CHAPTER 22
ANNA’S POV
“Daddy?”
So the important person his secretary said he was with was Killion–my dad? And here I was thinking all morning that maybe… just maybe… he’d been with Sophie. My heart was running wild with possibilities I didn’t even want to admit out loud.
“Daddy?!” I called out as soon as I stepped in, my feet carrying me faster until I was in his arms. He stood up from his seat and pulled me into a firm hug, his familiar scent instantly making me feel smaller, as if I were a little girl again.
“Oh, my baby girl,” Dad’s deep voice rumbled against my ear, that rare warmth in it that he didn’t give to many people. His arms were strong around me for a moment before he eased back, holding me at arm’s length as if he was checking if I’d changed somehow. “Look at you,” he said with the faintest smirk, brushing my hair off my shoulder. “How are you? are you eating well? Sleeping well? You’re not letting those late nights get to you, are you?”
I shook my head quickly, forcing a smile even though my mind was still stuck on Ryan. “I’m fine.”
“So tell me… what are you doing here? Weekends are for girls your age to take care of themselves, go shopping, see friends–something. Not… wonder into this kind of environment.” He gestured vaguely around the room, making it clear this wasn’t a place for small talk or random visits.
I hesitated, gripping the strap of my bag. “I was just… bored,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Thought I’d come see Ryan.”
Ryan still hadn’t said a word. He was just standing there, his hands shoved deep in his pockets, watching me with that unreedable expression that was making my stomach twist.
Dod’s eyes flicked from me to him, then bock. “If you’re that bored,” he said flatly, “you can join us for dinner this evening.
“No Dod.” The word came from Ryan instantly, hard and quick.
My head snapped toward him, frowning. “Why? What dinner?”
Dod didn’t even glance at Ryan when he answered. “My friend is in the country–just arrived from Europe–and his daughter, Sophie, will be with him. Your Mom will join us as well. It will be a family dinner. Both families. together.”
That name again. Sophie…
It felt as if someone had just pushed a glass of cold water straight down my spine, and I couldn’t stop the way my chest tightened.
“I don’t understand,” I said slowly. “Why are we all meeting?”
Dod’s jow shifted slightly as he looked at me, his tone even but firm. “We’ve kept a lot from you, Anna. But I think it’s time you start to know. I’d prefer your Mom be present before I explain everything, but you should come.”
“No, Dad,” Ryan’s voice cut in, louder this time, carrying a frustation I didn’t fully understand. “She’s not coming
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Dad’s head turned toward him, his eyes narrowing just slightly, and for a moment it was as if the air between them was about to crack. “And why not? Both families are meeting. She’s part of this family.”
I glanced between them, feeling as if I was standing in the middle of something huge that no one wanted to explain. “What are you meeting for?” I asked again, my voice quieter now, almost hesitant.
Dod didn’t flinch. “Ryan is meeting his betrothed. It’s been many years since they last saw each other–about four years ago, wasn’t it, Ryan?”
I could hear Ryan’s groan before I saw his hand run through his hair, his eyes staying glued to the floor as if not looking at me would make it hurt less.
Betrothed…
The word hit me harder than it should have. My ears were ringing, and it felt as if I’d missed half the air in the
room.
Dad kept going, his voice calm, unshaken. “As he’s about to take over the company and the pack, he needs to be engaged. He needs his Luna by his side.”
“Dad. What’s… Luna? And what’s pack?” I managed to ask, even though my voice felt like it was catching on the words.
His gaze softened, but only for a second. “I’ll explain it to you later.”
I just stood there, my thoughts running in circles so fast I couldn’t catch them. Ryan’s betrothed. All this time, I never knew. And now I was hearing it as if it was some casual business arrangement, something decided long before I had the chance to even know how I felt about him. My throat burned, my eyes stung, and no matter how much I told myself not to, I kept looking at him. He wasn’t looking back.
Dad’s voice cut through the mess in my head. “What’s wrong?
I shook my head, forcing out a weak smile. “Nothing… I’m… I’m just feeling emotional, that’s all.”
But inside, it wasn’t just emotion, it was as if something had cracked open in me, and all I could think was that Ryan was already promised to someone. And not just anyone.
Sophie.
That name was already sounding like a nightmare…
