False Expectations

Chapter 26 - A pleasant surprise

Adelina's pov:

The man standing before me was none other than my beloved father.

-"Father!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with excitement.

-"My beautiful daughter!" he replied warmly, his face lighting up with a toothy smile as he opened his arms wide.

I didn't hesitate. I rushed into his embrace like a bird returning to its nest, hugging him tightly. The familiar scent of him, the warmth of his arms, the joy of hearing his voice—all of it flooded me with emotion. Goddess, how I'd missed him. I'd missed everything about him: his laugh, his jokes, even his occasional scoldings.

-"I missed you, Dad," I said, my voice soft yet overflowing with happiness.

-"And I missed you too, pumpkin," he replied, gently caressing my cheek with a fatherly tenderness. He kissed my forehead, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. We simply looked at each other, savoring the reunion as though the rest of the world had melted away.

Then, as if on cue, the music shifted, and he took my hand, guiding me into a dance.

-"I thought you wouldn't come," I said, a hint of reproach in my tone.

-"How could I miss this?" he asked, his chest puffing with pride. "My beautiful daughter, becoming the Luna of the most powerful pack in the world!"

His words filled my heart with warmth.

-"Have the others come as well?" I asked, glancing around the tables in search of familiar faces.

-"Only Jake managed to make it. Stella wasn't feeling very well," he explained.

My brows furrowed with concern. "Is she ill?"

-"No," he assured me with a chuckle. "She's been dealing with morning sickness that seems to ruin the rest of her day."

-"Morning sickness? ....Wait... you mean she's pregnant?" I asked, my voice rising with excitement.

He nodded, his eyes twinkling.

-"Wow! That's wonderful!" I exclaimed, practically bouncing on the spot. But then a thought struck me, and I pouted. "How did that happen? When did she find her mate? She didn't mention anything on the phone!"

My father laughed, clearly amused by my reaction.

-"We'll have time to talk about Stella later," my father said, his tone shifting to one of gentle concern. "Now, tell me about you. How are you? How is life here? Are you happy with Maximus? Does he treat you well? I want to hear everything! You've been awfully quiet about it on the phone."

His sharp gaze pierced through me, and I quickly averted my eyes. I knew that if I looked directly at him, I wouldn't be able to keep up my façade. Instead, I gave him a small smile, directing my gaze elsewhere.

-"I'm very good, Dad. Everyone here treats me well. I have a promising job, I've made new friends, and I've even started picking up my hobbies again!"

He nodded slowly, a small smile forming. "I'm glad to hear that. But once again, you haven't said much about Maximus. How are things between you two?"

-"Very well," I replied hastily, the words spilling out too quickly to sound natural.

My father's expression hardened, and his eyes narrowed slightly as he studied me. "Adelina," he began in that tone that always made me feel like a child caught red-handed, "you know there have never been any secrets between us. I hope it stays that way."

-"I know, Father," I muttered, lowering my gaze, guilt twisting in my chest.

His words struck a chord, making my earlier lies feel even heavier. But how could I tell him the truth about my life here? If he knew how complicated things were, he'd be furious—likely furious enough to confront Maximus, or worse, take action against him. That would only lead to disaster for everyone involved. Before I could spiral further into my thoughts, a familiar voice cut through the tension.