Chapter 6

• Chelsey's point of view.
• Last night, I had a dream about that wolf. His olive-colored eyes pierced my soul and stayed with me in my dreams. My scent must have escaped through the window, and I can't risk a wolf breaking in to try to bed me. To keep my father at bay, I had to stuff the gaps in my bedroom door. In his right mind, he would never intentionally do anything, and I am grateful he stayed sober to keep me safe. If he had been completely unconscious, his wolf could have taken over and attacked me without hesitation. The thought of what could have happened makes me shiver. I'm awake as the sun rises, I've only slept a few hours, my body is screaming, and the heat is on. My mother warned me that my first heat would be intense and almost unbearable, and she wasn't wrong. If it weren't for my fear of this evening, I'd be howling around the house, begging for male attention to satisfy my need for a mate. I pace around my room, unsure what to do; I want my father's comfort, but not at the risk it will put me in or the strain it will put on him. I sit on my bed, unable to ignore the pain in my body as my shift approaches. I'm not sure what to expect, and I wish my mother was here with me. I tuck myself under my covers regardless of how hot I am; I just need some comfort, even though I know my efforts are futile. Nothing will satisfy my need to be consoled by my mate... if I still have one... a light knock on my door heightens my anxiety.
• "Chelsey...? You up?" What do I say when it's my father?
• "Uhm... yes..."
• "Don't worry, sweet heart. I'm ok. If your mother knew you were afraid of your own father, she would turn in her grave. I'm fine, but for your protection, I'm chained to the basement and can't enter your room."
• "Daddy, you didn't have to do that..." I rise quietly and proceed to the door. He's right; my hearing has improved to the point where I can hear the faint clinking of a chain. I take a deep breath and open the door slightly, and he sighs as he steps back towards the stairs.
• "You can see I'm fine. I won't hurt you, honey; I'm in command. I could never hurt you, sweet heart."
• I peek around the corner and see him sitting on the floor, a thick chain around his neck. It makes me uncomfortable to see him like this, but we both know it's for my own good. I open the door even more and sit in the threshold, ensuring that I am completely out of reach. I roll myself into a ball, bringing my knees up to my chin.
• "I'm scared..." and for the first time in years, my father expresses genuine emotion.
• "I wish your mother could be here." In situations like these, she always knew exactly what to say. She'd be the one to assist you..." I pay close attention to the snippets of information my father provides about my mother. "She was really good at this, you know. This parenting business. She was a natural at everything, always knowing exactly what to do... I wish I could help you more, sweet heart, but being a male wolf is not the same as being a female wolf. We think differently, work differently, and are even built differently... we're a lot bigger, so be cautious tonight."
• "Will it hurt?" "How about my shift?" He sadly nods.
• "The first few times are the hardest, but it does get easier with time... but you will have Josh there to help you... so don't worry..." my brow furrows, I haven't told him about Josh yet. He notices something is wrong and gives me a knowing grim look.
• "All right then... if the rumor is true, the soon-to-be Alpha has ordered extra security for the she wolves tonight." If rumors are true, he has one guard for each of you..."
• I look up, a small sigh of relief coming over me.
• "Really?"
• "Oh yes. Apparently, only his most trusted soldiers will be keeping an eye on you tonight. To say the least, his leadership will be unique."
• "A refreshing change?" I murmur, hoping and praying.
• "I believe so. My loyalty will remain with our current Alpha for the time being; we have no control over that, but once power shifts, I believe he will be a good ruler for our pack. He appears to have his priorities straight, which is a good sign. There have been far too many wolves killed in recent years, as well as far too many attacks. Unfortunately, no one can stop them from happening, but at least he's trying. That is something I admire. Even though he's a few years younger than me." For once, my father and I actually talked for hours. He's also calm and in control, which is reassuring to know I'm safe around him. It will be easier on him once I've found my mate and been marked, but until then, if I ever find my mate, he will continue to struggle being around me, even though he's hiding it well for me to feel secure. I'm grateful and wish I could hug him, but I don't want to put his restraint to the test any further. After a few hours, my father goes downstairs, allowing me to soak in the bath to relieve the pain in my body. When I'm finished and dressed, he rejoins me at the top of the stairs while I do my hair and makeup, making the odd fatherly remark about not needing any. We laugh and joke, and it's been the best few hours of my life since my mother died. I truly believes
• he is a father figure right now and it feels good.