Page 19 of The Wolf She Shouldn't Desire

He gives a frustrated growl before saying, “Have a nice night, Talia” before he storms out the way he came.

I close my eyes as loneliness and sadness overcomes me with his departure. Quickly, though, I shake it off. No point in wallowing in what has happened. Besides, it’s for the best. Even if it sucks.

After several more minutes sitting on my bench, taking in the crisp night air and gazing at the stars, I become calmer, and the tension leaves my body. I stand, take one last look at the beautifully clear night sky canvas speckled with shining stars, and head towards the same exit Jordan took to head back home.

***

My improved mood after walking through the woods for a time on the way home doesn’t last long once I walk through the front doors of the coven house. Passing my father’s office where the door is open, I hear him call my name. I hold in the sigh that I want to let loose and walk into his office.

“Close the door,” he orders.

I walk over to the chair in front of his desk and sit quietly while I wait for him to talk.

“It has been decided that you will move forward with the agreement we made with the Timore coven leader twenty years ago.”

With those words a deep chill rushes through me stealing my breath.

“You can’t be serious,” I whisper.

“I am dead serious, and you will do as you are told.”

“How can you possibly think that is a good idea with every issue we have had every time we are in the same room?”

“We made a promise, and we will not break that promise, Talia. This will be beneficial for all involved.”

“Not for me, it won’t. Father, we do not need the alliance this will bring us. It will bring more trouble than anything. Besides, we have enough alliances, and the Timore coven brings nothing to the table for us. They stand to gain everything with this and us nothing. We could forge an alliance with a more powerful coven that could bring so much more benefit to the coven than Zander’s covenevercould.”

“I did not bring up this topic of discussion for you to argue with me. We have an agreement with them, and you will do your duty in fulfilling it as agreed upon between our coven and theirs.”

“I would rather fucking die,” I hiss with all the venom I can throw at him.

He comes around his desk and places his hands on both arms of the chair I occupy before leaning down to get in my face. “You will do as I tell you and do so without fuss or issue. A thank you would suffice as well,” he growls.

“Thank you for what? Selling me off like a prized cow to do your bidding? I will kill him and that entire coven before I do what you are asking me to do.”

“You do, and I will drag you back home, lock you in the basement, and make your life a living hell physically and mentally for a century. I’ll throw Danny in there as well to keep you company and remind you what it is to disobey me. I am the coven leader, and you do as I say.”

“And as coven leader you are jeopardizing it with this idiotic agreement,” I yell. “You will destroy us and be remembered as the clown—”

A sharp wave of pain lashes the right side of my face, causing my head to jerk to the side violently. The bastard slapped me and hard enough that I know there will be a bruise too, which is saying something since vampires don’t bruiseeasily and heal quickly. I turn back to stare at him in slight disbelief and a shit ton of rage.

“Shut your mouth,” he hisses in my face so fiercely that a bit of spit flies onto my face. “And do as you’re told, Talia.”

“I—.”

He smacks me again, but this time adds his nails to the blow leaving scratches on my face, and I taste blood on my mouth. “Do as you’re told!” he roars this time.

I glare at him and don’t say a damn thing. It’s pointless to argue with him, and I already told him I would not go along with the agreement. He’s an idiot if he thinks I will cower and do as he says after vehemently opposing him. A few slaps to the face are nothing and fuels my resolve to go against him.

He nods his head in satisfaction as if we are in agreement, and then returns to standing behind his desk. “You’re dismissed.”

I stand and glare at him for a second. Not that he notices since he is concentrating on his documents and not me, as if I was not worth the time of day or as if he has not just tried to turn my world upside down. Quickly, but not in any way that would show I fear him and am looking to get away from him, I retreat to my room. I stand in the middle of my room for a split second before I grab a vase sitting on one of my nightstands and throw it at the wall, quick as a snake strike. My breathing is heavy and rapid. How the hell am I going to get out of this without any blowback or consequences from my father or the Timore coven? There’s no way, really. At least not that I can think of at the moment. And yet again, my father has used the one card that makes me hesitate to go against him every time. Danny.

A knock sounds on my door, but I don’t answer. Everyone can just fuck off.

“Talia?” Danny’s muffled voice comes through the wood of the door.

I sigh. “Come in.”

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