My hand trembled as I dialed his number. It rang twice before his deep, familiar voice answered.
“Zera?” For a moment, I couldn’t speak. My throat closed, and my tears threatened to fall again. “Father…” I whispered.
There was silence. Then his tone softened, cautious. “It’s been years, little one. Why are you calling?”
I swallowed hard. “I want to come home. I will marry whoever that man you wanted me to marry years ago.”
He inhaled sharply. “What about Jeremiah? You left your family, your pack, everything for that Alpha.”
“I was wrong,” I said quietly, my voice trembling. “He betrayed me. He killed my daughter, Father. He’s been cheating on me… with my best friend.”
Another silence. I could almost hear the growl building in his chest through the phone.
“Did he harm you?”
“No,” I said, though my voice wavered. “Not yet. But he will. I can feel it. And I can’t stay here any longer.”
“Then come home,” my father said immediately, his tone commanding. “I’ll send an escort—”
“No,” I interrupted, straightening my shoulders. “Not yet. I’ll handle this my way. I’ll leave in seven days. One week. That’s all I need.”
He hesitated. “Zera…”
“I’ll do what you wanted, Father,” I said, cutting him off again. “I’ll marry whoever you choose. I’ll do it your way this time.”
I could almost feel his surprise through the phone. “You mean that?”
“Yes.” My voice hardened. “I’m done following my heart. This time, I’ll follow my blood.”
There was a long pause. Then I heard the sound of his breath steadying. “Very well,” he said at last, his Alpha tone returning. “I’ll tell your brothers you’re coming home.”
My heart squeezed at the mention of them, my three older brothers, each an Alpha of their own territory. They had warned me before I left.
“Jeremiah Clinton will never love you the way you deserve, Zera,” my eldest brother had said.
But I hadn’t listened.
Now, the memory burned like salt on a wound.
“Tell them,” I whispered, my voice trembling with restrained fury. “Tell them the Moonshadow Alpha has made an enemy of the Hatunbergs.”
My father’s voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Then may the Goddess have mercy on his soul.”
The call ended, but my heart was thundering.
Seven days. In seven days, I would no longer be Luna of Moonshadow Pack. In seven days, I would no longer be Alpha Jeremiah Clinton’s wife.