Rebirth of the Alpha's Slave Mate (Samantha and Kade) novel Chapter 188

Chapter 188

“Probably.” I shrugged. “But he came all this way, twice, and has literally begged me to help. Kade never begs.”

“Which is precisely why it’s suspicious,” my father pointed out.

Perhaps it was. Perhaps this was all a ploy of some kind, although I couldn’t possibly fathom what. Why would Kade be so insistent on my return to Crescent Hollow while my twin sister turned me away at the gates?

None of it made sense, so I had to assume it really was about Debbie.

“Look,” I said, “I know you two don’t approve, but healing is my life. If Debbie needs my help, then it’s my duty to help her. This is important to me.”

My father and brother looked at each other. I knew they were excluding me from a mindlink, and I cleared my throat, interrupting them.

“I’d rather you didn’t exclude me from the conversation.”

“Sorry,” Tyler said, rubbing his eyes, “it’s just… If you do this, you need to go about it the right way. It’s not safe there for you-for a multitude of reasons.”

“Fair enough. What do you suggest?”

“Let me escort you,” Tyler said. “I’d feel better about it if I could be there to protect you if something were to go wrong.”

I almost said that I didn’t need protection, but I knew that wasn’t true. I’d gotten carjacked by a band of rogues too recently to pretend that I would be fine on my own.

“Fine. Anything else?” I asked.

My father hesitated, opening his mouth and closing it a couple of times as if struggling with what to say. Then, he walked over to me and took my hands in his. His palms were large and warm, and admittedly comforting.

“Elena,” he said softly, “if you’re going to do this, then I need to know that you’ve truly moved on from Kade.” He took a deep breath. “The Alpha Ball is coming up soon; you must find a new mate.”

“What? Dad, I can’t-”

“You’re twenty-eight,” my father insisted. “I’m not telling you to get married, settle down, or have children right away; but you have isolated yourself from the world of love for your entire twenties. And let’s not even mention what it was like for you before then.”

My teeth ground together. I hated to admit it, but he was right. I had never pursued love before; first I was too young, then I was enslaved to the man who was my mate, and… Well, the rest was history.

But the thought of basically being forced to find a new mate didn’t exactly fill me with joy, either. And yet, as I looked at my father, I knew he wouldn’t back down on this.

I swallowed thickly.

“Is there anything else?” I muttered.

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Chapter 188

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“One more thing.” My father released me and stepped back. “Once your work with Debbie is complete, you must cut ties with Kade. Forever. Reject him.”

That stipulation should have been a no-brainer. It should have been simple, perhaps even a relief, to make such a promise.

But it wasn’t. Something about it made a cramp form in my stomach anew, and I had to resist the urge to clutch my belly in agony. My wolf bristled and whined on instinct, forcing me to swallow down the temptation to deny both of my father’s requests.

Still, I knew he was right. About everything. Maybe this reaction I was feeling was precisely why I needed to move on from Kade and cut him off for good, severing our mate bond once and for all.

After a long moment, I nodded.

“Fine. I agree to all of your stipulations.”

My father and brother both looked relieved. Tyler stood and walked over to me, gathering me in his arms and embracing me tightly. For a moment, I stiffened, but then my body instinctively melted into his.

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