I awoke with a thrill of excitement in my stomach. The sun seemed brighter, the air felt fresher, and it was easy to jump out of bed even though I still ached from the disastrous practice fight against Carter. That was because, for the first time in weeks, I had something to really get excited about.
Today, Charlie and I were going into town together. As sisters.
I’d resolved the night prior to leave all of this alpha and beta business at home today and just be with her. Get to know her. Aside from our roles and where we fit into the family or pack. Sister to sister. Girl to girl.
It might have had something to do with overhearing her phone conversation with her mother, but I’d never tell Charlie that. Or Dad. Or anyone else for that matter. In fact, I’d erased the recording right after I’d listened to it, relieved it had been me checking her call logs rather than one of them. Today, Charlie and I were sisters.
I dropped straight from my mattress to the floor and did a token twenty pushups, just to warm my muscles, and then touched my toes and rolled out my shoulders. It was much less than I normally did. Being a future alpha meant I had to stay in top shape and be ready for any challenge. I was already running late, though, and I wanted the day to be perfect. It was our last free day before classes started again—and after that, the competition. I wanted to spend it doing something memorable.
A quick shower later, I combed out my short hair, shifting just enough to shake it dry, and hurried down to breakfast. “Morning,” I chirped at Dad, bouncing on my toes to brush a kiss on his bearded cheek.
He looked at me like I had grown vampire fangs. “Good morning. You look … nice.”
I tried not to blush. My usual fashion was more function than form, but I had used a butterfly clip to hold back my bangs and wore a couple bangles to match it. I hadn’t even realized that I had jewelry until I dug it out of my hope chest. “Thanks. I’m using my day off to go into town today with Charlie.”
“I don’t need to tell you to be careful,” he said, returning his attention to the reports spread out in front of him at the table. He was always working now that Mom had died, even at breakfast. He had the papers fanned around his corned beef hash, and was using one of them as a coaster for his coffee.
Hesitating halfway out the door, I gave Dad a good long look. He had aged a lot in the last few weeks. His hair was grayer and not just the peppery sprinkles around his sideburns that I’d always admired before. A permanent shadow had taken up residence under his eyes, and there was a hard look around the edges of it all. A look of desperation. He seemed like a man barely keeping his head above water.
“Dad…”
He didn’t look up. “Yes?”
I hesitated. The last time I’d brought this up I’d gotten yelled at for my trouble. But it was driving me crazy sitting on the sidelines. “Mom’s investigation … Is it—is there any new information?”
He looked up but still somehow managed to peer down his nose. “No, Regan,” he said, his tone shifting to weary. “You will be the first to know.”
I pressed on, knowing I was on shaky ground. “I know you have a lead,” I said and his eyes narrowed fractionally in surprise. I rushed on before he could interrupt. “If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the vamps as innocent and promise one of your daughters to them. If you just tell me who you suspect, I could—”
“That’ll be enough, Regan.” His expression shuttered and any hint at friendliness was gone.
“I’m not incapable,” I said, my temper prickling. “I’m going to be alpha.”
“But you’re not alpha yet,” he boomed, pushing to his feet so hard the chair teetered behind him. His eyes flashed and he took a step forward that had me taking one back. “You’re so quick to take what you think is yours, you’ve forgotten to remember who gave you that right. Or the woman who held that place before you.” And then, inexplicably, his eyes watered and he blinked away pools of moisture.
My mouth hung open. I had never in my life seen my dad like this before. Not even at Mom’s funeral. What was I supposed to say to him?
“There is a lot going on that you can’t know right now,” he said finally. “I know it’s tough, but this is the way it has to be. Your mother … You have to trust me that this is what she wanted.”
“You miss her,” I said and even though it wasn’t a question, I realized I had wondered. He’d been so stoic and finally he was letting me see the cracks in his armor.
He nodded wordlessly.
I felt like I should have had some comment ready, something that would make it all better for him. An alpha should take care of her pack in every way—physically and emotionally. But this was my dad, and we were both hurting.
“I’ll be back in a couple of hours,” I said instead.
“Okay.” He sat down heavily, his frown so deep that it carved two furrows on either side of his mouth. For once, I wasn’t eager to relieve him and take my place as leader.