Chapter 38: 38

Word Count: 2183

~Hunter

I swirl the wine around in my glass, gazing tiredly at the red residue it leaves behind.

Father has returned to instating all the same rules I as before. I'm allowed one drink of wine with my dinner, which is the same meat and vegetable meal every night.

My father is a man of habit. It's how he maintains his control.

"You should try smiling more, daughter. It would do a lot for you." He points his fork at me, the quiet command evident in his voice.

If I'm forced to endure this dinner with him alone, then I'm not going to make it easy for him. I will take every punishment he is willing to give me.

I'm hoping that if Kaan pushes back on the annulment, then the evidence of my punishments from my father and Vinn will help him push a case against them.

If Kaan doesn't want the annulment.

"I have no reason to smile," I snap, stabbing my fork into a potato.

"You've been away from your family for months," father reminds me. "You returning is cause for celebration."

I laugh bitterly, shaking my head. I don't think my father likes me, or has felt any inclination of love. He likes that I exist so he can make lucrative deals with Alpha's like Vinn.

"Are you going to ask me why I ran away?" I ask him, tilting my head to the side.

He shrugs, cutting into his meat. "It doesn't matter now, does it?"

"I'm a grown woman and I had to run away from home," I growl, my hands tightening around my cutlery. "You kept me here against my will, marrying me off to someone you know is a monster."

As I suspected, my father doesn't even flinch.

I once thought I could detail everything Vinn ever put me through and my father would pull our engagement.

But of course, he never did.

"Vinn is a perfectly good man who ranks very highly. You should be grateful," he says, tracking my shifting expression with his cold eyes. "I could have given the opportunity to your sister, but I chose you."

"He was hurting me, he was a monster."

Father sighs, rubbing his forehead irritably. "Please, Livia, this is not an appropriate conversation to have while we are eating."

I push my plate away. Living here kills my appetite anyways.

I've been gone for a few days now, and I can feel the affects of the poison lifting. Still, the horror of being in this environment is stopping me from feeling any better.

"So you're just going to let Vinn keep me locked up in his palace for the rest of time?"

"I hope you will eventually come accustomed to you life," he responds. "All you need is a very strong reminder of what your duties are as an Alpha's daughter."

My skin warms as my blood turns to fire. There are many guards sitting around, so I don't have anywhere to direct my anger, but it's tempting to try.

"You're a-"

All of a sudden, the sound of a door closing loudly from outside cuts me off.

"What is that?" Father questions, looking at his main guard. "Johnathan, I haven't cleared any visitors. Who is this?"

It's dark, and I would have to stand to see who is outside, but I'm itching to. I'm assuming it's one of the many Noble's who come here looking for father's favour.

Maybe if I can alert the right person that I've been kidnapped, that I need to be returned to my true husband, they will help me escape...

"I'm not sure Sir," Johnathan states roughly, looking out the window. "By the look of the transport, that is a very important person."

Father curses under his breath, shaking his head. He hates being interrupted. In fact, he hates anything that throws him off his routine, which means this visitor isn't going to win any favours with him.

"Fine, bring them into the main hall. I'll be there momentarily."

"Of course, Sir."

Johnathan leaves, followed by two of the other guards. It's not unreasonably late, so this could be a dinner guest, but considering how tense father is, he is clearly anticipating someone.

"I want you to come with me. It is about time people see that you have returned here, and that you will be returning to your duties," father says calmly, giving me a sharp look that dares me to disagree.

Rolling my eyes, I drain my glass of wine, hoping the buzz from the alcohol will get me through an uncomfortable encounter.

"It's not like I have any other choice," I mutter.

As instructed, I fall into step with father, letting him lead me from the private dining room and toward the main foyer.

There are guards stationed everywhere I look, and father won't let me leave his side. Still, I need to get close enough to whoever this is to see if they can get me out of here.

However, all thoughts of a daring escape come crashing down as we enter the grand hall.

Kaan and Tay stand near the front door, one of the maids taking their coats.

As father and I approach, Kaan turns to lock eyes with me. My breath catches in my throat, my heart aching at that look in his eyes.

Pure relief at seeing me alive, mixed with violent anger seeing me with my father.

It takes all my self-control not to launch into his arms as we approach. Every inch of my body begs to step forward, to feel his touch against my skin again. Unfortunately, father ensures we keep a healthy distance back.

"Alpha Kaan. This is unexpected," father announces.

He's been caught off guard, and by the sour expression on his face, I can tell he's not pleased about it. Kaan looks the picture of ease, however, as he straights the lapels of his jacket, smirking at my father.

"Not entirely," he responds. "I thought I would come as soon as possible to discuss what was sent to me."

From his pocket, he pulls a folded letter. He doesn't need to show it to us to make it clear it's father's request to have him annul our marriage.

I should have known Kaan wouldn't do it. I should have known he would come to save me.

"A letter in response would have sufficed," father mutters.

"I don't think so." Kaan shakes his head. "You have committed a crime against my Pack by kidnapping my wife. I would have grounds to kill you right now."

Suddenly the temperature drops to what feels like below freezing in the room. There is no hint of amusement on my mates face, and he looks more than willing to follow through with his threat.

Clearly everyone else senses it too. Father stiffens, while all his guards take a step forward, reaching for their weapons.

"I have far too many allies for that to work in your favour," father says, trying to sound calm, but I can hear the tremble in his voice.

Kaan should terrify him. There isn't much that can keep mates apart.

"None that can compete with the crime of kidnapping." He takes a confident step forward. "Not only is Hunter my wife, she is my mate. Separating mates is one of the greatest crimes that can be committed, and no reasonable Alpha will stand by your side to defend those claims."

"You took my daughter from my first," father snaps viciously.

"Hunter came to me willingly. She was a guest in my home before we married."

I watch the exchange before glancing at Tay. She's looking at me with wide eyes. She's frightened for me, knowing that if Kaan doesn't pull this off, there is no hope for me.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if my father killed me the moment Kaan was out of sight.

"She was bound to another man."

"She was permitted to break the engagement if she desired," Kaan notes casually. Clearly he has been familiarising himself with the laws.

Most people who would hear about my forced engagement with Vinn would be appalled. Most would side with me for wanting to end it.

And my father knows it.

"I am not willing to hand my daughter back to you so easily, Kaan. Perhaps we should have formal discussions about this at a later date," father offers, his tone shifting from argumentative to calm in an instance.

Kaan looks at me, his brows furrowing. I've never seen him look like more of an Alpha than today. It suits him.

"I don't think so." My mate shifts his cold green gaze back to my father. "If you need time, you get a night."

"A night?"

"And I will stay here, if you don't mind. My sister too." Kaan smiles.

He clearly has a plan. I'm not sure what it could be considering the sheer number of guards here, and from what I can tell, he only brought a few with him of his own.

But if he is here, and my father tries to kill me...well, he will have my mates wrath to answer to.

"I don't think that is appropriate," father snaps, looking at me as if to see if I'm in on whatever plan is afoot here. I avert my gaze.

"I'm an Alpha visiting for a very important meeting. The least you can do is supply me and my sister with a room in the mean time. You don't appear to have a shortage." Kaan gestures around the place, his smile a grin at this point.

Father looks between him and Tay, weighing up his options.

If he refuses, he destroys any chance of future relations with Kaan's Pack. Plus, Tay is a Noble herself, and Alpha's are generally required to cater to all Noble's from foreign Pack's.

"Fine, you may stay," he mutters begrudgingly. "But you will have no contact with Hunter."

"Alright then." Kaan dips his head before looking around. "Does somebody want to show me to my room?"

***

I lay on my bed, trying to smother my smile.

It's only been an hour since Kaan and Tay were sent to their room. I have no idea where father has put them for the night, but I'll figure it out.

I just need to figure out how to get out of my room, as that requires getting past my sister.

"Don't even think about it," she mutters from her bed on the other side of the room. She's clearly not reading that book propped in front of her.

"Think about what?" I ask innocently, turning to face her.

"Going to see him. He can't get to you, and you can't get to him." She smiles a little, like to notion pleases her.

I roll my eyes. "Well, I'm not thinking about him."

Her smile slowly fades as silence stretches between us. I let her stew in her own thoughts, hoping she will feel guilty about what she is putting me through.

"So you don't love him then?" She asks lowly, looking at me.

"Of course I love him," I murmur, propping the pillow under my head. "He's my mate."

Her eyes widen and she slowly closes her book. We've never really discussed mates. We both accepted we would never find ours, and if we did, we wouldn't be able to be with them.

"He...you have a mate?"

"Yes, I do." I adjust my shirt, sighing softly. "But like father, I'm sure you don't care."

She's silent again, staring up at the ceiling, her book completely forgotten about. Usually when she gets like this, I leave her alone. Chances are, she's having a brief moment of humanity.

"I've always wanted a mate. I even hoped Vinn might be mine," she whispers.

"I never understood why you liked him so much," I admit, watching her face carefully. "You'll have him, if I can leave."

She scowls, turning her head toward me. "He needs someone who understands him, who can calm him down."

"Even you're not that stupid, Emma." I sit up, hugging my knees as I gaze at her.

Emma and I have never gotten along, and she's done some truly evil things to me in the past, but I don't hate her. Not like I hate my father. Emma has been indoctrinated her entire life, and she doesn't know any other reality.

I feel sorry for her, really.

"I want to marry him. I will marry him," she tells me firmly.

"Not if I'm still here," I remind her. "I'm going to be married to him in two days. Kaan may be forced to father an annulment, but I think I can stop it."

Emma plants her palms against her face, clearly torn. Eventually, she turns her head to face me.

"Do you want to see Alpha Kaan?"

I nod fervently. "Yes."

She sits up, sweeping her legs off her bed as she looks to the door.

"Alright, then stay here. I'll be back."

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