Claiming the Last Alpha She-Wolf
Chapter 32: My Father

Chapter 32: My Father

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Chapter 32

~Rhiannon’s POV~

The conversation ended there as more pack nobles approached us to pay their respects. I smiled through it all.

But even with the celebration alive around me—the laughter, the lights, the dancing—I couldn’t shake the chill riding my spine.

I hadn’t forgotten what I was promised.

Before I knew what was happening, we were once more seated as we enjoyed the activities, but I was far from okay.

The laughter, the dancing, the toasts—it all bled together like white noise.

My patience had run thin hours ago.

I stood up from my seat at the high table, the movement enough to draw a few curious stares, but I didn’t care. My heels clicked sharply as I walked straight to Kael.

He was seated on a raised dais beside the other Alphas, expression carved in stone as he listened to an elder drone on about trade routes.

His hand rested idly on the armrest, fingers twitching the way they always did when he was holding back.

I didn’t wait for permission. I leaned in just enough for only him to hear me.

"I’ve fulfilled my part. I walked the aisle. I said the vows. I wore the damn ring. Now give me what you promised."

Kael’s jaw tightened but he didn’t say anything.

Instead, Riven answered. "Rhiannon, please sit or you’ll be causing a scene."

A scene?

My brows arched. "I want to see my father," I finished, standing tall. "Or there will be no wedding night for any of you to look forward to."

That got attention.

Talon looked up sharply. Darian stilled. Riven’s wineglass paused mid-air.

Kael stood abruptly, eyes locked on mine, but before he could say anything, Lucien leaned back in his chair and cracked his neck with a loud pop.

"Well," he said lazily, "that was honest."

He pushed back his chair with a scrape and stood and when his eyes found mine, they held me in place. "Follow me."

I blinked. "What?"

Lucien stepped around the table slowly, rolling his sleeves up after dropping his suit on his chair. "Kael is the signature Alpha. That means he has to stay—smile, play nice, shake hands with all the pompous elders pretending to bless this union."

He reached out his hand toward me, palm up.

"But me?" he continued, voice dropping. "I don’t have to play politics. So, follow me... and I’ll give you exactly what your heart wants."

Kael’s eyes narrowed, sharp as knives. "Lucien—"

"Relax," Lucien said without looking at him. "We’re legally bonded now, remember? She’s ours, and not just yours."

Kael’s fists clenched against the arms of his chair. "Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do," he said tightly.

Riven chuckled, raising his glass. "Pretty sure the list of things Lucien would do is longer."

Lucien gave him a wink.

I hesitated, looking from Kael’s silent warning to Lucien’s outstretched hand. Kael didn’t say anything else. He just stared at me before looking away like he was holding something back.

"Well then," Lucien said, lips curling into that dangerous half-smile. "Do you want to see him or not?"

My pulse fluttered, but I was angry. This was probably all a game to them: power, control, and territory, even when it was about my father.

But I didn’t have the luxury of pride, so I placed my hand in his.

Lucien’s fingers closed around mine, gentler than I expected.

He leaned in as we stepped away from the dais. "Try not to look too eager," he murmured. "You’re supposed to be pissed at us."

I didn’t respond because I was pissed.

And if this turned out to be another show, another test, another way to toy with me... They’d regret ever putting a crown on my head.

We walked away from the crowd and into the pack house.

After going through some corridors, we came upon a door. Lucien did not say anything, but instead he stood there gesturing for me to go in.

I hesitated, unsure of what to expect, but my mind wasn’t making it easy, already thinking the worst.

Still, I reached for he doorknob, turned it and then walked right inside.

As soon as I did, I saw him standing by the window in nothing but a pair of black trousers and a dark grey jacket over a black shirt.

From here, I could perceive the smell of herbs oozing off him. It looks like he got his treatment.

Relief washed through me, and just as I was about to speak, he beat me to it.

"No, I am not changing for any occasion until you bring me to see my daughter first."

Something flickered in my chest. I didn’t know what to think or say at this point.

But when my dad sensed no one was speaking, he half turned, slowly. And when his gaze landed on me...

My breath caught in my throat. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks as I took in his appearance.

He looked even frailer than I last saw him. Truly, his sickness and worry had eaten into him, but as soon as he recognised me... a genuine smile formed on his lips.

"Rhia? My Rhiannon?"

More tears streamed down my face as I walked over to him gently.

Dad met me in the middle and hugged me so close.

"I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for not being better at protecting you."

The more he spoke, the harder it was for me to feel okay about seeing him now.

I felt like I had failed him in more ways than one.

"Dad... no." I shook my head. "You did not fail me. You never did."

"But I did, Rhia. It was because of me you went into..."

I pulled back from the hug and shook my head. "I made that decision consciously, and you had no part in it to accuse yourself like that."

My concerned gaze raked through his body as worry etched into my creased brows.

"Dad..."

"Forget about all that. What matters now is that you are safe and fine." He held my shoulders firmly to keep me from looking all around.

Tears filled my eyes again. "A-and your health?"

Dad’s smile eased my worries a little bit. "I am fine. Now let’s talk about you."

I shook my head, not ready to let him delve into the pain of having his daughter sold.

"You found a mate... no. You found mates, Rhiannon, I heard and seeing it live..."

"I... I know you forbade me from going over to the other side. I’m sorry I did... I just wanted to get the Moonroot, sell it and have enough money to get your meds for you. I’m sorry."

"Shh... I guess fate can’t be cheated, huh."

My brows creased as I looked at my dad’s face. "Pardon? Fate?"

He simply nodded and walked back to the window. "We got so scared that we failed to see what was really going on."

I shook my head, not quite understanding what was going on.

"Dad, what do you mean? Do you mean mum and yourself?"

He lifted his head, his hands tightening behind him as his chest rose and fell slowly. I walked over to stand by his side while my gaze remained focused on his side profile.

"Dad."

"I failed... your mother and I failed in more ways than one, but I failed even more if you found yourself here again, doing what she never wanted... what she went through."

What mum went through?

Back here again?

I thought my parents, particularly my mum, left the werewolf world behind and stayed hidden amongst the humans.

So how come this...

Or was it before?

His cryptic message was making my chest tighten as I tried to understand what was going on.

"Dad, talk to me. Explain better. I need to understand what is going on."

But he didn’t.

So I resorted to the only way I knew how—a way I had not told him about—was by reading his thoughts.

Although I did not understand it—this feeling I had—I really wanted to know what that message was about.

I tried to focus on him, his thoughts.

My fingers clenched beside my wedding gown.

Almost immediately, I shifted my gaze to my father when I heard something disturbing in my head—his thoughts.

One of the Alphas had visited him before all these, before the agreement. Why?And who? My dad—he knew something.

"Rhiannon..." My dad’s voice broke me from my train of thought.

I blinked, ready to speak when suddenly, at that moment, the door swung open with a loud bang, revealing Lucien standing at the doorway’s centre with a dramatic flourish.

I sighed, shaking my head.

"Times’ up," he said smugly.

"What?"

"You heard me, mate."

"I heard you alright, but what the heck?"

"Sorry, love, but you are needed for the final farewells and the first official greeting of the Alphas and their Luna. It’s time, let’s go."

"But... But I just got here and I have barely spoken to my father," I tried to reason, but Lucien shook his head.

"There are laws and traditions, Rhiannon. You will have more time to speak with your father after the mating/wedding night tomorrow."

My brows drew together and Lucien must have understood. "Since you’ll be mating with us all, we decided to give your body time to rest before mating."

"What? Five guys?!"

I was no virgin, sorry to them. I once had a lover, someone I trusted, but it turned out he was only with me for a bet with his friends.

Although he claimed he fell in love later, it broke my trust, and I walked away.

And now I...

My gaze instinctively lowered down and back up when Lucien chuckled.

"Let’s go."

I rushed to hug my father quickly, who, till now, looked displeased but uttered no more words.

Resigning myself, I nodded, bade my father goodbye and left with Lucien.

But as soon as we stepped out, my gaze caught Seraphina on the same floor. The second she locked eyes with me, she smirked and lowered her head.

’What was that about?’