Kiara watched her father in confusion. Her mind swirled trying to piece together what he meant. When nothing but mumbled thoughts ran through her mind, she shook her head to gain clarity. “How do you intend to ease my suffering?”
He offered his hand to her. “Come with me and I’ll show you.”
“Okay,” Kiara responded, unsure.
Adric led her through the forest, a long walk back to the house that took well over forty minutes. Silence crept around them as Kiara ran scenarios through her mind of how he could ease her pain. How could he fix the fact she loved a man forbidden to her, least of all, without knowing of it? She couldn’t imagine anything would fix the emptiness in her heart.
Reaching the edge of the forest, her father’s country mansion shone through the night. Lit up in a grand-scale, the country estate looked beautiful with its natural wood trim and wraparound porch. Kiara inhaled, scenting many werewolves skulking about the grounds. Not a surprise, the home always had at least twenty of her father’s guard for protection.
At the front door, Adric ushered Kiara in and closed the door behind him. He strode down the hall, into the sitting room, and as Kiara followed, another scent she didn’t recognized filled her nose. Male werewolf. One, though, she’d never met before.
She entered the quaint room and found the source. A stealthy werewolf sat on the leather sofa, ankle resting on his knee with an arrogant smile on his face. He smelled of Alpha, powerful and strong, and the confident note in his eyes declared he led a wolf pack. Handsome, no doubt about it, with his dark styled hair, thick muscular body and a face women would swoon over. Not Kiara, though. Her heart belonged to Cruz.
r /> “Take a seat, Kiara,” her father told her. With hesitation, Kiara sat in the sofa across from the werewolf. She looked back to her father as he said, “I’d like you to meet Milo.”
Remembering her manners, Kiara smiled, glancing Milo’s way again. “Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Milo inclined his head. His gaze stayed trained on hers, in a way to make her feel uncomfortable. Why did he look at her with such a territorial hint in his eyes? “The pleasure is all mine, Kiara.” And why did his voice roll with lust and his nostrils flare, talking in her scent?
What was going on? Kiara looked to her father for answers. He merely sighed and sat in the chair between Milo and her. She glanced back to Milo, who continued to stare right through her. Finally, after a long moment, she laughed the awkwardness away, looking to her father. “Sorry, I’m not quite sure if I’m supposed to say something here.”
Her father paused. Not a good sign. “You’re twenty-four now, and I hoped a mate would show himself to you. Prayed I wouldn’t need to intervene to ensure your happiness, but I believe waiting for him is no longer an option.”
“What?” Kiara gasped in total understanding now.
“I won’t have you pining any longer,” Adric commanded. “I’ve seen the signs, watched you mope around, barely a spark of life in your eyes. As your Alpha and your father, it’s my duty to see you’re given what you need.”
Kiara’s heart sank. No, he read her all wrong. He thought she pined for her werewolf mate, which did happen every now and again. The need to mate grew so intense the werewolf mourned until they found them, but she didn’t suffer this want. “Father,” she barked. “You have it all wrong.”
“Do I?” Adric countered. “Explain to me then why you’ve been behaving so dissolute?”
Kiara opened her mouth to tell him, but couldn’t let the words fall from her lips. He’d never forgive her if he knew. “I-I…”
“As I thought,” Adric replied with a confirmed nod of his head. “You’re a quiet wolf, Kiara. I know you’d never ask this of me, and I’m not even sure you understand what you’re going through. But I’ve seen this type of behavior before. I recognize you are pining, and I won’t allow it to destroy you.”
“But I don’t want a mate,” was all Kiara’s panic would allow her to say.
“You may not believe this,” her father continued, “but, Kiara, werewolves don’t know they are pining, and you are so young, I think you aren’t recognizing the signs.”
Now, faced with the situation, she could see how her father came to this conclusion. Without knowing she was lonely because she missed Cruz, she could see why he assumed she craved her mate. Kiara glanced to Milo, understanding his role here now. “So, Milo…” She couldn’t even finish her words.
“Milo,” her father filled in what she couldn’t bear to say, “is Alpha of Maine, and has also been in search of his mate for years.” He glanced to Milo. “How many years now?”
“Too many.” Milo replied, with the same arrogant smile.
Kiara wouldn’t fault him for the confidence. All Alphas held a strong air about them. They weren’t Alpha for nothing; the trait had been born into them and was the exact reason that made them leaders. Nevertheless, she didn’t want him; she wanted Cruz. “I-I…” Again, she couldn’t find words to express herself. How could she say no? She couldn’t. Her father attempted to take care of her, give her what he thought she needed, but he didn’t know the whole truth.
Adric cleared his throat, stood from his chair, and approached her, kneeling at her feet. “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize the signs sooner. You shouldn’t have suffered such agony for as long as you have. I’m to blame for misreading you, wanting to keep you my little girl and not share you with the world.” He gestured toward Milo. “He’s a kind, fair Alpha. The allegiance of your bond will only strengthen our packs.”
“But Father?” Kiara snapped, needing a way out, searching for a reason to stop this insanity.
Adric shook his head, ignoring her apprehension. “You’ll find happiness with him, Kiara. He’ll provide protection for you.”
“I don’t love him,” Kiara growled, feeling out of control. The room spun a little, throwing her off her axis, and heat flushed her skin.
“It’s not always about love,” Adric replied in a soft tone. “Your mother and I weren’t destined mates.”
She’d never heard this before. “You weren’t?”