‘He’ll be here in two days at most,’ Ashleigh thought to herself.

In fact, she hadn’t stopped thinking about that since the moment she found out. She had tried to distract herself, tried to focus on her tasks, wrapping up training with the other ambassadors, organizing improvements to the borders and defenses. But every thought, every action led back to Caleb.

When she had read the report on the casualties in Summer, she was shocked. From what she saw, there was no use of wolfsbane by the rogues, yet they could kill so many people from the most defensible pack of the four.

This was concerning. If Summer could not adequately defend themselves, what hope did the other packs have?

Ashleigh thought back to the argument she had with Caleb on her last day in Summer. His voice resonated in her mind.

‘We have offered Alpha Wyatt a multitude of technological advancements over the years. He has rejected most of them. And over the past couple years, every one of them.’

She couldn’t imagine how it could possibly be true. Her father was always concerned about his people. He would never have rejected something that would increase their safety. There had to be a mistake, and she needed to know the answer before Caleb returned.

For reasons she didn’t quite understand, Ashleigh felt a desperate need to correct his view of her father.

She knocked at the large oak door, opening it before hearing anything from the other side.

“I didn’t expect to see you today,” Alpha Wyatt said as she entered his office, never raising his eyes from the papers he was working on.

“Hello, Father,” she smiled.

He looked up at her, his stern expression turning soft and friendly the moment their eyes met.

“Father?” he said happily. “Then you are here as my daughter today?”

He stood from his desk and rushed to her, wrapping his arms around her in a big hug. Ashleigh laughed; he was always like this. He took his role as Alpha very seriously, doing his best to always keep his two positions in her life separate._.

She returned his hug, laughing as he spun her around.

“You act as though you haven’t seen me in months!” she laughed.

“Well, we are both busy people, and you didn’t even come to see me when you returned from being away,” he pouted at her as he guided her to sit down with him. “I’ve seen Granger, more than my own daughter.”

“Granger came to see you?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered, quickly adding, “nothing important. He just stopped by for a chat.”

Ashleigh nodded, she felt a strange curiosity, but she saw no reason to ask further about it.

“I did come today as your daughter, but–” she began.

“Oh no,” he interrupted her before she could finish the thought.

“What?” she asked.

“I recognize that tone, the preface of your statement. You approached the father but plan to speak of something that should be with the Alpha.”

She couldn’t deny it, instead only looking away guiltily.

“Tricky child,” he chastised.

“I wish to speak to my father rather than my alpha,” she sighed, “but I won’t deny that the conversation is serious and relates to more official matters.”

“Ashleigh, you know I prefer–“

“I know, I know, you like to keep your roles separate, but I’m not looking for an official conversation exactly. More like… clearing up a misunderstanding.”

Wyatt let out a defeated sigh and smiled at his daughter.

“Alright, this one time,” he said, “what is this misunderstanding you want to clear up?”

Ashleigh felt a moment of relief. She had been prepared to fight more just to get the chance to have the conversation. Now she was unsure how exactly to begin.

“Alright,” she began, “let me ask then, would you do anything to protect the pack?”

“Is that something you truly need to ask?” Wyatt questioned, his tone clearly showing he felt insulted.

“I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just a question,” Ashleigh said nervously.

“There is no such thing as just a question,” Wyatt said, crossing his arms. “So, what is this all about?”

She looked away from him, hesitating.

“Ashleigh,” he called, drawing her attention back to him, “tell me what you wanted to speak with me about. What has made you question my ability to protect this pack?”

“No, no! That wasn’t what I meant at all!” Ashleigh quickly corrected his misunderstanding. “I never thought– ugh….”

She let out a frustrated growl.

‘Caleb got my head all mixed up!’ she thought to herself angrily. ‘That’s not what matters. I need to ask him about upgrading our defenses. If Caleb was honest and Summer is willing to share their technology, we need it!’

“I’m sorry,” she sighed, “I only wanted to ask about some improvements to our defenses.”

“Why didn’t you just say that? Of course, what are you thinking of?” Wyatt replied with relief in his voice.

“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking,” she said.

“So, what did you want to ask about?”

“Well,” Ashleigh began, “while I was in Summer, I did see that many of their defenses were automated.”

Wyatt cleared his throat and sat up stiffly, looking away from her. Ashleigh could see that the mention of Summer had already made him uncomfortable.

“We don’t have that kind of technology, Ashleigh. It’s not what we do.”

“No, but we could,” Ashleigh replied quickly.

“None of our people know anything about those things,” he said.

“But we could learn!” she said. “Just like this exchange, we could send people to Summer, spend some time there learning about construction and installation. After that, we could work out some kind of trade to be able to–”

“No,” he interrupted gruffly.

Wyatt stood from his place on the sofa. Then, moving to his desk, he sorted through the papers there.

“But, Father, think of how much–“ Ashleigh pleaded.

“I said no!” he shouted angrily, slamming his fist on the desk.

Ashleigh felt her body flinch. Neither of them spoke, the air around them thick with tension.

“I don’t understand,” Ashleigh said quietly.

Wyatt raised his head; Ashleigh wasn’t looking at him. Instead, she stared straight forward at the wall.

“Why won’t you consider the options?” she asked.

“It is not our way.”

“Our way?”

“Ashleigh, I am doing what I believe is best for our pack. For our way of life, our traditions.”

“Our traditions? The lives of our people are less important than our traditions?” Ashleigh asked, her voice straining as she began to feel an anger boiling.

“Do not twist my words!” he shouted.

“Was he right?” she asked shakily. The emotional turmoil was growing. Her anger, grief, sorrow, all rolling over each other.

He looked at her with a questioning stare. Finally, she turned to face him, her eyes filled with frustrated tears.

“Did you reject the offers from Summer to advance our security? Our medical facilities?”

Wyatt didn’t respond. The look of surprise and the hint of guilt that crossed over his eyes were enough for Ashleigh.

She took in a ragged breath, feeling a painful grip on her heart.

‘Caleb was right,’ she thought sadly.

“Everything I have ever done has been for the people in my care,” Wyatt said, his voice low and quiet.

“The people in your care have died for what you have done!” she screamed angrily, standing to stare him down.

“That is enough!” he snarled back. “You will show me respect!”

Ashleigh did not flinch this time. Instead, they stared at each other, neither turning away.

“Is that a request from my father or a demand from my Alpha?” she asked bitterly.

“Get out!” he shouted, his low menacing voice vibrating against her like a force trying to bend her will to his own.

Her skin prickled with fire at his tone, a silent demand to submit fought against her resolve, but she did not move.

“Yes, my Alpha,” she replied through gritted teeth before turning and leaving the room as angry tears fell from her eyes.

The door slammed shut behind her, leaving Wyatt alone in his office. Once he could no longer hear her in the building, he relaxed, falling to his knees. His shoulders slumped forward and sagged.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered sadly. He reached his hand to his chest, grabbing hold of the item that hung beneath his shirt. He gripped it tightly as he let the shame roll over him. “I’m so sorry.”