Chapter 168

Lila’s POV I stared dumbfounded at this man that Rachel introduced as her father.

“Ray,” he corrected, holding out his hand for me to take. “You can call me Ray.”

“Hello, sir,” I said in return, shaking his hand.

Rachel had confided in me once about her home life and the struggles she’s had growing up. A lot of it pushed to abuse drugs and alcohol which led to the problems she has currently. Most of these issues stemmed from her estranged relationship with her father.

From what he told me, he wasn’t a good man. He was incredibly abusive in more than one way and the thought of him weaseling his way back into her life caused me to feel unsettled.

She even looked uncertain when she introduced us, and I couldn’t help but notice the plastered smile on Ray’s face when he shook my hand. It looked like he didn’t want to be here any more than she wanted him to be here.

But it made me wonder why he was putting on such a show and who he was trying to impress.

“Rachel had told me a lot about you. I’m glad to finally able to put a face to the name,” Ray said, his dark eyes fixated on my face and making me feel even more uncomfortable. I felt the need to take a step back this time.

“Dad, why don’t you get the rest of my stuff from the car,” Rachel suggested, peering up at him.

He pulled his eyes from me to look at her, a deepened frown playing on his lips. He eventually nodded.

“Sure, I’ll be right back,” he said with a large grin.

He turned away and left our dorm, leaving all three of us silent.

I finally look at Rachel with disbelief on my face.

“Why is he here? He’s the route to most of your problems, Rachel.”

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“I know...” she breathed. “But he’s still my dad.”

I could see the sadness and remorse on her face; she was unable to look me in the eyes.

“He abused you for years,” I reminded her. “And you are just going to let him back into your life just like that?”

“It’s not that simple,” she said, meeting my eyes. “As bears, we are loyal to our kind. I can’t just walk away from my father.”

“After everything he had put you through??”

“He’s trying to make it up to me. I’ve been staying with him these last few weeks and he’s been really great. He feels badly about how he treated me so he’s basically buying my forgiveness. He’s bought me so much.”

“You aren’t an item that he can just buy, Rachel. You deserve so much better than that and it’s not fair,” I said, shaking my head.

“It’s not up to you, Lila,” she said in return.

Her voice was calm and not at all upset.

I knew she was right, but I really didn’t want Rachel getting hurt.

“I’m just glad you’re here, Rachel,” Becca grinned. “It wouldn’t’ have been the same without you.”

“I second that,” I said in return, happy for the subject change.

Rachel hugged us both again before going off to her room to unpack. I looked at Becca with a worried frown.

“I don’t like that her father is here,” I murmured, trying not to be too loud.

“I know. But there isn’t anything we can do about it,” she said with a shrug. “Rachel can make her own decisions.”

At that moment, Ray returned with another bag and looked between Becca and me with a frown.

“I hope my being here isn’t intruding,” Ray said, meeting my eyes. “I just wanted to make sure she made it here okay. I’ll be heading home soon.”

“It’s no problem,” I said turning away from him. “I’m going to finish unpacking.”

I went back to my room, shutting the door firmly behind me.

I wasn’t getting a good feeling from him; I couldn’t help but wonder if he had an ulterior motive. But I really didn’t want to argue with Rachel about this so I figured the best thing I could do is just go back to my room for the evening.

I grabbed my phone and glanced at the screen, once again being disappointed that Enzo hadn’t responded to any of my messages.

Where are you, Enzo?

...

Enzo’s POV “Our mate is upset we aren’t with her. I can feel it,” Max whined for the hundredth time.

I knew this already; I could feel her pain as well. But there wasn’t anything I could do about it. I felt like an idiot confessing my love to her like that. I shouldn’t have said anything, but I was acting out of pure impulse and emotions. Not thinking about the consequences following it.

“Going to her would only put her in danger,” I reminded my wolf. “If my father’s followers knew how important she was to me if they knew she was my mate, they wouldn’t stop hunting her.”

“We can protect her from any and all dangers,” Max told me in return. “We shouldn’t deprive ourselves of our mate because you fear the worst.”

“This is protecting her. I don’t know how else to do that.”

“Let me loose and I’ll show you,” Max said in a growl, baring his teeth in my mind’s eye, nearly making me shift without control in the process.

“Max!” I scolded. “I’m serious. I only want her to be safe and the best way to do that is if we keep our distance. I know you don’t like it, but it’s for the best.”

As I said those words, I wondered if they were true myself. I finally got my father’s followers off her trail, or so I think.

I at least got them to leave.

If they knew of her importance to me, it would only put her in danger, and I can’t let anything happen to her. Remembering what they did to my mother caused my stomach to hurt at the very idea of them doing that to Lila as well.

My mother lives in exile because of them. Until they are no longer an issue, I can’t be with Lila.

My phone went off for what felt like the hundredth time this week. I didn’t need to look at the screen to know who it was.

Lila has been trying to get a hold of me nonstop, and as much as I’d like to answer and go to her, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I took my phone and threw it in my desk drawer. I was struggling to resist the urge to contact her and the less I looked at my phone, the better it would be.

But damn I missed her scent.

I shook the thought out of my head just as the memory of my father’s followers resurfaced in my head.

“I’ve been hearing rumors that you were spotted around town with a pretty little number on your arm.

She wouldn’t happen to be the Volana we are smelling here, would she?”

“Don’t be stupid, Paul,” I growled through my teeth. “I would never be caught dead with a Volana wolf.

You know above anybody how dangerous they are. You saw what they did to my father. You think I’m dumb enough to fall for their bullshit. My own mother is living in the rogue territory because of what she is.... or was.”

“Just because she doesn’t have abilities, doesn’t mean she’s not a Volana,” Paul spat.

“The point is, I’m not dumb enough to let a Volana in this pack. So, don’t worry about it.”

I didn’t care what he thought; he was not part of this pack anymore anyway. I already exiled him.

“You better hope for your sake there is or you’ll both pay the price.