Page 61 of Shifting Fate
“I want to apologize to you. What I did was horrible and it’s haunted me every single day for twenty-two fucking years. I still dream of her, even now. I dream of the pain and the anger and the hatred. God, there was so much hatred.” Dad clutched at his head, as if the memories lingered. He released a shaky breath.
“If I could go back, I swear to you, I’d do something about it before it was too late, but I was so blinded by rage. I was a monster, just like my Alpha…but it was a choice I made. A choice I regret, but still, a choice I made and I take full responsibility for my actions.”
He straightened up and squared his shoulders. Then, in a hushed voice, he said, “I want you to know that I won’t fight it, if you want revenge. A life for a life.”
Beside me, Espen stiffened, but I didn’t let go of his arm.
Harper slowly rose. To my surprise, our father dropped to one knee in front of him. Instead of attacking him, Harper rested a gentle hand on Dad’s shoulder. “Haven’t you suffered enough, Jaeger? Arias tells me you set her free. Isn’t that enough?”
Dad growled and shook his head. “I was too late! It doesn’t matter. Hell, maybe she deserves to get revenge on us. I don’t know. All I know is that my mistake has cost meeverything.I want to fix it, but I don’t know how. She wants us dead, every last one of us, and I can’t say that I blame her.” His laugh was caustic.
“That isn’t solely your fault. The blame shouldn’t hang so heavily on your shoulders,” Harper murmured, his voice soft and sad. “I don’t blame you for what you did. I don’t need to. You’ve tortured yourself enough for the both of us.”
“Then what do you want from me?” Our father’s broad shoulders sagged. With his back hunched and his head bowed in regret, he was the picture of anguish. My chest knotted at the pain grooved so deeply in his mannerisms.
Harper knelt in front of him, so that they were face to face. “I want you to fight for your pack, and for your sons. What you did is in the past. We can’t change it, no matter how much we wish we could. We can only right those wrongs the best we can, by moving forwards. My sister’s mind is ill and as much as it pains me, we must put her soul to rest. All of this hatred and fear is only poisoning us. We must set her free and I need your packs’ help. I’m not strong enough to do it on my own.”
“I’m sorry,” Dad croaked out.
“I’m sorry, too, but sorry doesn’t change things.” Rising to his full height, Harper brushed off the knees of his black slacks, then offered a hand to my father.
Dad gazed up at him warily, but Harper nodded. Planting his hand in Harper’s outstretched palm, Dad allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. I could sense his confusion, his frustration, his unease…but beneath all of that, I could feel my father’s relief.
I took that as my cue. Stepping forwards swiftly, I rapped my knuckles on the doorframe. Harper caught my eye with a knowing smile, no doubt well aware of our presence this entire time. I offered a smile nonetheless. “Harper? Rhine’s looking for you.”
“Of course. Thank you, Arias.” He patted my arm on his way past, giving a quick nod to Espen before striding off down the hall.
“You alright there, Dad?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” he admitted hoarsely. “I just don’t know.”
I rested my hand on his shoulder and guided him towards the door. “C’mon. Let’s get out of Espen’s hair and go home. I think we’ve both had enough chaos for one day.”
He huffed a humorless laugh. “You could say that again. I need a drink.”
“I’ll cheers to that.”
