Chapter 25

Gabrielle

“Father, I cannot do this,” I blurted by way of greeting as I barged into his office.

John and Dorian instantly jumped up from their seats as a gesture of respect towards a lady entering. My father sat behind his desk and merely lifted his face as I stormed in. He looked bored and unfazed by my outburst, almost like he had been expecting it.

An awkward silence fell, but I stood my ground in the middle of the office heaving angrily, my fingers curled into tight fists. Dorian shifted his gaze uncomfortably between me and my father, while John sat down again and leaned with his one arm onto the armrest, casually waiting for my father to react.

The latter sighed deeply and dropped the paper he had in his hand onto the desk. He leaned back into his heavy leather chair and flicked his eyes towards John, no doubt a silent conversation going on between them.

My jaw clenched as I spun around and faced John and Dorian myself, clearing my throat loudly, “do you mind?” I ground out.

John looked to my father for confirmation, completely ignoring my request, while Dorian bowed his head and quickly stepped outside. Only when my father, the Alpha, gave him a brief, stiff nod, did John get up and exit the office, gently closing the door behind him.

Finally, alone, I turned back towards the large wooden desk and found my father already staring at me. If he had any pity for me, he certainly didn’t show it.

“Sit,” he ordered gruffly.

I obeyed without question and felt a ripple of my anger seep away. At least he was willing to hear me out.

“What is the meaning of this?” His voice was low and deadly.

“Father, Axel, I mean, I,” the words were tumbling out of my mouth in a jumbled mess, “it just isn’t working!”

Something flickered in my father’s eyes, but it was gone as swiftly as it had appeared.

“I don’t have time for this,” he grumbled in annoyance as he stood up and walked around the desk, “how long has it been?” He asked, stopping short of the chair I sat in.

My jaw tightened again. I did not answer him.

“Two days,” he bit out, staring down at me.

“But father-”

“But nothing! You haven’t even tried yet!”

“What is there to try? He doesn’t want me!” I bit back in defiance.

“That’s not your call to make!” His words and tone made my blood run cold. “Do you think YOU have a choice in all of this?”

I couldn’t find words to reply.

“If Axel does not accept you, you will have to be mated to John,” he seethed. My throat went dry, heart stopped.

“If something should ever happen to me, I need to know you and your MATE, whoever that may be, would be able to lead the pack!”

I still did not respond.

“Your mate, whether destined or not, should be a strong male, someone who would lead the pack through all obstacles, protect it and ensure an heir for the future. Sure, an Alpha, such as Axel would be the better option, but if he rejects you, we will have no choice but to pair you up with the next, strongest, male inline, which at this stage is John.”

“Father, you can’t be serious? John is your Beta and almost twice my age.”

I wasn’t angry anymore. Instead, I was weary and disappointed. My father had never informed me of this and in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but wonder how long he had kept it from me. Had he planned an arranged marriage between me and his Beta all along?

Was Axel my only way out of it? He was a prick though. A very damn handsome one, which I despised.

“He is also decent, experienced in pack politics and an excellent warrior,” my father continued, pacing in the tiny office.

I stared at my father with my mouth hanging open. I still had no words.

“And don’t even think about that bastard prince who lurks around here. I will not have my own daughter mixing our blood with theirs.”

He was referring to Locke, who indeed was a dear friend, but nothing more.

“If I were in your shoes, I would make pretty damn sure of my future before just tossing the most allegeable bachelor to the wind,” my father snarled over his shoulder and exited the office, slamming the door shut behind him.

When he had left, and only then, did I allow myself to cry.

I was stuck in between two men. Two equally bad choices. The one, I hated and the other hated me.

Sure, John was my father’s Beta, but he was almost ten years older than me, and I have seen him drag numerous she-wolves into his bedroom over the years. Wolves I knew and saw every day. I couldn’t bear being married to someone and picturing him with all of them.

See them walking around the halls with smug-looking faces.

Not only that, but John’s energy has always been a bit on the offside. Not as eerie and blackened as Axel’s, but nonetheless wrong. He was just that type of person. Has always been. Arrogant, greedy, vain and an unrelenting attention-seeker. The complete opposite of who I was.

I didn’t know Axel, but I did know John. And the more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that I would rather take my chances with the hateful blonde stranger, than with the Beta my father trusted just a little too much.

Axel was my only way out and I needed to make peace with that. I needed to get to know him better. Fast.

Did John know about all of this? He was my father's Beta after all and already acted like he owned the pack, surely he must have known.

Was that the reason he did not like Axel? Why he tried to make him look like a fool every chance he got?

What I needed was a spy. Someone I could trust to get me information on Axel's actions. Was he aggressive? Prone to anger? Violent?

I needed to know these things before I could make an informed decision.

My mind was made up and I knew exactly who to ask.