I slam the door so hard Zara flinches. She clutches the hem of her dress in both hands, cradling them like a baby when she steps out.
Roy exits the front seat of the black BMW with a grim expression; he says nothing throughout the ride.
"Good evening, Alpha," a few guards chorus. We walk into the enormous Packhouse, which shelters the Beta, Gamma, and a few highly professional warriors. It's a tall four-story house painted red with a shade of blue symbolizing what the Pack stands for—resilience.
There is no record of how the Pack, Leading Moon, got its name. The ancestry is a complicated one, and nobody has cared to dwell on that thought. Perhaps, because it's ruling over the other Packs.
"Get the car parked." I point at the stranded car sideways; half of it is by the gates while the other is in the compound.
"Come this way." Jack politely leads a shivering Zara towards the entrance. She gazes at the building dumbfounded, mouth agape, taking it all in.
I stare at her expression keenly. My wolf nuzzles his head merrily, happy to have pleased his mate. I clear my throat, gaining her attention. She hides her face with a few strands of her hair.
I don't know what prompted me to do what I did, but I tuck the hair out of her face and strangely say to her in what I hope is a grim face because there's no way I'm soft. "You are free to admire all you want, Queen." I cringe at the nickname. She nods, her gaze locked on mine—strong, certain, and unafraid. I fight the growing urge to pat her hair. I blame whatever emotions I have on the goddam mating.
"Your dad is ready to meet you, Alpha," a pup calls out to me. He swings the wooden sword to the right and walks away. Pups younger than fourteen are trained vigorously daily to keep the lineage running. Refusal to participate in extracurricular activities of any sort will lead to banishment or demotion to the Omega position.
Jack nods. He opens the door, and Zara slides in. My dad sending someone younger indicates how bad his mood is. Roy comes in after me, holding the doorknob in place.
"Whatever it is, I hope it doesn't have to do with her," he refers to Zara. She is sightseeing the hallway gleefully, admiring the portraits like it's a trophy and she can't get enough of it. For a minute I forgot that she was an Omega with no privileges to get mixed in with the Elites. It bothers me that she has no experience and pulls at a string deep in my narcissistic heart. Yet, it drives me crazy the need to shape her into a harsher and more well-known version. Not in a good way, trust me.
We take the elevator to the fifth and peak floor. It has a wing for the ex-Alpha and an attached office where private matters are discussed.
"Ladies first." Jack jokingly says. Zara smiles lovingly at him which makes me so angry I kick the door open.
"Welcome." Dad is sitting majestically at the center of the room on a mahogany chair, tapping a pen on the desk while trying hard to keep his cool. The lip chewing gave it away.
"You called for me." Roy closes the door behind me while I await Father's response. Zara takes a seat at the far end of the rectangular-shaped room before bowing at him. Allen's hands are clasped firmly on his mate's waist. I wish more than anything to wipe the grin off his stupid face.
"Sit." Dad motions to the only available chair beside Roy.
"What do you need me for?" I inquire. I didn't drive hours just to have a little chit-chat and he knows it. Our relationship has always been rocky—none pretends to like the other.
"I see you have found your mate." He snares. I don't answer, I give him an unsatisfying look. My arms are wound around my chest, I maintain a simple posture. Just standing trying not to lose my shit.
"News travels fast, don't they?" I raise an eyebrow.
"You think I will let you go to an event by yourself?"
"Of course." I massage my temples. Ever since I turned eighteen, he has been a lot more strict. Building me up for the Alpha position while simultaneously keeping tap of my private life. I get used to the repetitive observations, but everything has a limit to it and he needs to know that.
"I don't care what you think, Father. You don't own me. I'm a grown man and you have no say in what I do. And I swear to God if I sight any of your men near me. It's not going to go well."
"What are you going to do? Use your Alpha title to discipline me. Let me tell you something, son—" he chirps.
"What?" I say sarcastically waving my hands in the air.
"I made you who you are." He slams his fist on the hardwood, flinching when he hits a nerve. He rubs his hands on his trousers painfully, smacking his lips together.
"Take it easy, father." Lily gently takes his hands in hers, checking for any damages. Allen proudly looks at his mate, laid-back.
"I'm okay. Thank you, dear." Lily is a favorite of his. It might be because Allen found his mate before me, or the thought of his son's mate being an heir to the Alpha throne delights him.
"An Omega cannot be a Luna," he announces. It's true—no such case has ever existed. He has every right to oppose it, but it won't matter. The Alpha title is bound by blood, dominance, and power—enough to overrule even the Council.
"Who says that?" I stand up to him. Father unclasps his hands from Lily's and confronts me. He throws a notebook on the adjacent wall; it hits the shelf, knocking some books on the floor.
"Me. I've called upon a council meeting in five days. As a former alpha of this Pack, they respect me enough to adhere to me. You will resign, and Allen will be next in line." Zara's trembling figure is enough to set the wheels in my head spinning fast and out of control. Roy and Jack watch silently; they don't speak unless I ask them to, which is very convenient in this situation.
"Don't ever look down on my mate. You bug me to get one and when I do, you complain. Zara is very competent and entitled to the Luna position. I don't care whatever you say." I say firmly.
I'm the only one allowed to bully her; she is mine.