Chapter 9
The next morning, Sylvia entered her father’s office, the familiar scent of leather and pine immediately settling over her like a blanket, bringing a rare sense of comfort. It was the first time in weeks she’d felt anything close to peace. Her father, Beta Ray, looked up from his desk, his amber eyes warming as soon as they met hers. Even in stillness, there was a quiet, commanding presence about him–one that had long kept Bloodmoon Pack safe. He gestured toward the chair opposite him, a faint but genuine smile tugging at his lips.
“Sylvia, you look well, he greeted, his voice steady and soothing. Yet, despite his calm demeanor, she caught the flicker of concern in his gaze–the silent worry only a father could express, the way his eyes lingered
Chapter 9
on her face as if searching for something beneath her composed exterior.
She nodded, easing into the chair. “Thanks, Dad. I guess I just needed a bit of fresh air.”
He chuckled softly, pushing his papers aside. “Fresh air or a break from all the chaos?”
“A little bit of both,” she admitted, feeling the weight of her shoulders lighten as she spoke. There was something grounding about his presence–a reminder that not everyone in her life had turned their back on her. Here, with him, she didn’t have to keep up any walls.
But her father’s smile faded, replaced by a more somber expression. “The Mateship Ceremony is only a few weeks away. I wanted to check in–see how you’re holding up. I know this arrangement isn’t ideal.”
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Sylvia avoided his gaze for a moment, tracing absent patterns along the chair’s armrest. “I’m fine, really,” she murmured, though she could feel the weight of his silent questions pressing on her. He wouldn’t push her, but she knew the concern was there, lingering beneath his composed exterior.
He leaned forward, his gaze softening but intense. “It’s natural to feel uncertain, especially with all the secrecy. Marrying someone you don’t even know…” He trailed off, clearly weighing his words. “But this Alpha… he’s the strongest choice, Sylvia. He’ll provide the stability you need.”
Sylvia met his gaze, a mixture of curiosity and unease stirring within her. “You keep saying he’s strong, but who is he, really, Dad? You’ve barely told me anything about him.”
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Her father sighed, a weary look crossing his face. “I can’t tell you everything yet. It was agreed you’d meet him at the ceremony. It’s complicated.” He shifted uncomfortably, his fingers lightly drumming on the desk. “But know this–he’s powerful, Sylvia. More powerful than anyone you’ve met in Bloodmoon Pack.”
Her mind flashed to the doubt that had gnawed at her for so long. “Powerful enough to balance my blood?” she asked quietly, the uncertainty creeping into her voice. She had spent her entire life fighting to control her volatile Lycan blood, trying to prevent it from consuming her. Yet, it always hovered at the edge of her consciousness, that nagging fear of losing control, of being overwhelmed by the raw strength she couldn’t tame.
“Yes,” her father responded, his voice firm, his gaze unwavering, holding hers with an
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intensity that brooked no disagreement. “He will. This Alpha… he’s one of the few who truly understands the ancient bloodlines, Sylvia. He will be able to steady yours.”
Sylvia let the weight of his words sink in, her eyes studying him closely. The years of leadership had left their marks on his face- subtle lines of worry etched around his eyes, but also the quiet strength that had guided Bloodmoon Pack through so many trials.
“What if I’m not ready?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper, the vulnerability in her question cutting through the room like a quiet storm. “What if… I can’t handle it?”
Her father reached across the desk, his hand firm yet gentle as it enveloped hers. His touch was a steady anchor, the kind of grounding she had always relied on, even in the most turbulent of times. “You’re ready,
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Sylvia. You’ve faced more in a few years than most will in a lifetime. And this… this will give you the strength you need to be whole.”
The certainty in his voice settled over her like a balm, but the lingering weight of the unknown still pressed on her heart. The thought of binding herself to someone she’d never met, someone chosen for her, was still a heavy thought.
“I trust you, Dad,” she finally said, her voice steadying. “If you believe this Alpha is right for me, then… I’ll go through with it.”
Her father’s smile softened, a wave of relief washing over him, though there was something more behind it–a shadow of sadness that flickered in his eyes. “You don’t know how proud I am of you, Sylvia,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “You’ll be free from this pain soon.”
Sylvia managed a faint smile, but it didn’t
reach the depth of her heart, which still felt heavy with questions she couldn’t quite ask. There were things she longed to understand about her blood, her nature, things she knew her father couldn’t–or wouldn’t- explain. It was as though she was holding the broken pieces of a puzzle, but the image they created remained hidden, locked away somewhere deep within her.
For so long, she had waited for Elio–the one who was supposed to be her mate, her Alpha, to be the one to free her from this misery. But he didn’t understand the struggle of her rare blood, the silent battle she
fought every day. Now, the idea of marrying a stranger, an Alpha who could steady her blood, seemed like a harsh but necessary solution. There was no turning back from this path.
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“I trust you, Dad, she repeated, the words more final now, carrying a weight of
acceptance. “If you believe this Alpha is the right one for me, then… I’ll go through with it.”
Her father’s smile was tinged with relief, but beneath it lingered a flicker of sadness. “You don’t know how proud I am of you, Sylvia” The said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “Soon, you’ll be free from this pain.”
Sylvia managed a faint smile, but it barely reached the corners of her lips. Her heart was heavy, weighed down by the unspoken questions that haunted her. There were so many things she longed to understand- about her blood, her very nature. Yet, all she had were fragments of a story, pieces she could only hope to fit together in time.
For so long, she had waited for Elio, her
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Alpha boyfriend, to be the one to free her from her misery. But he didn’t know the true depth of her suffering, the struggles that came with her rare blood. Instead of offering solace, he had chosen another–another she–wolf, a breeder to carry his child. And here she was, still unmated, still alone.
Her thoughts were interrupted when her father’s voice broke through the quiet tension. “So,” he continued, his tone lifting, “have you thought about what you’ll wear for the ceremony? We’ll have a few seamstresses come by to take your measurements, make sure everything’s just right. It’s an important day, after all.”
Sylvia let out a laugh, one that surprised even her. “You’re making it sound like some grand event, she teased, raising an eyebrow.
His eyes sparkled with a warmth she
hadn’t seen in a while. “It is, Sylvia. It’s your Mateship Ceremony!”
She smiled, appreciating the enthusiasm in his voice. Growing up, she had always known she was different. Her blood–her very
essence–was something to guard carefully. And her father, ever the silent protector, had shouldered that burden alone, keeping the truth from her.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me more?” Sylvia asked, her voice soft with a mix of curiosity and hurt.
She asked softly, “About our blood, about why it has to be hidden.”
Her father’s gaze turned distant, his expression weighed down with sorrow. “Because knowing the truth would have only caused you more pain than peace. Our
