“My darlin’, you have nothing to be sorry about.”
I felt tears prick my eyes, because despite all the drama and strife that was happening right now, my Da was an understanding man.
“But why did ye do it, lass?”
I stared at the fire and thought about his question. It was an easy enough answer, but then again, it seemed so very difficult. In the end, I just went with getting straight to the point. “Because he is my mate and I wanted to know him, and the four of you were making that so difficult.” There was another beat of silence, and I knew my father wanted to press, but he wouldn’t. He’d give me the stage right now, so to speak. “For the first time in my life, I wanted to take charge of my own actions,” I admitted.
I’d never told them how there were times I felt suffocated by their overprotectiveness.
But I guess now was as good a time as any.
“For my entire life, I’ve always been looked at as ‘Little Ainslee.’ Half-vampire, half-Lycan. Neither side dominating, not like the triplets and their wolves taking over their vampire sides, dominating.” I exhaled. “I just never felt strong enough, because no one let me.”
But it wasn’t just their fault. It was mine too. I had never spoken up, didn’t have a spine. I let people dictate my life.
And I’m done with that.
I was surprised I was telling Da all of this, being so open with him… with anyone. I’d never done so before, but ever since leaving my room and meeting Luca, I felt this renewed strength fill me, as if it had been dormant for so long within me. And all it had taken was me finding my mate and taking that first step to awaken it.
I didn’t know how he would take what I just revealed, how he would respond. I’d always been a timid, almost doormat sister and daughter, just letting them lead me along in life, because it was easier that way, because it made everyone feel safer.
“I guess I just realized it’s time for me now. It was time for me to take charge of my life. It was time for me to make my own mistakes and see where I landed.”
I expected him to argue, to call me his “wee lass,” which was how he saw me. It’s probably how he’d always see me. And although I’d always be his little girl, I was a woman now. Mated.
“A stór, ye have to understand why we have concern.”
I smiled at my Da calling me “my treasure”. He hadn’t said that since I was a child, but it didn’t take away from the serious conversation, and I sobered. I nodded even though he couldn’t see me.
“I do. I understand, because to you, Luca seems very unstable.” That was an understatement, I knew. My mate had been that way for a very long time, volatile, and had let his wolf slowly change his mind, growing the insanity within him.
But I was here now, and I could bring him back from all of that, from the darkness that threatened to squeeze the human side of him completely out.
“I calm him, ease him.” I stared at the fire, listening to the sound of the crackling and popping, an almost relaxing, languid sensation growing within me.
Da cleared his throat, and I wondered what he was thinking, how he would proceed next. He was as alpha as they came, and conceding or submitting was not in his DNA. But I had to hope that seeing I was happy could sway him.
“I’m sorry I left the way I did,” I finally said, not waiting for him to respond—if he even would. “I’m sorry I’m refusing to see anyone until things calm down, but I’m just worried for Luca.” I let those words hang between us and tried to think of how I would explain the rest. “I just want to make sure that when I bring my mate to meet the most important people in my life, they don’t attack him and tear out his throat with their teeth.” I was thinking of the triplets. They were barbaric in that sense.
I didn’t say anything else, just let Da process that information. What he did with it would shape how the rest of this conversation would go, would have me realizing the next steps I’d take where Luca and I were concerned.
“He treats ye well?”
I smiled and closed my eyes. “He does.”
He exhaled again, and said, “Then I’m happy for ye. I can admit when it’s time to back off. As long as yer happy, lass, then so am I.”
I choked back a sob of happiness, covering my mouth and blinking back tears. “Really, Da?” I swore I could see his smile through the phone.