Page 19 of The Wild Moon
“My bloodline is strong,” Lars said. “It must be continued. Aldridges have ruled the Seguin pack for generations. We will continue to do so. You will do your part. Eventually. If it drives you insane from trying to deny it first…small loss.”
The insidious smile on Lars’ face had me feeling all sorts of unwelcome. He definitely did not care if I lived or died, so long as I bore Johnathan some heirs first. What a lovely father, looking out for his only son’s well-being. Definitely not a psychotic tyrant of an Alpha. Not at all.
“There are plenty of women in this town who I’m sure would have your son’s babies. Women from other packs, too. Trust me. I had to hear all about it when I dated John. You know, before I realized how much like you he was.”
Lars’ hand flashed down. I rocked back in the chair, my cheek ringing with pain. I cried out but quickly bit down. The last thing I wanted to do was give Lars the satisfaction of hearing me in pain.
“You will show him the respect he deserves,” Lars hissed. “His name is Johnathan.”
Well, that explained whereJohngot his fanatical desire not to use the short form of his name. I thought it was his own thing, but nope. Turned out it was dear old dad all along.
Just how much independencedidJohn have? Had he been allowed to date me without asking Dada for permission? Or was that all orchestrated and planned as well? I had to wonder now. After all, where was Johnny boy at the moment? He certainly wasn’t in the tiny little room with Lars and me.
“Thirty days, little wolf,” Lars said when I sat there silently, not bothering to speak anymore. “We’ll see how well you fare. If you continue to deny it…youwillgo Wild. And then I will enact the law and do as I must.”
“Oh, so tough of you to kill little old me,” I muttered.
Lars fixed me with a glare. “Just like your family. I tire of your rebellious ways. Thirty days.”
He was gone before I could open my mouth to ask what the hellthathad meant? Rebellious ways?
My father was one of your biggest supporters, you oversized thundercunt. What rebellious ways could you possibly mean? Hell, even I never rebelled, other than recently when I rejected John. And that was well earned if I do say so myself.
So, what was I missing?
Chapter Twelve
The small, windowless room in which I was being held made it impossible to tell time, but I figured several hours must have passed while I sat in the chair, unmoving.
No sounds reached my ears. Only the single dull yellow bulb overhead provided any light. The metal of the chair was cool to the touch. My wet clothing initially left me chilled, but as time went on, my body heat warmed it until I was just damp. Which was almost worse, in a way, since I couldn’t scratch any of the million itches that broke out across my body.
“This sucks,” I said to myself.
All the while, in the background of my mind, my Soulbond pulsed away, a link to a man I wanted nothing to do with. Or did I? Would it be so bad to submit to it? I would be happy with Johnathan. The Soulbond would see to that.
Fuck right off, I snarled at the thought, recovering my sanity. I shut those treacherous ideas down. There was no way in hell I was going to give up and become a broodmare for this twisted family. No way, not happening.
I struggled some more in my bonds, trying to twist my arms and use my shifter strength to break through them, but they held firm, leaving me feeling weak and useless. I tried to turn to see just how I was secured, but the tightness of my arms bound behind me meant I couldn’t twist far enough to get a good look.
Lars had known what he was doing. Just how many other people had he held prisoner here? I could look down and see that the chair was bolted to the floor. Clearly, this hadn’t been set up for me. It had already existed. Why?
Before I could contemplate that further, my Soulbond pulsed even stronger, and a moment later, the door behind me opened.
“Bravo!” I called, instantly knowing who it was. I tried to whistle but failed to make a sound. I’ve never been able to do that properly. I was really hoping for a one-time wonder, but alas, I failed at that, too, like so many things lately.
“Danielle,” Johnathan said as he came around to my front.
“Vir’s Oath,” I cursed, more in annoyance than anything. “What is it with you and having to use people’s full names? It’s such a mouthful.”
My ex shrugged, looking quite uncomfortable as he stood before me dressed in an expensive dark blue silk shirt, black pants, and chocolate-brown shoes. I noted he carefully avoided the water still puddled around me—there was nowhere for it to drain.
“Why is it you insist on those dusty old curses?” he countered. “Nobody swears by the old gods anymore, Danielle. Just you.”
And my father,I thought sullenly. But what was the point? Johnathan had been indoctrinated by his asshole father. I wasn’t about to break through that wall anytime soon, and I frankly didn’t care to spend the energy trying. He wasn’t worth it.
“So, did Daddy send you in here?” I shot back. “After all, he has to do everything for you. Like you’re a child. Did you run in here and start crying to him when I told you to piss off? Running home to tell on me. Pathetic.”
“I didn’t tell on you,” Johnathan snapped, clenching his hands into fists, his shoulders flexing until the veins in his neck stood out. “It was rather obvious what happened. You know, since you did itin front of the entire pack.”
