"Is your pack not missing you?" I ask as we stroll down the side walk. We'd sat in the diner just making small talk as we finished our coffee. Alpha Stone likes his black coffee with two sugars also.
"I'm letting my son take a little control before the challenge. That tends to make the switch easier on the pack." He pauses and directs us to a park where we sit on the swings. "You should meet him sometime. His name is Rey." I nod. "Perhaps you two will talk at the dance.
"What dance?" I ask in confusion.
Alpha Stone glances at me. "Oh, Alexander hasn't told you? Every year, the Alpha's, Luna's and all their children attend this ball. It's a very nice way to keep in touch with everyone."
"How many packs are there?"
"43 in the United States."
I gasp in shock. "That many?" Alpha Stone nods. "Wow," I breathe.
We're silent for a little bit and when I look at him, he is already inspecting me. I open my mouth to ask him what's wrong, but he speaks before me.
"Riley, I . . . If you knew something important that could affect someone's life in a good, but also bad, way . . . Would you tell them?" Alpha Stone is very serious and I think deeply about the question.
"I think, if it was me," I begin. "I would want to know."
Alpha Stone nods, "Then, I have something to tell you.
My blood goes cold even with my heat. What could he have to say to me? "W-what?"
"Seventeen years ago, your mother cheated on your father . . . with me. You're my daughter, Riley."
I shoot to my feet in shock. My heat threatens to knock me down, but I fight through. "I don't understand, Alpha Stone. You're not . . . You shouldn't lie to me."
He stands also. "You should talk to your mother." When he places a hand on my shoulder, I flinch back at the burning sensation. "Are you alright?" His eyes narrow in concern before he understands. "Alexander said you were in heat. You still are in heat. Do you want me to call him?"
"No! I'm mad at him. I just want some ice and to go home. This is all ridiculous!" I turn and begin to stalk to my jeep. Alpha Stone easily falls into step with me.
"What did he do to you?" He growls protectively.
Where is my stupid car? I turn in circles trying to find it. "Nothing, I just . . . need . . . some ice-" I become breathless and fall on my last word. I vaguely feel the man who calls himself my father catch me.
Alexander's POV
"Where is she?" I yell at the men in my office. Zach looks at Daniel, Daniel looks at Tom, and Tom leans forward to look at Zach. I roar in frustration, throwing my office container of pens across the room where it shatters against the wall.
The three boys flinch as broken plastic hits them. Suddenly, my office door flies open.
"What did you do to my daugher?" Alpha Stone demands. My parents follow behind them. They must be back from their 'trip'. Stone stands chest to chest, eye to eye with me. I'm slightly taller and even with my mark, I have more power than him.
However, I'm not sure how easily I can fight a man's love for his daughter.
I growl softly to show I am not surrendering before stepping back into my own personal space. "It was a misunderstanding," I mutter.
Mom steps forward "What did you do, Alexander?"
"Riley kicked me out of our bed last night and since the temperature in my room was 35, I went to get a blanket. I couldn't find one, so Melissa offered to let me sleep in her room- You three stop creeping to the door. I'm not finished with you yet."
My father sighs, "I understand that the heat could make her over react slightly, but Melissa? Really, son?" he shakes his head at me.
I let my head drop. "I know it was stupid. I just wanted to sleep."
Alpha Stone holds up a hand. "Riley's safe now. That's all that matters. I found her in Hali's with one of Cross' sons and then we talked. She passed out, though. I'm not sure from the heat or shock. She really wanted some ice." Riley's minions laugh and we all give them strange looks.
"I need to go to her," I state.
Stone places a hand on my chest to stop me. "Give her some time. She has other things to settle." I sigh and everyone walks out except for my parents.
"We need to speak to you about your brother."
Riley's POV
When I wake up, I realize I'm back at home in my bed. Did Alpha Stone bring me home? I'm sweating so I decided to take a cold shower.
Slipping into a tank top and shorts, I make my way downstairs. I smell lasagna and walk to the dining room.
Mom has an untouched plate of salad in front of her on the table while she types away on her IPhone. She's still dressed in a pencil skirt and button up blouse.
The sight of her snaps me back to earlier when Alpha Stone said I was his daughter. I take a deep breath and sit in front of dad.
He's still wearing his suit. A full plate of lasagna is pushed away from him to make room for his stupid brief case. He, too, is on his phone.
I slam my cup of ice, which I grabbed earlier, roughly on the table and clear my throat. My parents don't move.
"Hello guys. How have you been?" Nothing. I sigh. "Well, I haven't been too well lately." They still don't move. So, I raise my voice slightly. "Derek beat me. For a while, actually. I broke up with him."
My mom doesn't look up, but at least she replies. "Don't be rash, darling. I'm sure it was just an accident - a misunderstanding."
I gawk. I stand up and rip the phones from their hands. "Like when you cheated on dad was an 'accident'? When a man informs me I'm his daughter, it's just a 'misunderstanding'?"
Mom coughs into her water. "You cheated on me?" Dad exclaims.
"Oh, like you didn't cheat on me with Riley's babysitter!?" She snaps back.
Dad shoots up. "Are you saying Riley isn't my daughter?"
"I-I don't . . . know. It was when we went to that club, in Seattle. Our anniversary tour." Mom places her hands on her head.
"When exactly did you stop loving me, Jane?"
Mom looks up at his words and only says, "Grayson," in a whisper. She's looking behind us and I turn to the door way to see Alpha Stone standing there. The way she's looking at him . .
She loves Alpha Stone.
"Jane," he acknowledges.
"What is going on?" Dad questions. "Who is this?"
I take a deep breath. "This is . . . my biological father. The man mom cheated on you with."
"Grayson," Alpha Stone says as he reaches out a hand. "I wish we could have met under different circumstances."
Dad shakes his hand. "Brock . . . Will you take care of Riley?"
Stone stands tall. "Of course I will."
"I'm selling the house." Dad tells mom. "I'm going to pack and you should too. I'll file the divorce papers. Riley, help your mother pack."
I step back by Stone. "No."
"I'll buy the house and she can stay here."
Dad opens his mouth to reply, but decides against it and leaves instead. Mom steps forward and places a hand on Stone's arm. "Grayson . . . I-"
"I have a wife and son that I love dearly. I'm sorry. You were just a one night stand." He gently removes her hand.
"I've loved you all these years. Every time I saw Riley I thought of you." A tear rolls down her cheek. This is the most emotion I've seen from her in a long time.
Stone sighs, "I'm sorry I ruined your marriage."
Mom nods and walks away. We stand in silence as they both leave with their belongings and drive away.
I dump my melted ice over my head, making Stone stare at me with wide, surprised eyes. "What the . . . "
"It's hot." I shrug.