"Reject her," Richard commanded, his voice firm and unyielding. There was no trace of softness in his tone, only the weight of expectation. "That girl is a rogue, Damien. Bringing her back into this pack will ruin everything we've built. You know what needs to be done."
Damien's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. He had anticipated his father's resistance, but hearing the cold dismissal of Annie—the mother of his child, his mate—sent a surge of anger through him.
"I'm not rejecting her," Damien said, his voice steady, though the storm inside him was threatening to break loose. "Whatever happened between us, it's my responsibility to protect her and Ryan. He's my son, Dad. I won't walk away from that."
Richard's eyes narrowed, disbelief flickering across his stern features. "You would sacrifice your position—your future as Alpha—for a rogue? Damien, don't be a fool. There are other ways to take responsibility for the child without tying yourself to her."
