Revolting

In the morning, we made the long drive back to Pelton Glade. Shane insisted on driving, so William lounged in the back seat, playing with his phone. "Will," Shane said quietly, his eyes meeting Williams in the rearview mirror. "Be alert." William nodded in understanding.

We approached the gates, and the guard came to the window. "Miss Nina! You are back! Everyone has been looking for you!"

I smiled and greeted him. "Its good to see you Derek. I've come to visit my father."

He opened the gates immediately, and we drove the rest of the rest of the way up to the main house. My heart sighed with nostalgia at the familiar sight of my childhood home. The guards at the gate had already alerted the house of our arrival, and as soon as we parked, my sisters tumbled out the door. When I had awkwardly scooted out of the SUV passenger door, they had enveloped me in hugs. "Oh Nina, we were so worried! Nina, oh my god, your---" They gasped as they suddenly took note of my baby belly. How they had not noticed it from the beginning, I don't know. I was starting to feel huge and conspicuous. Then in the middle of ooohing and ahhhing over my stomach, Hannah suddenly noticed the fresh mark on my neck. She grabbed Janice by the shoulder, and pointed. Janice grinned. "Well, now we know why you ran away, don't we?"

Not really, I wanted to tell her, but we didn't have time to get into the details before I felt my father's commanding presence on the steps. I looked up and whispered, "Daddy."

It doesn't matter how old you are... there was something a little bit embarrassing about facing your father with full evidence that you were a sexually active adult written all over your body. I felt his face flush a little bit as he took in my swollen abdomen, and then the fresh mark on my shoulder. Then he looked over my shoulder to Shane and William, as if he was trying to decide which one of them had done it. But I shoved aside all awkwardness and just threw my arms arms around him in a hug. He hesitated for a moment, and then he crushed me in his arms. "Nina, I've missed you, girl. But you shouldn't be here."

"I know." I said, "Can we go inside and talk? I can't stay long." I reached behind me, and took Shane by the hand. I could tell by his expression, the way his lip flat-lined and his eyes narrowed that Daddy had already met Shane before. I remembered how William had told me that Nolan had turned my father's pack "upside down" in his search for me. Whatever Nolan had done, I couldn't imagine that Shane had been disrespectful towards my father. It just wasn't in his nature. Daddy turned and lead us back into the house, and into his office. I motioned for William to come in too. In our little pack, William had become my beta, my trusted second.

"Tell me," my father said.

"I'm sorry Daddy," I said, bowing my head. "You sent me on a mission, but I couldn't stay."

My father smiled, sadly. "You fullfilled the mission, Nina. You married the Alpha's son. I assume you consummated the marriage," he eyed my stomach. "The contract didn't say you had to stay forever. And I knew you would get out of it." He looked at me steadily in the eye. "I knew you were the only one of my daughters strong enough to walk away."

Strong? I had never thought of myself as strong. With my weak legs, I always considered myself the weakest link in the family. I thought that was why he chose me as Nolan's bride for the negotiation. I was expendable. I pursed my lips. "You knew he was bad."

Daddy sighed, "Of course I knew. I'm sorry Nina. I'm sorry I sent you in there. But I was backed into a corner... I either signed the treaty, or Bernhard was threatening to invade."

I waved it off. "It doesn't matter now, that story is finished." I raised my chin. "I have my own pack now. I just needed to tell you in person Daddy... I'm safe. I'm happy. And I've found my mate." I looked across to Shane who was sitting beside me in one of the leather chairs.

Daddy gave Shane a sharp look. "You failed to protect my daughter once."

Shane stiffened, "I know," he said, his voice laced with guilt and regret. "But it will never happen again."

Daddy stared at him a long time, that sort of threatening death glare that fathers like to give to new boyfriends, but Shane was not a boy. He was a warrior, and he was not going to be cowed, not even by a strong alpha like my father. Finally my father consented with a nod. Not that we needed his consent, but it made me happy anyway, to know that he approved. Suddenly his face transformed, and split into a happy grin. "I'm going to be a grandpa!" He came around the desk and took my hands. "I only wish your mother could have been here... she would have been so proud of you Nina. You have always been so strong, so resilient. You are so much like her."

I flushed and felt that familiar pang of loss at the thought of my mother. Could I feel happy and sad at the same time? Daddy pulled my hand toward the door. "Lets have a quick drink together to celebrate. But no alcohol for you, young lady. Juice. And then you better go. I wish you could stay longer, but Nolan Pierceson is still looking for you, Nina. He hasn't given up."

We went together to the kitchen, and sat on stools around the counter. My sisters joined us. My father opened a bottle of his best wine, and poured glasses for everyone except for me and Hannah. Hannah was allergic to alcohol. We had goblets of apple juice instead. Daddy raised his glass, "To my beautiful and resourceful daughter, and my new son-in-law. May the universe guide you, protect you and prosper you in your new journey." We all touched glasses, and drank, and conversation swirled around. My sisters gushed over the prospect of being aunties. Hannah was making eyes at William, but I didn't have a chance to tell her she was wasting her time. It was my father who brought up a sobering point. "This baby is Pierceson's blood. He or she will be heir to the Gold Mountain Pack."

I shook my head vehemently. "This is my baby. And she will be heir to my pack." I said resolutely. I don't know when I had started thinking of the baby as "her", I guess Shane had started me on it.

My father gave me a serious look. "You can not deny destiny, Nina. Things happen for a reason, even if we can't always decipher the meaning at the time."

I looked down into my juice. I didn't agree with him. Mom didn't die for a reason. Nolan didn't abuse me for a reason. Sometimes bad things just happened, sometimes life was unfair. Sometimes babies were conceived outside of loving, supportive relationships. Sometimes the sperm donor was a narcissistic jerk who had no business being a father. But I wasn't going to argue with my Daddy. This was a moment for celebration, not conflict. We drained our glasses, and then had to move on to saying goodbye. I squeezed each of them hard, and kissed their cheeks, knowing that I probably wouldn't see them again for months, at least not until after this baby was born.