Surrender (Werewolf)

Chapter 7

 Chapter 7

 

“Claire, you can’t just leave everything you know behind,” Dad said with the bang of his fist against the table.

Mom did nothing but sit quietly by him with her hands placed in her lap and head hung low. I could see that she had different ideas than my dad, but she wouldn’t dare speak against her mate. She was to old fashioned.

“Can’t you understand why I’m doing this?” My voice was a low whisper. I never liked having arguments with my father. However, sometimes it couldn’t be prevented; like now.

Since I had told him about my plans to leave the pack and mate another wolf he had been less than thrilled. He sent Kieran a few glares throughout our discussion, but Kieran wasn’t at all affected like I was. Here I am supposed to be Luna of a pack and I’m sitting here scared of what my Dad thinks.

It’s not like he could actually stop me since I was of age to make my own decisions, but that doesn’t mean he won’t try.

“I understand that you are hurt Claire, believe me I do. But leaving your pack and everything behind is a little drastic, don’t you think?”

He was desperately trying to get the message across to me that I was making a mistake with his tone and gestures. He wasn’t making this easy on me.

“Daddy, I just lost my mate. He chose someone else!” I was speaking a little louder now. It took him by surprise.

“He didn’t want to do that, but the circumstances called for it.”

I shook my head refusing to hear anymore about it. It still hurt too much to speak of Daniel. The hole in my soul was still very much there. I felt the tears forming in my ducts.

“This is what I want. I’m going with Kieran tonight and I’d love to have the support of my parents. However, if I have to I’ll go without it, I will. Please don’t make me.”

Dad stared back at me wearily. He looked like he’d aged at least ten years since this conversation started. It made me feel guilty.

“We don’t want you to leave us Claire. Who knows when we’ll see you again.”

“I asked you to come,” I reminded him. “You chose not to.”

“My home is here. My pack is here. Your mother and I are too old to start over in another pack.”

“You won’t have to worry about that,” Kieran said. “You’ll be taken care of. We don’t expect you to prove your place in the pack. These are unusual circumstances after all,” he pointed out.

“But I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t,” he explained.

I could see his dilemma. I know this put him in an impossible spot and it wasn’t fair to him; or anyone for that matter. Unfortunately, this could not be helped, though. He had to make a choice, for him and my mom.

“Please, dad. Come with us. I don’t want to leave you anymore than you want me gone.”

He sighed heavily and rubbed his face with a calloused hand before turning to look at my mom. Her eyes held worry and debate. She was torn.

“Why do you think honey?” he asked her.

“I just want everyone to be happy,” she answered vaguely.  

“I know you do,” he agreed. “But right now I need you to be outspoken about this. I’m at a loss.”

As if he had commanded her, my passive mother did something I had not heard her do in years. She took charge and spoke her mind. It was liberating for me to hear. I rarely ever saw this side of her. I imagined it was her wolf complying with my father request.