Page 49 of Wolf's Reckoning
Tyler scoffed. “Sounds like you’ve already made your choice.”
“I have.”
Then I looked at Dex. “I don’t need a husband beside me to know what’s best for my pack. I choose neither of you.” I saw the surprise in his eyes and the flash of fury before he quickly masked it.
I left them there. Let them chew on it. Let them second-guess everything they thought they knew about the shifters of the Hollow. We deserved their respect as a pack.
I wasn’t picking a husband. Not like this. Not now. I was choosingmyself. I was reminded to be the wolf I had always been. The one who wouldn’t break when I stood at the front of the line and refused to kneel. The fact it was Wolfe who reminded me of that was not important. I was sure I’d have gotten there eventually. Best not to dwell on it.
Now I just had to make sure my dad and the druid accepted it. I doubted Wolfe would care one way or the other. I didn’t examine the bitter taste in my mouth at that realization.
I entered my father’s chambers quietly, grateful to see him still awake. The candles were dimmed, the fire low, and the druid was gone. For once, it was just him and me.
He was lying on his side, facing the window, looking smaller than I ever remembered. “Rowen,” he greeted me. “It’s been quite the day,” he rasped, without turning.
I moved to the chair beside the bed and sat, notanswering right away. Just watching the slow rise and fall of his chest. Listening to the crackle of the hearth. Letting the weight of the day settle between us.
“I couldn’t stomach it,” I said finally. “Pretending like I had a say in marriage when we all know I don’t.”
He smiled faintly. “That’s never stopped you before.”
“No,” I murmured. “But I thought maybe it wouldn’t matter this time if I chose myself. Chose myself over a suitor.”
He turned his head, eyes finding mine.Goddess, he looked tired.
“It does matter,” he said. “It matters more than our pack will ever admit. They think control is strength. But you…you make them feel seen, Rowen. That’s why they follow you.”
I didn’t want to cry. I’d done enough of that lately. But hearing him say it—like he still believed I wasmeantto lead, even when everything around us said I couldn’t—cracked something open in my chest.
“I’m tired of fighting ghosts,” I whispered. “Tradition. Expectations. Males who think they’re owed me.”
His hand, veined and cool, reached for mine. “Then stop fighting them. Startleadinganyway.”
“Why, Dad? I can’t be alpha. I can’t even be pack leader.”
“No,” he said, voice rough. “But you can be the heart of this Hollow. You already are.” Silence stretched, soft this time. The kind that didn’t need to be filled. After a moment, he added, “Wolfe will be a good leader for this pack.”
“Probably,” I agreed quietly.
“Does that scare you?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “Because he sees me. And if I fall apart or mess up, he’ll see that too.”
Malric gave a soft, low laugh that caught in his chest. “Then don’t fall apart yet. Not until you’ve finished terrifying those suitors and reminding your pack why they will follow you.”
I smiled, even though my throat hurt. “I’ll try.” I plucked at a thread on my dark combat pants. “I told Dex and Tyler I wasn’t picking either of them.”
He squeezed my hand once, then let go. “That’s my girl.”
I watched him as he lay there. “You knew I was never picking them?” I asked quietly, disbelief in my voice.
Dad snorted. “I’d have disowned you if you had.”
“The druid?”
My dad squinted as he thought about it. “Think you might need to ask them to forgive you. They’ll get over it though.”
I should have felt relief. I didn’t. I felt irrationally angry. “What was thepointof this charade if you didn’t want me to go through with this?”
