How 'Hey babe, Dad wants to see you' sounded like the end of the world in my ears was justified.
"D—dad as in Gamma Rhett?" I stuttered, sleep disappearing from my eyes.
Kylo chuckled. "Yes. You heard me right. We just might have our chances now."
I was frozen in place, fright taking over every fiber in me. "You don't know what you're talking about, Kylo. The Gamma will put us behind bars for breaking the tradition until we vow never to see each other again!" I protested.
He could do more than that if need be. I'd heard stories about him. Marrying Kylo's mother was enough proof.
"I know but if we are resilient enough, we won't be broken. Hopefully, he sees how strong our love is and leaves us in peace after."
Had Kylo been drinking so early in the morning?
"The law doesn't see or know love, Kylo. Stop this madness, for God's sake!" I hollered.
I wasn't expecting Kylo to burst into a peak of laughter as he did. I usually enjoy the sound of his laughter but this time, it sounded sour in my ears.
"There is absolutely nothing funny about this, man." I rolled my eyes. Not that he'd see it anyway.
I could hear Cullen, my roommate clanking plates in the kitchen. He was the early-to-bed, early-to-rise type.
"Relax, babe. I was joking." Kylo snorted and I heaved a deep sigh of relief.
Sulking, "You bully! Don't joke around like that!" I countered.
"But seriously, Dad wants to see you…"
What?!
"… just not about us. All the witnesses of the incident at the restaurant yesterday are being sent for. I'm surprised the soldiers aren't already at your place yet." He finished.
Holyshit! I was going to see Gamma Rhett. There was no running from it now. It'd be the first time I'd be seeing him too. I'd only heard that he was a very good-looking and well-built man.
If he was, I'd know where Kylo got his traits from. Higher-ups in the pack rarely move around the streets, hence, seeing them around was scarce. Gamma Rhett also turned out to be so enigmatic that he never took pictures.
Traditions.
"Kylo?" I called. "During the questioning, can you act like you don't know me?" I pleaded.
Kylo didn't reply straight away but when he did, "Do you really think Dad doesn't know what you look like? I have your picture on my wallpaper, silly!"
"Why not break the door?!" Cullen's yelling prevented me from replying to Kylo.
It was so loud that even Kylo heard it. "Ah— the soldiers have arrived. See you in a few." He sounded excited.
Or maybe that was what he wanted me to think – That he was excited. I wouldn't blame him if he was covered in fear right now.
Cullen's voice pierced the air, calling out, "Isleen?!" The sound reverberated, even with the distance.
I hastily changed into a flowing gown, combed my strawberry-blonde hair, and packed it in a messy bun before I rushed outside.
Geez, I didn't even get the chance to bathe or brush my teeth!
Cullen was in only his boxer. "Don't tell me you've gotten in trouble. Pack's soldiers are outside the door." He grumbled.
"Good morning to you too, Cullen." I rolled my eyes and ran to the door.
There, I met them. Two soldiers dressed in the pack's military uniform patiently waiting for me.
"Good morning." I forced a smile.
They didn't return it. Fuck them. "Ms. Garcia? You are invited for questioning at the headquarters regarding the incident at the restaurant yesterday," one of the soldiers announced in a stern tone.
Suppressing my nerves, I nodded. "Of course, I'll come with you."
Cullen's expression turned from annoyance to concern. "Isleen? Got in trouble, didn't you?"
Did he not watch the damn news since he woke up? Four o'clock before daybreak, I could already hear Cullen walking around the apartment with the TV on.
"I'll explain later, Cullen. Don't worry," I assured him hastily before turning back to the soldiers. "I'm ready to accompany you."
.
I left with the soldiers to the headquarters which was in the Alpha's estate. In that estate was every political zone in the pack situated.
I was seated in the busy reception area with other people whom I recognized as part of the witnesses of last night's ambush.
At least, those who survived unscathed.
"Good morning. How kind of you to risk your life to save that girl yesterday!" A woman beamed at me and everyone else seconded her.
"Yes, I saw her too!"
"I wish she was my son's mate!"
"We need more youngbloods like herself."
I turned crimson as the compliments were thrown at me. "Thank you. We all did great." I kept on mumbling back, wondering why Kylo wasn't among us.
The busy reception area suddenly turned quiet, causing me to glance up. My mouth popped open instantaneously as every other face in the room seemed to fade into the background.
A strange feeling I never knew I had in my chest burst free as my heart pounded against my ribs while my Wolf sprawled up, pacing back and forth.
Excited. Happy. Relieved. Hungry. Desire. Obsession; spiraled in my wolf as she recognized her own.
Mate. Mate. Mate. Mate.
My Wolf wouldn't stop dancing with joy.
I swallowed a lump down my throat as my gaze interlocked with that of the most mysterious-looking man I had ever seen.
At this moment, I understood why being with Kylo had always felt incomplete. The feeling of meeting one's mate – this was how it felt.
Like a powerful magnet, drawing you closer to them. Hell, I wanted to throw myself into his arms right now. He looked like a man in his early thirties or late twenties.
He had such an athletic body and a burgundy hair color. He was wearing a charcoal gray three-piece suit with its first three buttons undone. His eyes looked like ones I'd seen somewhere before.
I soon came to find out where.
"Dad!" Kylo's voice called out as he walked into the reception area.
Dad?
Gamma Rhett was here? Where was he?
I wanted to tear my gaze from this man's – to look at Kylo but I found myself too weak to do it. He, however, did.
He turned Kylo's way. "Kylo," I could see him struggling to shake me off his head. "I told you to stop shouting recklessly like that when you're here." He firmly stated.
Damn! His voice was all shades of masculine.
But then...
Why was he replying to Kylo?
My head began to pound, analyzing all the other possibilities that could come with it while ignoring the more patent one.
No. No, it couldn't be. It couldn't be that…
"Sorry, Dad." Kylo had walked down to him and said.
T—that was Gamma Rhett?
G—Gamma Rhett was my mate? Kylo's father?! My boyfriend's dad was my mate?!
My palms began to sweat. I found my whole body trembling. What sort of fate was this?
I was ready to reject my mate for Kylo when I found him but his dad was the one?!
Why had the moon goddess chosen to do this to me — to us? What I feared the most was Gamma's Rhett character. Since he abided by customs and traditions so much, would he fight his son to get me or break his principles now?
The Gamma Rhett that the Runewood pack knows would never.
"Go and join the others." He instructed Kylo smugly, leaving me to wonder if he didn't notice our connection.
But then, he did. He was only living up to his rigid status. Kylo spotted me and came over. "Hey, babe." He kissed me but I couldn't feel the warmth like I used to.
My eyes were on Gamma Rhett. I wanted to see that he was struggling with this bond as much as I was doing. It seemed he wasn't.
"Stop being so childish and sit down, Kylo." He ordered before addressing all of us.
Kylo sat and Gamma Rhett began his speech.
I could only listen to his words, imprinting, and every detail about him in my head.
"We are sorry to keep you away from your jobs and other activities this morning, everyone." He began.
The others said they didn't mind but I was quiet.
Gamma Rhett continued. "To further improve our security measures, we wanted to interrogate every one of us who witnessed last night's brutality. I hope you all can cooperate with us to ensure that we reach the desired outcome without fuss and that everyone can return back to commence with their regular lives."
That seemed like a subtle threat. It was more of a warning that other measures could be taken for anyone who would choose to say less than they know.
This man was just as rumored. If not more. Made me fret the more for whatever was to become of me after this. One thing was for sure; my life was about to get more complicated than it already was.