Kylo stood up, his gaze fixed on Gamma Rhett. The tension was almost suffocating, causing me to subconsciously hold my breath.
After what felt like one of the most anxiety-driven few seconds of my life, Kylo finally sighed. "Very well, father. The pack needs more hands in the fight against those blood-sucking monsters. If enlisting young blood is the best move forward...then so be it."
I felt my heart drop. No. This couldn’t be happening. There had to be another way. I had to make sure Kylo was safe.
"Thank you for understanding, son." Rhett’s face beamed with a proud smile. "The training will begin in two days from now. You can go get-"
"I’d like to volunteer!" I chirped in, cutting off Rhett. I managed to surprise even myself with those words.
When I saw Rhett and Kylo giving me confused looks, I decided to clarify. "I want to volunteer to enlist in the pack’s army."
My eyes were filled with determination, unwavering as I stared into Rhett’s eyes. I watched his facial expression contort with stupefaction, but then It was replaced with something akin to amusement.
"Isleen, no way," Kylo spoke up first before his father. "Dad clearly said it’s for the firstborn males of each family. You-"
"So, you think just because I’m a woman, I can’t fight?" I snapped, my wolf already growling inside me.
The betrayer! It seemed to only show its presence during odd moments when I really didn’t need it.
"It’s not that you can’t fight, Isleen." Gamma Rhett spoke up next, sounding a bit stoic. "Women can’t join the pack’s army because it’s too tasking. Men are simply more physically capable. Besides, you’re an omega. Sending you to the battlefield would be a death sentence, and I don’t want that blood in my hands."
Now I wished I hadn’t heard anything Rhett just said.
’Men are simply more physically capable’? Bullshit! Male wolves might have the physical advantage, but females made up for that with our higher speed. Besides, I’d seen female wolves in action on the day of the attack. Lupe had proven how ruthless she could be against the vampires and did a good job fending off the vampires before she was outnumbered.
This was all just misogyny in disguise as ’ tradition ’. And the fact that Rhett, my supposed mate, was the main supporter of it all didn’t sit well with me. Was this the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with?
I turned my gaze to Kylo, who neither supported nor called out Rhett for his words. He instead looked away, scratching his neck awkwardly.
Fuck this! I wasn’t giving up.
"But, Gamma Rhett, I-" I tried to speak again, but Rhett paused me with a raise of his palm.
"No, means no, Isleen. I’m sorry." His tone was firm, but yet held a softness that told me he really meant what he said.
I twisted my lips, looking away in annoyance.
Just then, Kylo faked a cough. "I’ll be taking my leave now, father."
Slowly, he released me from his grip, and without a second thought, I turned towards the door and walked out of his office.
A few soldiers looked my way, their gazes judging. But I ignored them, as my eyes searched for Kylo around the precinct. He’d already left.
Not caring about the surrounding soldiers, I sprinted out of the precinct, hoping I’d see him. Turning my head left and right, I tried desperately to spot him, hoping he hadn’t gone too far. Finally, I spotted him talking with a guy, one of his colleagues from work.
I couldn’t help wondering if they had something together, but I shook my head. I couldn’t care less about that right now.
"Kylo," I called out when I got closer.
He turned his head slowly to me, as he exchanged a few more words with the man. Finally, he walked towards me, a smile on his face.
"Seems you and Dad had some other things to talk about." His eyes lingered on my face, scrutinizing me closely.
Oh, Kylo. We barely had the chance to talk about anything else because we were so busy talking about you.
Saying I was confused was an understatement right now. Why did I feel so driven to ’ protect ’ Kylo from this war? Why did I latch out at Rhett, as if any of this was his fault? I was conflicted. I needed to understand my feelings before I unintentionally drove away both father and son.
Visit freewe𝑏n(o)v𝒆l.𝑐𝘰𝑚 for the best novel reading experience
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Mated To My Boyfriend's Dad