Chapter 5 - Lena

Father drags me across the parking lot and hurls me against the door of the truck. I open it as quickly as I can and climb in before he can hurt me again. He's never been abusive to the point he would actually beat me, or Sam, but he regularly shoves us and throws us around.

He gets in on the other side and slams his door. He starts up the truck and guns the engine a bit as we tear out of the parking lot.

"Why did you have to go and ruin that for me!" he growls, forcing the words through his teeth. "Do you have any idea how important this marriage is?"

I'm still reeling from seeing Jack there at the meeting, trying to comprehend that he is actually the intended groom. Piled up on top of the exhaustion from last night and the shock of seeing Jack is now the horror that he's going to marry someone else.

"Are you listening to me?" Father shrieks. My stomach is jumpy, and my eyes are still full of tears, but I'm so angry with him, my pain just doesn't matter anymore.

"What did you do, Father? Why do the others not want you involved in the meetings?"

"Because they are ridiculous fools," he scoffs. "Weak-willed cowards, every last one of them. Wolves are opportunists; we take whatever we can. It's the law of nature."

I know damn well it's not, but I don't argue with him.

"If you're doing something illegal, then—"

"I'm not!" he protests, arguing with the conviction of a guilty man. "They just suspect me of everything because they're threatened by my power and status."

I have to bite my lip hard to stop myself from laughing out loud.

Father drives in silence for a few minutes, glaring at the road. I'm wondering what's going to happen to me now—and which path I'd truly prefer. I could have been getting ready to marry Jack right now. Instead, I'm stuck in this freezing cold, falling-apart pickup on the way back to our shack, and this poor excuse of a parent is probably going to make me work tonight.

As awful as my current situation is, the idea of being with Jack is so stressful it gives me fierce anxiety. It's good that the deal fell through, because he doesn't want me. Not only could we never consummate the marriage, I couldn't stand to live with him every day, knowing that he has no feelings for me whatsoever.

Staying here is safer.

Father pulls the wheel savagely, turning the pickup into the driveway. He turns and glares at me as he turns off the engine.

"You're going to pay for what you did today," he mutters. "You're going to clean the house and get into the bar early to open. Then you're going to work late. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Father," I stare out the windshield at the house, trying to imagine being anywhere else.

He grabs my arm hard and gives me a shake. "I said, do you understand me?"

"Yes, I do!" I cry. "I hear you! Please let go of me."

He glares at me, his fingers digging deep into my arm. "If you were a good daughter, I wouldn't have to treat you this way," he mutters. "Get inside, clean yourself up, then start on the house."

I nod, feeling hot tears beginning to run down my face. I quickly head inside to get changed.

Father goes straight to the garage. He has never kept the truck in there, but the doors are always locked. This fact crystalizes in my mind as I think about him messing around in the storerooms and back dock at the bar.

He is doing something illegal!

No wonder he is in trouble with the pack. They don't need much evidence to kick him off the council, and then the pack as well.

I'll get kicked out… and so will Sam!

The idea fills me with dread.

As I hurry into the house, I look in on Sam's room as I go down the hallway. It looks like he's already left for school, which is a huge relief. He probably never even knew I was gone. Mercifully, Kelly is still asleep.

After I get changed, I head to the kitchen, trying to force down a few bites of toast and some coffee. My stomach is flipping around so much, it's impossible to eat. I can't stop thinking about what happens if—when—Father gets kicked out of the pack? What will happen to me and Sam?

He doesn't have long to go before he graduates high school, then he can get a scholarship—I know he can. He'll get out of this horrible place and live a better life than all of us. I just have to hang on a little longer.

I'm trying to think of a plan to keep Sam safe when I hear Father's footsteps by the back door. I quickly grab a rag and start cleaning the bench.

"Good, you've gotten started," he snaps. "Make me some coffee, would you?"

A knock at the front door makes both of us jump.

Father scowls and points at me. "Stay right where you are. I'll handle this."

I hear him stomp through the house and open the door. There is a low rise and fall of voices, and I can't understand any words. Then Father returns to the kitchen with our visitor.

When I see that it's Decker, my heart seems to stop in my chest. It doesn't feel like it's beating, just fluttering around in the cage of my ribs. I can hardly breathe, let alone speak.

"Good news, Lena," he tells me. "You have been chosen as the bride in the marriage alliance."

"Isn't it wonderful?" Father asks me, beaming. I can see a hard edge in his eyes as he prompts me to react.

"Yes," I croak, still trying not to tremble. "It's great."

Decker nods. "I realize it is something of a shock for you, my dear, but the alliance is very important. And Jack specifically asked for you."

He did?

I find that hard to believe. I'm too tired, and too sick, to even begin to comprehend the emotions crashing through me right now. Wave after wave of panic that I'll be tied to a man who doesn't want me, shame for not being enough, relief I'm getting away from Father, worry for my poor baby brother—

"Lena!" Father's voice cuts through my riot of thoughts. "Would you accept the proposal?"

I realize that Decker is waiting patiently for me to respond while I have a quiet mental breakdown. I nod, trying to dislodge the lump in my throat.

"Thank you, Decker. I accept. I will do what is required." I hear myself say the words, but they don't feel like they come from me.

"Excellent," Decker says. "I'll be in touch. Planning is already underway."

He gives Father a long, hard look before he leaves.

"I give you my regards, Peter. I look forward to seeing you at the coming meetings."

Father flashes his fake, far too friendly smile.

"I'll be there to do my duty to the pack," Father says. Decker nods, turning to leave. After a second, I hear the door squeak and click as he leaves.

"Well, how about that!" Father announces cheerfully. "He picked you! That's a surprise but a happy one."

"Uh-huh," I mutter, staring at the floor.

"It's a blessing to this family," Father goes on, smiling with pleasure. "This is going to turn our luck around! The connections we'll make in the new pack with you married to the beta will be invaluable."

I don't answer. I don't think he even wants me to.

"Don't you dare mess this up!" he snaps, changing from warm to cold in less than a blink of an eye. "Are you going to run again? Because I'll chain you up like a bad dog if you try!"

I take an involuntary step back, unable to handle the palpable threat that reeks from him.

"Don't get me wrong," he growls. "That Jack, he's not a nice guy. Violent, dark, and quick-tempered. He beat the hell out of me one day—came at me from behind! I was just innocently loading my truck."

This is all news to me, but I don't believe a single word of it.

"I don't trust him, and you shouldn't, either," Father says. "But you'll keep him in line. I know you will."

I don't realize it, but I've taken another step back. Father suddenly notices and launches himself across the kitchen to grab my arm.

"Where do you think you're going? What did I just say about running?"

"I wasn't!"

"That's not what it looked like! I will chain you up—I'm not fucking around here!"

My chest is constricting against my violently beating heart, and my mind is reeling. I can't follow any of what's going on. Father wants me to marry Jack, even though he thinks Jack is a bad person? I still can't figure out if it's better for me to stay here with Father or accept the marriage.

Father's fingers dig deep into my wrist, hard enough to make the bones grind together. I cry out, buckling at the knees.

"Please!" I cry, trying to yank my hand away.

"If you don't accept this marriage and promise to obey me in everything you do, I swear I'll—"

"You'll what!" I scream at him. Suddenly, I'm getting a clear vision. My marriage to Jack will put Father in an excellent position to manipulate the elders of our pack and prominent members of Jack's. He could exploit everyone through me.

"What can you possibly do to me?" I ask miserably. "I won't be your puppet. Do whatever you want to me. I don't care."

Father glares at me for a moment. Slowly, he lets go of my wrist, and his eyes take on a strange look.

"You're absolutely right," he says. "Going after you isn't good enough. You've proven that to me over and over again."

I glare at him, my lip trembling as I fight against tears.

Is he finally backing off?

Then he grins, and that malicious, joyful expression is truly the work of demons. "I won't lay a finger on you," he says. "But just imagine what I can do to your little baby brother without you here to protect him."

The fear I felt before this pales in the wave of icy cold terror that floods through me now.

"No, please don't—"

Father shrugs. "It's entirely up to you. If you want to cause trouble for me, then I'll take it out on Sam. If you want to keep little brother safe… then you'll do exactly as I say."

Completely frozen by fear, all I can manage is a nod.

"Yes, Father," I croak, forcing the words out. "I accept the marriage. I'll do anything you say."