Zara’s POV
It was still fairly quiet in the packhouse when Levi and I went downstairs to my parents’ quarters.
My father wanted us to meet in his chambers for privacy’s sake.
“What is the reason behind your father’s intense desire to see us?” Levi asked. “It is not even quite dawn yet.”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” I said, as my heart began to race.
Has he found out I have not mated with Levi?
Does he know about my relationship with Nic?
Has anyone told him about Levi and Kyle?
“You are making assumptions too quickly,” Kaya said. “Slow down.”
“Something feels a bit off,” Levi said as we arrived at the hallway leading to my father’s room.
“Off how?” I asked, turning to face him.
“I do not know,” he answered. “It feels like the wind is changing.”
“From here, it is impossible to smell or feel the wind,” I said, rolling my eyes. “We are not outside, Levi.”
“That is not what I mean,” Levi stated. “I feel a little nervous about this sudden meeting this morning.”
“Why?” I paused in my tracks to ask. “What did your father just mind-link you about?”
Levi went cold. His whole being stiffened.
I had a hunch that Beta John knew something, but Levi must have hoped I would not ask.
“Levi? Tell me. What did your father say?” I asked, extending my hand to him.
Levi’s jaw tensed, and he averted his gaze, staring down the hallway for a considerable amount of time. With a sigh, he slowly turned back to face me. His eyes were pleading.
“That bad?” I asked in a whisper.
He swallowed forcefully and nodded.
“He saw me, us,” he said, his voice breaking.
“Saw you doing what?” I asked.
“Kiss Kyle-”
It caught me off guard, and I looked at Levi in shock.
“How?” I nearly squealed. “When did that happen?”
“Last night,” Levi said, visibly mortified. “I am not sure whether my father was relieved or angry about seeing us.”
“Did your father follow you?” I asked, feeling a burning anger rise in me.
Levi shook his head.
“Not at all. Last night, my father was on patrol,” he said, his voice trembling. “He… He saw us together.”
That made absolutely no sense. Last night, Levi drove to see Kyle to sign the treaty. How on earth did Levi and Kyle end up at our pack’s border?
“Tell me what happened,” I demanded. “I don’t understand a word you are saying.”
Levi flinched after hearing the authority in my voice. He was not used to me giving him orders, but this was an urgent matter.
He let out a breath and ran his hand through his blond hair.
“Kyle chased after me in wolf form,” Levi started to mumble. “He cut me off at the border. The only thing I could do was to stop. My dad must have heard me apply the car brakes and come to see what was happening.”
“What happened next?” I asked.
Levi’s eyes went to his hands as his face and ears turned red.
“Kyle came to tell me not to worry; he wanted me to know that he would wait for me until I was ready,” Levi said.
“That’s not all that happened,” I asked, searching Levi’s gaze.
Levi slowly met my eyes and shook his head.
“He leaned in closer and kissed me deeply,” he whispered. “I have never been kissed like that before-it was magical. So perfect. I wanted more. I desired more!”
“And your father saw that… and probably heard every word you two spoke,” I muttered.
“I am sorry, Zara,” Levi sobbed next to me. “I was unaware that we were being watched. Will you forgive me?”
“There is nothing to forgive, and no, I am not angry. It was bound to happen,” I said, taking a deep breath. “What did your father say to you when he saw you two together?”
“He is aware that we are not really mated and that this is merely a cover-up plan pretending that we are,” he responded. “He said that this entire sh*t show is going to cost us dearly. He can’t believe I would lie about something like that.”
“Did he say he would tell my father?” I asked, worryingly.
“No,” he replied. “However, I am fairly certain that he is aware of the prophecy and that he intends to do something that will expose us.”
“Did he say anything about that?” I asked.
“Not directly,” he answered. “He mumbled that he knew it could not be that simple; he should have followed his instincts and listened to his wolf before cutting the link.”
“Should I ask him about the prophecy?” I wanted to know.
“You know my father,” Levi said. “He is not an approachable wolf, and he would not say a word if your father told him to be silent.”
“Okay,” I said, taking Levi’s hand. “We will find another way. Do not be too hard on yourself. We will work around this.”
“You are not mad at all?” Levi asked.
“Nope,” I replied, giving Levi a genuine smile. “In the meantime, we simply need to pay closer attention to our surroundings and exercise greater caution before we do something stupid again.”
With a nod from Levi, we silently headed down the corridor.
I stopped at the door of my father’s chamber and knocked.
An Omega soon opened the door and let us in.
“That is not something you see very often,” Levi mind-linked.
My father was sitting quietly, drinking his coffee, and reading the newspaper on the porch.
“I agree,” I replied.
It was odd to see my father like that. He disliked sitting on the porch or reading the newspaper. He would rather watch the news on TV or have Beta John deliver it to him.
“I wonder why he chose to sit outside,” Levi muttered. “Do you not think your father’s actions are a bit odd?”
“Indeed it is,” I replied, opening the sliding door.
“Good morning, father,” I said as I stepped outside. “You are up early.”
I shiver as the chilly morning breeze bursts around me.
“Oh, Zara,” he said, putting the newspaper back on the table after folding it. “Good morning. Take a seat. Morning Beta.”
“Morning, Alpha,” Levi said as he pulled out a chair for me at the table. He sat down beside me, appearing a little nervous.
“Calm down,” I said to him. “This meal with my father is neither the first nor the last.”
“I know. I know,” Levi linked back. “However, this unsettled feeling inside my stomach is becoming worse.”
With a casual gesture, my father called the Omega closer, and she promptly arrived to bring us coffee.
“You wanted to see us?” I asked and handed over the two contracts to him.
My father turned the envelope over and read the names of the pack, and I froze when he opened the Midnight Moon Pack agreement.
“Oh Goddess,” I muttered to myself. “Will he notice that it is just a copy?”
“Did the signing proceed smoothly?” My dad sifted his eyes toward me and asked casually.
“It did,” I said, attempting to remain calm.
With a nod, my father shut the envelope, laid both contracts on the newspaper, and turned to face us.
He crossed his arms over his chest and sat back in his chair.
“I guess you wonder why I called you two here this morning,” he commented.
Both Levi and I gave a nod.
My father paused, uncertain how to explain himself.
“I had to confirm with my own eyes that you both made it home safely last night,” he said, advancing in his seat.
“That is a strange thing to say,” Kaya chirped.
“Why Alpha?” Levi asked, shifting uneasily in his seat and glancing at me. “Did something happen?”
With fear in his eyes, my father nodded his head.
“The Midnight Moon Pack was attacked last night,” he said, looking directly into my eyes.
Fear drained blood from my face and filled my veins, making me shiver and feel cold in my seat.
Was Nic okay? Was he hurt?
****