The Blind Werewolf Princess (1st book of Werewolf Series)

Chapter 32

The car ride over to the main house was silent and thick with tension and nervousness.

The gentle hum of the radio didn't even break the silence; its music even barely loud enough for me to hear.

Mandy and I were in the back while John was driving, and Max was sitting in the passenger seat. Mandy had a tight grip on my hand and was playing with my fingers while we drove towards the house, her thoughts racing a mile a minute, not slowing down no matter how much she tried to calm herself.

John cleared his throat and turned the radio all the way off, and Mandy flinched at the sudden noise. "I apologize, Mandy," he said, his voice soothing. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Mandy took a deep, shuddering breath and nodded. "It's ok," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I forgive you."

"What is it?" I asked, changing the subject. I squeezed Mandy's hand reassuringly while I looked at the man who decided to become my father. "What happened?"

"We are here," John said. He paused and cleared his throat while he licked his lips. "Are you sure that you are ready to see your father?" John asked, looking at Mandy. "I can turn this car around and go back to my house if you aren't."

Mandy took a deep shuddering breath, and I knew that she wanted to say no, that she wasn't ready, and for him to take her back to the house with the other girls.

She wanted to, but she didn't.

"I am not," she said, finally. "But I want to get this done. I-I want to see him, to see if he..." she trailed off and shrugged while she grimaced.

If he still loves her.

Those were the words that she wanted to say but didn't, and those were the words that hung in the air around us like a thick blanket.

I squeezed her hand and cleared my throat. "He does," I said when she looked at me. "I could hear it in his voice when we talked on the phone. He loves you and wants you to be a part of his life."

Mandy's heart skipped a beat, and she took a deep, shuddering breath as if what I told her relieved herself of some fear that she had. "Positive?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly.

I nodded. "I am," I confirmed. "He loves you and always will." I paused and let that sink in. "It will be best if you let him explain what has happened and why he hasn't tried to contact you until now."

Mandy sighed and nodded. She didn't say a word and fiddled with my hand, her heart pounding hard in her chest. Her whole body was tense while she tried to come up with a decision, hoping that somehow she wouldn't be as hurt as she was now.

Again, I squeezed her hand and stayed silent while I waited for her to say whether she wanted to go or not. I knew that this was difficult on her and prayed that she would take the hardest choice, which in this case would be to see her father for the first time in years.

Finally, she sighed and slowly nodded. "Ok," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Ok... what?" I asked after a moment's pause, knowing full well that the other men wouldn't ask her what she meant when she said, "ok."

"I'll go," she said. Her heart skipped a beat before it started to pound, and excitement came off her in waves. "I'll go see my father." She looked at me and cleared her throat. "Are you still going w-"

"Yes," I said, interrupting her with a slight nod of my head. "You aren't going to be doing this alone. I will be with you while you talk to your father."

Mandy let out a soft sigh of relief and nodded. She cleared her throat and squeezed my hand before she took her hand out of my hand. "Then we should get going," she said and went to open the door. "Were you coming in too?" she asked John.

"I will not," John said, "at least when you talk with your father." He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat, the sound of the leather creaking. "However, I will be showing you two to the office."

"What about you?" Mandy asked, looking at Max.

"I am going to hang out here until it's time to go home," Max replied. "It'll only be you, your father, and Carley, probably." He looked at his father, and his father nodded in confirmation.

Mandy cleared her throat and nodded. "Ok," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Then let's go." She reached for the car door and opened it.

She paused in getting out and looked at me. "Do you need any help?" she asked, concerned.

I shook my head, no, and undid my seatbelt. "I don't," I said and opened my door. "Thank you for asking, though." I got out of the car and looked around, interested in the new scents and feelings since I couldn't see. My staff was in my hand, and I made sure to have a tight grip on it while I looked around.

John cleared his throat, and I looked at him. He was staring at me, studying me with a wave of something that I couldn't pick up on. "Are you ready?" he asked. "We're about to walk to the house."

I nodded and closed the door shut. "I am," I said and started to walk towards the house. "Where's Mandy?" I asked and looked around, not feeling her beside me.

"Coming," Mandy said and walked over to my side. She rubbed up against me and cleared her throat while she grabbed my free hand. Her heart still pounded hard in her chest, but it wasn't as fast as it had been in the car.

"I'm scared," she said her voice barely above a whisper.

I squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I know," I said because I could feel it. "But you got this. No matter what happens, you're safe with me. Ok?"

"Promise?"

"Promise."