“And I never listen,” I chuckled while squeezing him, and he released me. “I’ll finish unpacking if you want to go for a run.”
But before he could speak, there was a knock at the door.
My nostrils flared, and right away, Dad and I grew tense. The front door opened without either us moving or saying anything, and Colin walked in. Surprisingly, Jackson wasn’t tailing him.
“Mathieu, Diana,” Colin said while looking around. “The house is coming together nicely.”
Neither Dad nor I answered, and Colin didn’t care that he was intruding on our space. With his arms clasped behind him, he took a breath.
“I’ll make this brief, but I wanted to thank you, Diana, for the part you played in making this a reality,” Colin smiled. “I suppose I owe you.”
“I didn’t do this for you,” I replied with hesitation. “I did this for my Dad and the few pack members that genuinely needed this change. I’m not stupid. I know you were using me to cloud Kaleem’s judgment, but he’s not someone your tricks will work on, even if enforced through me.”
“We’re here, aren’t we?” Colin asked with a tilt of his head, and I growled.
“Diana,” my Dad said with a warning, but I’d just about had it with Colin.
Who did he think he was fooling coming here to say thank you? He owed me? I preferred being run over by a truck than accepting anything from this man because with one hand out to offer me something, the other hand was behind his back holding a knife, ready to stab me the second I reached out.
“But what does it say that Kaleem was willing to let us all return, tohelpour pack, after what you did, and even now, you prefer playing games instead of being straight up? How can you afford a luxury office in the town over when the pack has struggled to find meals?”
All the expression from Colin’s face was wiped away, and he said nothing in response. He only kept staring at me, and Dad grew tense. I wasn’t looking to start trouble, but I wouldn’t smile and play nice with this monster.
I was a part of this pack, and I was stuck here, but I was chewing my way through the rope Colin tied around my neck.
“You don’t want me to be with Kaleem, right?” I asked. “But you want me to be your little spy? How do you see that working out? How am I to spy on Kaleem without getting close to him?”
Colin reached out, and before my father or I could act, he slapped me. My head whipped to the side, and I tasted blood while my father growled.
“Don’t let returning to Wolfcreek cloud your intelligence. Have you forgotten your place already?” Colin growled when I faced him again, and I held my hand out when Dad stepped forward.
“How dare you put your hands on my daughter?” Dad growled.
Dad didn’t have to say much to show his hatred. It was evident enough in his glare. His otherwise warm eyes were filled with murder, and I couldn’t imagine the restraint he had to not attack Colin now. But if he did, this situation would be made worse.
Both men stared at each other, the room grew smaller as they readied themselves to go head to head, and I ignored the pain pulsing across my cheek. Colin and Dad turned to look at me when I started laughing, Colin with confusion and Dad with concern.
Dad had already fought one battle, and I was going to fight this one.
I stuck a finger into my mouth and felt a small cut on my gum that was already healing.
“My place?” I mumbled more to myself than to Colin. “What place is that? Are you talking about me being the daughter of the bravest man in this pack, your niece, the only female in your bloodline, or Kaleem’s mate? I have so many places, Alpha Colin. Which are you speaking of?”
“Did you really think I wouldn’t find out that you slept with him?” Colin growled. “You just said it yourself, you’re the only female in my bloodline, and I won’t allow you to taint the blood of my people. You and Kaleem won’t be mated. You won’t have a future. I can promise you that so whatever delusions you have because we’re back in town, forget them. You were meant to stay close to him but with your fucking legs closed!”
“My legs being open or closed is none of your business,uncle! Whether it’s Kaleem or anyone else, who I choose to be with is my decision and something you will never have control of! Slap me all you want, but that will never change!”
Frankly, I was only still in this pack because Dad was. Colin knew that was the only thing tying me here because he couldn’t stop me if I wanted to leave. He could kiss his prize she-wolf goodbye. Furthermore, we were still his little family secret, a secret he didn’t want to get out, and I was suddenly feeling chatty.
I swallowed my blood. “You might not have noticed this yet, but there is nothing you can do to hurt me. You’re the one that sent me to Kaleem, that’s on you, but there is nothing you can do to me that’s not been done already.”
Colin laughed softly, his lips curving with a sinister smile, and his eyes darted to Dad. I clenched my jaw, his silence, and correction loud enough with the way he stared at Dad before turning away.
“From where I stand, you have a lot to lose, Diana,” he paused at the door. “You should think about that.”
“You know,” I called before he closed the door, and he paused. “If you’ve ever wondered if I hate you, I do.”
***