DAMIEN
I woke up feeling Guinevere nuzzled into my chest. She looked so peaceful, and I didn't have the heart to wake her. I quietly slid out of bed, went to my side table, grabbed a pen and paper, and jotted down a quick note.
"Going to talk to my father about the letter. You looked so peaceful, and I didn't want to disturb you. Link me if you need anything.
Love Damien.....
PS it's the 21st century, and I have to write you a note in bed. How do I know what it feels like to be deep within you, yet I still don't have your cell phone number? Please add mine (615-933-4456) to your phone and send me a text so I can save yours."
I go to put my note to Guinevere on my pillow but quickly realize I can't. My darling mate has now claimed my pillow as her own. She has her face smashed into it as she's inhaling my scent. Instead, I placed the letter on the side table, hoping she would notice it.
I walk over to my walk-in and grab the first pair of shorts and shirt that I can find, and hurry to the bathroom so I can grab a quick shower. I'm in and out within a matter of minutes. I steal one last glance at Gwynn before leaving the room, Leo and I wanting nothing more than to hop back into bed with her. However, this matter is more important. I need to clear Guinevere's parents' names and inform my father that I've found my mate. I hurry out of my room, gently closing the bedroom door before mind linking my father.
'Hey, Dad. I need to talk to you. Do you have a minute?'
'Yes, I'm free right now; when did you get back in, son?"
"Last night, I'll tell you everything when I see you. Where are you?'
'In my study.'
I quickly cut off the mind link and walked briskly to my father's study. I want to reach him before anyone notices my mate mark and informs my father before I can. I reach his study in a matter of minutes. As I open the door, my father stands from his desk, his arms raised in the form of a hug.
"Damien, son, it's nice to see you back at the pack where you belong. How was your...." My father stopped talking, getting a whiff of my new scent. His eyes dart to my neck, and his lip curls up in a smile.
"Son, you've found your mate. Who is the lucky she-wolf? Which pack is she from? Her scent smells eerily familiar."
He sat back down at his desk with a lazy smile. He looked more relaxed at this moment now than he's ever looked in my entire existence. I wanted to break the news gently of Guinevere being my mate to my father and let him ease into it, but it didn't look like that would happen; my father, an Alpha male, was very aware of his surroundings.
I took a seat opposite my dad's chair, and I cleared my throat. "Dad, my mate is from this pack. Her scent is familiar because you've met her once and because you were extremely close to her mother and father at one point in your life."
My father raised his eyebrow at me questioningly. "Well, spit it out, boy; I'm not getting any younger."
"Dad, my mate and future Luna of the Blue Moon pack will be Guinevere.." I paused for a brief moment, trying to see if there was any recognition on my father's face at the mention of Guinevere's name. "Guinevere McKay."
My father let out a snarl, jumping up from his chair and throwing his desk across the room. "Absolutely not; I fucking forbid it. Gregory, that filthy fucking excuse of a wolf, his daughter will never be Luna. I will not allow someone with traitor's blood to help my son lead this pack. Guinevere can be your mate, but she will never be anything more. You will take someone else as your Luna."
My eyes turned black; Leo, furious with my father, was trying to take control of this altercation. I pushed him back down. My tone was ice cold when I spoke to my father next.
"Before you say another blasphemous word about my mate or the Luna of this pack, I suggest you read this letter that Elder Derek gave me from the silent forest pack."
I handed my father the letter. As his eyes darted back and forth, quickly reading the letter, I took the time to steel my emotions and calm Leo down; I didn't want him to kill my father accidentally.
My father put the letter down on his desk, "This changes nothing. Even if Rebecca wasn't my mate, Gregory did not know that, and he went against his Alpha's command, knowing that doing so would weaken me and put this pack in danger. He is still a traitor, even if what he stole was never mine in the first place."
I looked at my father, bewildered. How can he still be so mad at Gregory after all these years? Especially now after learning the truth.
"So you're going to continue to punish Guinevere's parents, even though this trickery was a witch's doing? You're going to forbid me of my mate and happiness because you cannot let bygones be bygones?"
I could feel the anger swarming inside me. Leo is on the brink of taking control. My arms had already started to sprout fur, my canines extending.
"The pack will never accept her as your Luna. The council will not allow your ceremony to commence. For all we know, this letter is a forgery, created by someone with the hopes of forcing my hand at forgiveness." My dad pushed his hair out of his face with a heavy sigh and sat back down, looking old and frail for the first time in my life.
I stood up and turned towards the door. I needed to get out of the room before I lost control
I turned back to my father, snarling at him, unable to leave without saying one more thing.
"Guinevere will not weaken the pack. The pack is already weak. They're weak from years of your hatred and reign of terror. They're weak from your inability to forgive.