Page 154 of Chased By My Grumpy Alpha
Gareth’s laugh is harsh and bitter. “Questions? That’s rich.” He leans back against the stone wall, his expression shifting to one of scornful defiance. “In case you haven’t noticed, Your Highness, I’m already slated for execution. Why the hell would I answer any of your questions?”
“Because,” I say, stepping closer to the bars, “you can either answer them willingly, or I can have my guards drag your daughter to the torture chambers, and you can listen to her scream while I ask them again.”
The blood drains from Harper’s face so quickly I think she might collapse. She stumbles backward, her hand flying to her mouth as a small, terrified sound escapes her. The confidence, the hope, the desperate flirtation—all of it evaporates in an instant, leaving behind raw, primal fear.
“No,” she whispers, shaking her head frantically. “No, no, no. You wouldn’t. You couldn’t—”
“Try me.”
Gareth’s entire demeanor changes instantly. The mocking arrogance disappears, replaced by a sharp and calculating expression. His eyes dart between me and Harper, and I can tell exactly when he realizes I’m not bluffing. He knows I’ll do exactly what I’ve threatened, without a second thought.
“You bastard,” he snarls, but there’s less venom in his tone now. More resignation.
Harper starts crying openly, great sobbing gasps that echo through the dungeon. She has backed herself up against the far wall of the cell, staring at me like I’m a monster from her worstnightmares. And maybe I am. Maybe that’s exactly what I’ve become where Astra is concerned.
“Please,” Harper chokes out between sobs. “Please. I never hurt her. I never—”
“Quiet,” Gareth snaps at his daughter, then turns back to me. His jaw works for a moment as he weighs his options. “Fine. I’ll answer your questions. But I have a demand.”
I raise an eyebrow, waiting.
“Harper goes free. Send her back to what’s left of our pack. She’s innocent in all this.”
The laugh that escapes me is cold and humorless. “Innocent? Your daughter is hardly innocent, Gareth.”
“She’s a talented healer,” he says desperately, leaning forward. “Young, powerful, useful. I’m just asking you to spare her life. Send her away from here, away from court politics and royal vengeance. Let her live quietly somewhere she can’t cause any more trouble.”
I study him for a long moment, observing the way he’s not looking at Harper as he bargains for her life. Even now, even facing death, he’s playing political games. But this may be the easiest way to get what I need.
“Fine,” I say eventually. “I’ll let her go. And if you answer my questions truthfully, I’ll let her live.”
Relief floods Gareth’s features, but Harper cries even harder. She realizes what this means—that she’ll never see her father again, that this will be goodbye forever.
“Harper,” I call out, my voice cutting through her wails. “Come here.”
She shakes her head frantically, pressing herself harder against the wall.
“Now.”
Reluctantly, moving like someone walking to their own execution, she approaches the bars. Her father stands, too, andsuddenly they’re embracing, clinging to each other like people who are drowning.
“I’m sorry,” Gareth whispers into her hair, his voice cracking for the first time since I arrived. “I’m so sorry, little star. For everything.”
Harper is bawling too hard to respond, just holding on to him like she can stop time through sheer force of will. It’s almost touching, in a twisted way. Almost enough to make me feel something approaching sympathy.
Almost.
“Say goodbye,” I tell them flatly. “You’ll never see each other again.”
Harper’s sobs turn into a howl at that, high and keening. She clutches at her father’s shirt, her knuckles white with the force of her grip.
“Papa, no. Please, I can’t—I won’t—”
“Be strong,” Gareth murmurs, pulling back to look at her face. “You’re stronger than you know. Find somewhere safe, somewhere quiet. Make a life for yourself away from all this.”
“But I don’t want to! I want to stay with you!”
“You can’t.” His tone is firm now, final. “This is how it has to be.”
