Page 51 of A Knotty Road Trip

Fuck, that would be a huge mess. Though Belle does seem the type to accept another omega as a friend. She doesn’t seem malicious or cruel in the least. I know I judged her harshly, but I have to be the voice of reason at times and protect my pack.

I am the pack leader. I have to be the mean one at times, but if it keeps Beck and Angel safe I will be as cruel as possible. I will be the asshole. The bad guy. Every. Single. Fucking. Time.

Walking out to my car, I take a few deep breaths. Ken is there waiting, but I’m not ready.

My heart’s racing, my hands are sweating and I don’t want to go.

But I will for them. I will marry a stranger. For them.

Fuck, here we go.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

TATE

The ride doesn’t take long, and Angel keeps sending me photos of different curtain materials and blanket colors. He wants me to be included in Belle’s nest, but I still don’t even know if she’s the one I’m about to ‘meet’.

I don’t have the heart to upset him or Beck though, because I know they are hurt they aren’t here with me right now.

When we reach my father’s estate, I notice there aren’t many cars here. I thought this was supposed to be a big event. So I could get to know my omega in a crowded environment.

“Ken, what’s going on?” I ask him, and he has the decency to wince.

“Tate, I’m not supposed to tell you this, but I think it’s time that you know. Your father is sick. His only wish before he passes is for you to settle down and start a family. He doesn’t want you to have any regrets and wait too long in life to have children.”

My stomach flips, and my hands shake. “He’s sick?” I croak, and Ken turns around to face me.

“Yes, he has a rare form of cancer, and the treatments aren’t working anymore. I’m sorry, Tate. I know you’re upset right now, but I need you to put your emotions into a box, and give this omega a chance.”

I nod, wipe my eyes and take some deep breaths. I can’t think about my father’s sickness right now. I can’t think about how I’m going to lose the man I look up to and respect. Or that he might not even be around for my wedding. The birth of my first child. He’s leaving me, shaking myself, I put his illness to the back of my mind, at least for tonight.

As much as I hate what I have to do… I will do it for him. My father

Opening the door, I climb from the car and walk up the steps to my father’s front door. Rich is standing there waiting for me with a big grin on his face. “Where have you been?” I growl, and he shakes his head.

“All in good time. I’ll explain later,” he mumbles, quietly, his eyes shifting, looking for people listening to us.

“You better, or you will be thrown off a cliff and fed to the sharks,” I promise, and he shudders.

We may not be the worst alphas known, and Knotty Trip can be a good cover at times, but we will take out someone if they deserve it.

Opening the door for me, I step inside as he follows behind. I can feel the tension bleeding from his pores. It’s so thick and I step to the side, having him stand next to me. I don’t trust him to be behind me.

There is something going on with someone I thought was my friend.

As we reach the dining room, I know that I have been lied to. I step back and Rich grabs my arm, pulling me further into theroom. “Behave and follow along,” he hisses, and I rip my arm away from him.

My father stands by the kitchen next to a man in a priest's cassock. He’s speaking to another man that I don’t know. He has blond hair, speckled with gray at the temples and familiar gray eyes.

“Ah, Tate, son, please come here,” my father says, and I can see how weak he is now compared to the last time I saw him.

I never would have gone on tour had I known he was dying. My eyes mist and I close them, trying to get my shit together. Ken told me as a warning, but my father doesn’t know that I know anything.

“Father, I think you have some explaining to do,” I mutter and he sighs.

“I’m sorry, Tate, but time is of the essence, and this was the only way I could think of to get you here.”

I glance around at the few chairs lined up, decorated with cloths and ribbons. The three tiered wedding cake on a table with a few other desserts surrounding it. I can admit it is a nice intimate wedding set up, but my pack should be here with me.

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