Page 47 of The Alpha and His Enemy Wolf
She’d gone through a lot of soul searching during her time with Rafe, especially during her walks to clear her head. So much had happened in less than a week, changing her for good. She’d come here to spy on him, but had fallen hard for him instead.
The change wasn’t just in her heart, but affected her future—which at this point remained anxiously murky. Was it possible to convince her father to change his mind about finding a way to live beside the Franconia pack?
She grunted. Unlikely.
Even if that was possible, he’d never let her live with one—especially the alpha.
Wait, she couldn’t think too far ahead. Step one was challenging enough.
As she approached his cabin, she trekked on heavy feet through the snow. She swallowed the fear that clutched her throat and forced herself to knock on his door. “Papa, it’s me, Mila.”
He opened the door and assessed her with questioning eyes. “You’re back sooner than expected.” He welcomed her inside and closed the door behind him.
She glanced at a chair, but was too tense to sit. “That’s because we didn’t need the full week.”
His heavy brows drew closer together. “Did you get us any valuable information?”
On a slow exhale, she shook her head. “It didn’t work out that way.”
His mouth pulled into a grim line. “I thought that was the reason you were going over there.” His voice lowered with undisguised displeasure.
“Yes, Papa, but…” She shrugged. “I went there to do so, but was wrong. The Franconia pack is not our enemy. I’ve talked to them and learned about what happened. It all stemmed from a misunderstanding about our intentions. They have no desire to fight and offered several times to make peace between our packs.” Surprised that she’d managed to get all those words out, she finished with, “We should drop this unnecessary quarrel with their pack and live in peace. It’s our best option.”
Her father’s mouth slowly widened into an angry O. “What the hell is going on, Mila? What exactly were you doing over there?”
She swallowed. “I talked to them and heard things from their perspective.”
He snorted. “A distorted outlook, of course.”
She slanted her head. “Just as ours can be considered if we only look at it from our point of view.”
He paced on heavy feet over his wooden floors. “Perhaps it was a mistake to let you go over there. You’re too young, too impressionable, and got in over your head.”
“No, Papa, that’s not true. Learning to be more open-minded doesn’t make me naïve.”
He shook his head. “I never should have allowed this. From now on, you stay out of it. We’ll get someone else who can finish the job they agreed to do.”
It was as she feared. He thought her unable to think for herself. If she didn’t stand up to him now, she’d be a fly fighting helplessly in a web until she finally tired out and accepted her dismal fate.
“Papa, I want to go back.”
He jerked his head and gave her a hard stare. “What?”
“My future is there with the Franconia pack.”
His expression contorted with a mixture of disbelief and fury. “What is wrong with you? What happened over there?”
“Something wonderful.” She took a deep breath and exhaled. “I met my mate.”
Her father’s eyes widened as round as two full moons. “No.” He squeezed a hand into a fist at his side. “Impossible.”
“Yes,” she declared.
“Not a Franconia shifter.”
“Yes, Papa. It’s true. I hope you’ll find a way to accept it and be happy for me. After all, weren’t you and Mom happy together?”
His lips curled into a scowl. “Of course. We weren’t from enemy packs.” He stepped closer and cupped her face, tipping her chin up so she was forced to look into his eyes. “Tell me. Which one?”
