch. Some vampires start to lose their wits and minds the longer they are alive, and my father has been around for a while. No one is going to question him, though, with just this lapse in judgement of marrying me off to Zander.

Shaking my head, I move to the bar to retrieve another drink. While waiting, I see a familiar couple from a friendly coven. Shawn and Melanie, I think, are their names. A sweet couple who always seem infatuated with each other. Shawn is whispering something into Melanie’s ear, and she smiles while looking coyly up through her eyelashes at Shawn. The look between them could set the world on fire with how heated it is between them. Melanie seems to glow under Shawn’s attention, and the love between them is almost tangible.

With an ache in my heart, I recall the couple in the park a few hours ago. Two couples who are happy with the one they chose to give their hearts to and vice versa. Two couples who thrive and bask in the pure love for each other. They’ll each go home to lay in bed in the warmth and safety of each other’s arms, solely focused on the other after making love. No fears, no worries, no stress. Nothing but love. A love that I ache for and one I will never have with Zander. No, all that will be between us is hatred and violence. I’ll constantly be looking over myshoulder, probably more than I do in my own coven, waiting for him to try to take what he wants and that I will never give him willingly. I’ll never be able to live in peace or happiness.

I can’t live like that.

My breathing becomes shallow and slightly panicked.

You okay?Danny breaks through my panic as he senses it through the bond.

I take a deep breath to calm myself and feel him pushing comfort and calm towards me through the bond.Yeah, I’m good. Thank you.

I’m here for you if you need me. I can even cause a diversion if you want to ditch this boring fest.

I laugh.I know, and I’ll get back to you on a diversion, possibly.

Before, I had thought about how awful my life would be once married to Zander, but I had never thought about it too closely. Denial can be beautiful that way but makes reality hurt more when it slaps you right in the face when time comes to face it. I’d never thought about it either while looking at a couple that was basking in the love that I want with every fiber of my being. I’ve never had love or true happiness in my life. My life has always been lived with a distrusting heart and always having to look over my shoulder. I can’t afford to let my guard down and let anyone get close, not with being the daughter of the leader of the most powerful coven or being the most feared vampire assassin. There are enemies all around and vampires can be vindictive, vengeful, and deceitful.

But what if who I want isn’t a vampire or an enemy?

The question comes barreling into focus, and my heart skips a beat as my thoughts turn to Jordan.

I try to cut my thoughts off like I usually do when it comes to thinking about him, but this time I find it impossible. The couple I saw a few minutes ago is replaced with Jordan andI. Imagining the companionship and love that could potentially bloom between us that I briefly felt when I was with him in the past, my breathing becomes shallow again but not in a panic this time.

I jerk away from the bar suddenly without any thought and sneak my way quickly towards a door that will allow me to exit the room and make my way out of the house.

Once out of the room, my feet pick up speed in my urgency to change clothes and then find a particular werewolf in this city. I don’t know where I will find him, but I have to.

Chapter 23

Talia

Of all the places I thought I might find Jordan, this is the least likely. I’ve been looking for hours, and of course as I’m about to give up finding him tonight, I find him here. A human bar and not some dive bar but one of the swanky high-end ones that I love to visit on occasion that happens to be near an apartment I own.

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