Chapter 61
420 Paines
Jake leaned back in his chair, scanning the reports scattered across his desk. His head still buzzed from everything he had learned that day, about Donovan and his unexpected gifts. He sighed, shaking it off and trying to focus on the patrol schedule he was halfway through organizing when
someone knocked on the door.
“Come in,” he called.
The door opened slowly and Christian stepped inside. Jake sat up straighter, tension tightening his
shoulders. His father rarely came to his office unless it was official, or unpleasant.
Christian shut the door but didn’t sit. Instead, he paced to the window, hands clasped behind his
back. He stared outside like he needed to gather his thoughts.
Jake waited, refusing to fill the silence. Over the years, he had learned his father would only speak
when ready.
Finally, Christian turned. His expression was drawn, eyebrows pinched. “I owe you an apology,” he
said.
Jake blinked. That was not what he expected.
Christian let out a long breath. “What I said about Lyra being a punishment from the Moon Goddess. It was cruel. Unworthy of me as your father and as the former Alpha.”
Jake’s jaw flexed. “You’re right. It was.”
Christian gave a single, weary nod. “I regret it.”
Jake watched him carefully. “I’m not going to apologize for hitting you.”
His father huffed a faint laugh. “I wouldn’t expect it. I deserved it. I would have done the same… maybe worse, if someone had spoken that way about your mother.”
After a moment, Christian walked over and sank into one of the chairs. He rubbed a hand over his face, the lines there seeming deeper than ever. “You’ve always been stubborn. I suppose I should have known that would extend to the mate the Goddess chose for you.”
Jake’s chest tightened. “Lyra is not a burden. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I will always defend her, even against you. And I am not taking a chosen mate. Not now, not ever.”
A faint smile tugged at Christian’s mouth. “So much like your mother. Fierce. Certain.”
Jake watched his father’s eyes drift away, lost in some memory. Then Christian cleared his throat. “One of the reasons I visited the Harts all those years wasn’t just to keep up appearances. I went there to keep tabs on Lyra. The witches made it clear she was an anomaly. A risk. They wanted reassurances she wouldn’t grow into something dangerous.”
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Jake’s hands curled into fists on the desk. “They wanted her dead.”
+25 Points
Christian met his eyes. “They did. I promised she wouldn’t be a threat. That she would live quietly on the edge of pack life, never holding any influence. That was how I kept her alive and avoided war with the witches.”
A muscle jumped in Jake’s jaw. “So you let her suffer. Let Donovan suffer. Just to appease a bunch
of witches.”
His father flinched. “I was trying to protect the pack from war. From bloodshed. They seemed a necessary sacrifice for everyone else.”
Jake couldn’t hide the disgust that twisted through him.
“I took care of them,” Christian added, his voice low, almost ashamed. “I made sure they had what they needed. I made sure Lyle had what he needed.”
“It was the least you could do,” Jake snapped. He turned slightly away, breathing hard.
Christian rubbed his face. “I asked you to be kind to her, to be friendly. I needed her to trust you so you could keep tabs on her after I stepped down. That’s why I made you go with me every time. But you wouldn’t even go inside. So damn stubborn, even as a boy.”
Jake snorted. “Honestly, I’m glad. I’m glad I never went into that house. Glad I never acted like your
pawn.”
A long silence followed. Christian’s shoulders slumped. “She still could have used your kindness. Even if it wasn’t for the reasons I wanted. She was still Lyle’s daughter. He was like a brother to
me once.”
Jake felt heat rush up his neck. “I know I made mistakes growing up. I know I could have done
better.”
Christian looked at him for a long moment before glancing away. “She’s back now. And she’s your mate. Your Luna. That changes everything. The witches will see her as a threat now. Not just some broken girl on the outskirts.”
“Good,” Jake bit out. “Let them be afraid of her. Let them try.”
Christian barked a laugh, though there was no humor in it. “I used to think the same. That brute strength could fix everything. That if I was hard enough, ruthless enough, no one could ever harm this pack.” His shoulders sagged. “It cost me Lyle. It nearly cost me you.”
Jake’s chest cracked at the raw grief in his father’s eyes. He wanted to stay angry, keep Christian at arm’s length where it was safer. But part of him still ached, seeing the old Alpha look so hollow. Christian leaned forward, elbows on his knees. His voice dropped, tired and rough. “I don’t want to see you make my mistakes. I don’t want you to lose what matters most because you’re too proud
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to see there might be another way.”
Jake swallowed. “I am nothing like you.”
$25 Points
A ghost of a smile touched Christian’s mouth. “You’re more like me than you know. But you’re also better. You see your people. You fight for them, not just for the pack as an idea, but for who they are. Even the broken ones.”
Jake didn’t know what to say. He stared at his father, caught between old bitterness and a
reluctant thread of respect.
Christian stood. “I still worry what this will bring on us. On you. But I can’t stop it. Maybe I shouldn’t even try. I see how you look at her, Jake. That’s not something a father should stand in the way of.”
Jake rose too, meeting him eye to eye. “I love her.”
Christian nodded. “I know.”
He turned to the door, then paused. “You should bring her to dinner on Sunday. Your mother will love her. And we should start preparing her. Get her ready to be Luna.”
Something warm unfurled in Jake’s chest, so unfamiliar it nearly hurt. “I’ll talk to her.”
**
Jake found Lyra in the training hall later. She was sitting cross–legged on the floor while Russ and Donovan worked out nearby, laughing at something he couldn’t hear. When he stepped closer, her eyes lifted to him, her smile softening into something that landed like a blow straight to his ribs.
He didn’t deserve how easy it was for her to look at him that way.
Jake jerked his chin at Donovan and Russ, who gave him quick waves before going back to their lifts. Lyra raised an eyebrow as he came to stand in front of her.
“You look like someone punched you in the gut,” she said.
“Close enough.” He held out his hand. “Come here.”
She took it without hesitation, letting him pull her up. He didn’t stop there, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face in her hair. Her scent settled everything churning in him. For a moment, he just held her, feeling her warm and steady against his chest.
Then she leaned back enough to look at him. “What happened?”
Jake sighed. “My dad stopped by my office. Wanted to talk about you. About us.”
Lyra tensed. “What did he say?”
“He apologized. For the elder meeting. For treating you like a punishment. He’s still worried though, about the witches, about how they’ll see you now that you’ll be Luna.”
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Her face fell slightly. “He’s not wrong.”
“No. But he admitted something I didn’t think he ever would. That he promised them you’d never be a threat. That was why he kept showing up all those years. To keep them satisfied.”
Lyra was quiet, her eyes searching his. “That must have been hard for him to admit.”
“Yeah.” Jake ran his thumb along her side. “But he also said he won’t stand in our way. He told me to bring you to dinner on Sunday, let my mom start preparing you to be Luna.”
Her eyebrows rose. “He’s full of surprises today.”
Jake smiled slightly. “Do you want to go?”
She chewed her lip, clearly torn.
He brushed her hair back from her face. “I know you don’t trust this pack yet. Hell, I barely do. But he’s trying, in his own twisted way.”
Lyra let out a breath. “And you believe him?”
“I don’t know. But I believe he finally sees this is bigger than his pride. And he knows I’d tear down the whole damn world before I let anyone touch you.”
That made her lips curve faintly. “That’s very romantic. In a slightly terrifying way.”
Jake huffed, pressing his forehead to hers. His hands flexed on her hips. “It’s the only way I know
how to be.”
Just then, someone called across the room. “Hey, Lyra!”
She pulled back enough to look over his shoulder. Jake turned and saw Halle striding toward them. Halfway there, Halle froze, eyes darting from Lyra to Donovan. Donovan sat on a bench, staring at Halle with wide eyes, his mouth slightly open.
“Mate,” Halle breathed.
8
