Page 2 of Alpha's Revenge Luna

“And what about destined mates? I could have a mate somewhere, and you would deny them?” I ask, not that I wanted one of those, either.

However, I am not interested in being paraded around while the Alphas get to decide which cattle are the juiciest, which has the best child-bearing hips, and which are worthy of carrying an heir.

Me, I am one of the damn juiciest cattle on parade tonight.

“It’s the law, and there is no such thing as destined mates anymore, you know this. No one has found their mates in three centuries. It’s all myth and legend,” Mom chides before shucking me under the chin and forcing me to meet her hazel eyes.

It was the law that all females attend these functions the year of their nineteenth birthday. I will turn nineteen in three days, which, back when mates existed, meant I would finally be of age to recognize mine.

My mother says they’re long gone. But even if they exist, I will still be forced to attend. No matter their status, once you become of age, even being the Alpha’s daughter doesn’t allow me an exemption from it.

Mom pinches my cheek. “It’s your duty as the Alpha’s daughter to attend at least one of these functions.

Then you get to come home and take over your father’s pack,” she says before her eyes scrutinize my lips.

I nearly jump away from her when I see her lick her thumb, and it comes toward my face to fix my lipstick.

“Ew, Mom, I am not five, jeez.”

She chuckles. I grab a tissue from the coffee table to fix what she has been trying to do. The woman has eyes like a hawk. My lipstick looks acceptable to me. Not to her, though.

“You’ll always be my baby girl,” she laughs.

“A baby girl you’re sending off to parade in front of Alphas like a piece of meat for the slaughter!” I retort. She rolls her eyes at me.

“You’re being dramatic,” she says as I throw the tissue in the fire.

“Besides, you know these functions. You become lost in the sea of other women, just blending into the background. No one would dare go against your father. Look at Trinity; she got to come home after not even one Alpha dared try to take your father’s precious little girl from him.

This year will be no different,” she tells me, and I sigh, praying she is right.

The doorbell chimes, and my mother glances toward the foyer. “That must be Nina; she’s going to watch Caleb. Go tell your father we are ready to leave,” she tells me before answering the door.

“I was hoping she wouldn’t show up, so we didn’t have to go,” I mutter. My mother cuts me an ice-cold glare. I wander off down the hall, hearing my mother answer the door and greet Nina.

In his office, Dad is sitting by the fire waiting for us.

Glass of whiskey in hand, he glares at the fireplace while his Beta talks in a hushed voice.

Despite his Beta’s efforts, Dad is too focused on the flames to notice he is trying to explain the importance of their upcoming business trip. He appears in deep thought.

My father peers up when he hears my heels click on the marble floors. Beta Tyson also glances up before swiftly walking to the double doors and closing them. I fold my arms across my chest. When voices rise, I jump away to stand by the kitchen door.

However, I hear two of my father’s servants talking quietly near the pantry door. Unable to resist the temptation to eavesdrop, I tiptoe to the door to listen in, wondering why they’re so secretive.

“Alpha Michael better hope Alpha Dion doesn’t show up after what happened to his Luna,” one servant whispers.

“Do you think he would show up? Why would he look for an extra Luna?” the other replies.

“Wait, haven’t you heard about Alpha Dion’s pack being attacked? His Luna was badly hurt…”

“What?” the other exclaims.

“Don’t worry. She didn’t die… Apparently, the attack was bad. Alpha Dion blamed their Alpha and told him he would pay for it.”

“But what does that have to do with the ceremony?”

“Dion was overheard saying he’d come after the Alpha and take his wife as his Luna.”

I am about to rip the door open and demand to know what they’re talking about and where they got such ridiculous information when I hear my father’s voice behind me.

“What are you doing?” he snaps, slamming the kitchen door shut and making me jump.

He grabs me by the arm and yanks me away from the whispering servants.

My father’s Beta strides out, and his eyes widen as he watches my father scold me.

“Ouch, Dad, that hurts,” I tell him when the two servants walk out.

My father lets my arm go, his glare turning on them.

The two women freeze in their tracks as he points at them.

“What have I said about gossip in the halls and instilling unnecessary fear?” he snarls at them.

They both pale under his glare, his aura whipping out and lashing them. Baring their necks to him, one quickly blurts out, “Sorry, Alpha.”

“I’ll deal with you both once I return,” he snarls.

Both women whimper and rush off when my mother steps into the hallway. “Get rid of her while I speak to Emery,” Father tells Beta Tyson, who quickly rushes off to distract my mother. Once he leaves, I turn my attention to my father.

“Mom sent me to get you,” I stutter out.

“What have I told you about eavesdropping?” he growls, waving his finger mere inches off my face.

“I wasn’t, I was—” I stammer, the words becoming lodged in my throat. My father growls, and I stop speaking.

“One word to your mother about whatever you overheard, and you’ll spend a week in the basement,” he threatens. I swallow and shrink under his gaze. He then straightens and fixes his tie.

“Let’s get this over with,” he sighs. He did this last year with my sister, and though she was excited about the event, I share the same thoughts as my father. I don’t want to go. Reluctantly, I follow him, and Mom comes rushing over to me. Her brows furrow when she sees my father’s grumpy face.

“Did something happen?” she whispers as we follow him out of the car.

“Hurry, stop dawdling,” my father snaps at us, and we move faster, racing to catch up to him

“Ready?” Mom asks.

“No,” I say glumly, dragging my feet. I wonder briefly if I can chuck a tantrum to get out of it, but I know that won’t work.

And I dare not give Dad a reason to get his belt or, worse, get one of his men to do it.

It has happened in the past. A good child needs discipline, or so he says.

I suppose, in a sense, it worked when we were younger because we are his model daughters now.

Or I am anyway, since Trinity is no longer with us.

“You’ll be fine. Just attend the ceremony, and we’ll take you home, I promise,” she says, pecking my cheek.

With a sigh, I follow her out of the house.

As I stomp toward the waiting limo, she smooths down my dress at the back.

I would rather go wearing a potato sack.

Though I hate wearing dresses, I even admit this one is pretty and perfectly fits my curves.