Finding Home

Chapter Thirty Six-Nathan

After their kiss, Nathan and Paige sat together on the bench. They talked comfortably and sat in silence comfortably. The listened to the rest of his playlist which he had titled 'Moon Songs: Songs to dance to under the light of the moon'. She saw the title and the list of songs which were almost all 1940's and 50's pop/jazz songs. Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Etta James, even Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. "Were you born a senior citizen? Or did you just come across this playlist and thought yeah that's good?" She teased him.

"I'll have you know that these are all classics and good music has no age limit. And also that I specifically curated this playlist just for tonight. These songs just all happened to fit the vibe I was going for."

"That's cute." She stretched up and pecked a kiss on his cheek and his heart flipped as she did. "Wait, does that mean you came up with that oddly specific playlist title too?"

"Oddly specific?" He looked down at her with a questioning smirk, daring her to comment further on it. She just laughed at him and he couldn't help but laugh along.

He took her home, walked her to her front door and stole a kiss, just like he said he would.

Paige handed back his coat, which he had given her to keep warm and went inside. He was walking back to his car when he heard a door open and close. He turned expecting to see Paige and was surprised to see her father, coming from the side door.

He hurried out to where Nathan was standing, "Alpha, I'd like to apologize for my daughter." Nathan kept his face passive, though confusion swept through him. "The way she has been conducting herself since she's arrived. It's inappropriate and I apologize. I'll have her on the next flight to London and you won't have to worry about her again."

Nathan rankled at his insinuation. "I see," he said, trying to keep his tone neutral. "And what exactly about her conduct has been inappropriate?"

"All her interactions since meeting you. She been disrespectful and insubordinate and I know she's been throwing  herself at you. I just hope that when she leaves you don't let her behavior affect your regard for the rest of my family."

Nathan was shocked at the man's words, they were laced with distain for Paige. He had really been hoping that she was wrong. That her perception of her father was simply clouded by her past experiences with him and that he was actually the good member of the pack he appeared to be. Nathan tried to find a way to be diplomatic, to be the calm, cool, collected Alpha that he wanted to be. He had never wanted to be an Alpha that would react poorly to every slight against him. But this man before him was speaking ill of his mate. Malcolm was calling for his blood. He had to remind both Malcom and himself that this was Paige's father after all. She may not love the man but his death would still cause her and her family pain. When he spoke he struggled to keep the venom out of his voice.

"Do you really think so little of your own flesh and blood?"

"Sir?" He seemed taken aback. Like he truly expected Nathan to agree with him, even though he had just brought Paige home from a date. It wasn't like Nathan would go on a date if he didn't want to. He hadn't been on any dates in the last few years.

"Paige is one of the most incredible people I have ever met." He struggled to keep his tone even.

"Of course sir," he said it like he didn't really believe it and just wanted to pacify his Alpha. It became clear that's exactly what he was doing when he continued on, "But she's human. It's inappropriate for her to pursue  you. She can never be Luna. You and the pack need a good she-wolf to help lead the pack."

Malcolm was raging in his head. He wanted to tear this wolfs head off for speaking so disrespectfully about his mate. The fact that he still used the term she-wolf was astounding to him. Such a misogynistic phrase has all but been discarded by most packs. Only those stuck in the old ways, too convinced of their own self importance ever used the term. Nathan was barely keeping it together. It was only the memory of her pressed against him, of the taste of her lips, and her own regard for her father that was keeping him from giving into his wolf. He spoke in a low voice, slowly and carefully, barely keeping it together. His tone was laced with danger.