Rayna
The air in my father's office was tense as I barged in, my heart pounding with frustration and anger. I couldn't believe he had gone against my wishes, and I was determined to confront him about it. That old man was definitely going to get a piece of my mind.
"Father," I said sharply, my voice carrying the weight of my anger, "did you visit the Crystalmoon Pack?" I questioned.
Alpha Kavan looked up from his desk, his expression calm and unsurprised by my abrupt entrance. "Yes, Rayna, I did. Any problem?"
My hands clenched at my sides, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "How could you, Father? After I specifically asked you not to get involved, Couldn't you have just minded your business?" I asked, wondering why he couldn't just respect my wishes for once.
Alpha Kavan leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady as he regarded me. "Rayna, there's no need for you to barge into my office in such a manner. We can discuss this calmly. I didn't teach you like this," he said, trying to sound commanding.
I took a deep breath, trying to reign in my emotions. "I apologize, Father. But you promised me you wouldn't interfere, and now you've gone against your word. Why would you do that even after I begged you not to?" I said, not bothering to hide the fact that I was hurt and annoyed.
He raised an eyebrow, his expression unapologetic. "I promised that I wouldn't interfere with your personal life. However, as the Alpha of the Storm Pack, it is my duty to ensure the well-being of our pack and our alliances. I also have to make sure my pack isn't insulted. Isn't that right?" he replied.
I fought back a wave of frustration, struggling to keep my voice steady. "But Father, I made it clear that I didn't want you to speak to Ryan about this. Forget about protecting the pack. You should have thought of me instead," I said to him, hating that he was still trying to justify his actions.
Alpha Kavan's gaze hardened his tone stern. "Rayna, you are my daughter, and I love you. But that doesn't mean I will stand idly by when I believe something isn't right."
I took a step closer to his desk, my eyes narrowing. "And what exactly did you discuss with Ryan?"
Alpha Kavan's expression remained calm; his response was measured. "I had a conversation with Ryan to understand his perspective and intentions."
I couldn't contain my anger any longer. "You questioned him about me, didn't you? You went there to give the impression that I was desperate enough to ask you to talk to him. Is that right?" I asked.
His gaze held a mixture of understanding and concern. "Rayna, I wanted to ensure that you are making decisions that are in your best interest. It's my responsibility as your father."
My frustration reached its peak, and I clenched my fists, my voice rising. "And what did you find out? Did you convince Ryan that I'm unhappy with the rejection and that I'm using you to avoid it?" I asked.
Alpha Kavan's voice was calm but firm. "Rayna, I spoke to Ryan to understand where his head was. It's not about convincing anyone of anything. It's about making sure the right decision is made."
My anger boiled over, and I raised my voice, my words laced with fury. "You have no right to speak to him about me! You're making me seem desperate and unhappy with the rejection when that's not even true! How can you not see how you've only made the situation much worse?"
Alpha Kavan's gaze held a hint of frustration. "Rayna, your happiness matters to me, and I won't let you make a decision you might regret."
My hands trembled with anger, my frustration evident in every fiber of my being. "You don't get to decide whether or not I'm happy, Father. This is my life, my choice, and you have no right to interfere." I hissed.
He leaned forward, his voice stern. "Rayna, you may be my daughter, but I am also the Alpha of the Storm Pack. My decisions are influenced by what's best for our pack. I will not allow my daughter to be stained with such a terrible stigma."
I shook my head, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and disappointment. "So, you care more about the public's response to my rejection than how I feel about you making me seem desperate?"
His expression hardened, and his tone was authoritative. "Rayna, this is not just about you. It's about our pack, our alliance, and our reputation. Your decisions have consequences beyond your personal feelings. How can you not understand that as someone about to become an Alpha?"
My anger reached its peak, and I yelled, unable to contain my frustration any longer. "You're being selfish, Father! You're more concerned about how it looks for our pack than how I feel! You're being absolutely unreasonable!"
He stood abruptly, his own frustration evident. "Rayna, you may not understand the weight of these decisions now, but one day you will thank me for ensuring our pack's future."
I glared at him, my disappointment and anger making my voice shake. "I will never thank you for putting me in a position to seem desperate and unhappy. You had no right to interfere in my life."
His gaze held a mixture of understanding and resolve. "Rayna, I did what I thought was best. You may not see it now, but one day you will understand."
I shook my head, tears of frustration welling up in my eyes. "No matter how this turns out, I will never forgive you for this, Father. You've crossed a line, and I won't forget it."
Turning on my heel, I stormed out of his office, my heart heavy with a mix of anger, disappointment, and sadness. My own father's actions had hurt me in a way I hadn't expected, and I was now left to deal consequences of becoming a desperate person.
***
The tension in my chest was palpable as I stormed out of my father's office, my emotions a storm that I struggled to contain. I was furious with him, frustrated beyond measure by his disregard for my wishes. How could he betray my trust like this?
My footsteps echoed through the corridors of our pack's main building as I made my way toward the exit. My mind was a whirlwind of anger and hurt, my heart heavy with the weight of my father's actions. I had to get away, to find a place where I could gather my thoughts and process the storm of emotions raging in me.
As I reached the entrance, I pushed open the heavy wooden doors and stepped out into the crisp autumn air. The wind tousled my hair, a soothing balm against the thunderstorm in my heart. I walked aimlessly through the pack's grounds, my mind replaying the heated exchange with my father over and over again.
"Is everything alright, Rayna?"
I nearly jumped at the sound of my stepmother's voice, my thoughts disrupted by her unexpected appearance. I turned to see her standing there, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. My relationship with my stepmother had always been distant, a result of the complicated dynamics in our pack.
I took a deep breath, my frustration still simmering beneath the surface. "I'm fine," I replied, my tone colder than I intended.
She studied me for a moment, her gaze searching. "You don't seem fine. What happened? Is there something bothering you?"
I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to share my problems with her. But the need for someone to understand, even if it was my distant stepmother, was quite high.
"I had a confrontation with my father," I admitted, my voice tinged with bitterness.
Her brows furrowed in concern. "What happened?"
I let out a frustrated sigh, my emotions spilling out in a rush of words. "He went to the Crystalmoon Pack, against my wishes, to talk to Ryan, who I'm sure you've heard about. He had no right to interfere in my life like that."
Understanding flickered in her eyes, and she took a step closer. "Rayna, your father might have had his reasons. He's only looking out for your best interests."
I shook my head, my frustration resurfacing. "That's the problem. He thinks he knows what's best for me, but he doesn't. He's making decisions about my life without even considering how I feel."
She reached out and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I understand that you're upset, Rayna. But perhaps you should try talking to him and explaining your perspective."
I shrugged off her touch, my anger flaring anew. "I've tried talking to him, but he doesn't listen. He's more concerned about our pack's reputation than how I feel."
Her gaze held a hint of sympathy. "Rayna, your father is the Alpha. His decisions affect not just you but our entire pack. He has to consider what's best for everyone."
My frustration boiled over, and I couldn't hold back the bitterness in my voice. "Even if it means disregarding my feelings and making me seem desperate and unhappy?"
She sighed, her expression pained. "I know it's difficult, Rayna. But sometimes, the choices that leaders make are not easy ones. As someone who is about to be one, I need you to understand."
I clenched my fists, my anger making my voice sharp. "I don't care about our pack's reputation or alliances. I care about my own happiness and my right to make my own decisions, and I don't deserve to be made into a desperate woman for a man that I'm not even interested in."