Free Web NovelChapter 160: Alpha Thorton I
"How dare you?" Dahlia spluttered. "This is my pack! If anything, you should be the one getting lost!" I internally winced, that was it, this trip was a failure― we were going to get thrown out without even meeting her father.
But to my surprise, Dahlia continued as though she was speaking to herself.
"But since I’m a gracious and kindhearted person, I will forgive you. After all, we’re going to be married eventually. What’s a few harsh words between mates?"
Blaise and I discreetly exchanged looks of disbelief. Dahlia was either very optimistic about her chances, highly confident, or just simply delusional.
"Are you going to bring me to see your father or not?" Damon demanded hotly.
"Enthusiastic to meet your father-in-law so quickly?" Dahlia cooed, and before Damon could even shoot her down, she said, "Come on then, follow me."
Finally, we were on our way, but of course, she had to give Blaise and me one last disparaging once-over before sighing in resignation. "The two of you better keep up. Just because we’re going to be related doesn’t mean I’ll accept you."
Then she tried to grab Damon’s hand to lead the way. Damon immediately tugged his hand away― and thankfully this time, Dahlia got the hint. She merely cleared her throat and walked, making sure Damon was right beside her.
Blaise and I rolled our eyes behind their backs. I knew we were out to get food aid from Thunderstrike, but after seeing such unhinged behavior from their representative, I wondered if we might be better off getting food from some other pack. Only the Moon Goddess knew what sort of nonsense was in their food to allow such delusions to fester.
In no time at all, we arrived in a brightly lit foyer. I looked up at the crystal chandelier hanging above us and tried not to be impressed, but it was quite an effort. Thunderstrike must have been supremely wealthy in order to have the money to splurge on this kind of luxury. freeweɓnøvel.com
"Daddy!" Dahlia yelled loudly, her voice echoing through the long corridors. I winced. "Damon is here to see you!"
"No mention about the both of us, I see," Blaise noted wryly. "Brother, our mission now depends on you."
The look on Damon’s face could have curdled milk, but he dared not speak in case he was overheard.
I heard footsteps, and the foyer door opened to reveal the imposing presence of Alpha Thorton. He was a middle-aged man with flecks of gray at his temples and a slight wrinkle between his eyebrows, as if he had frowned too much in his youth and now they have left their mark permanently on his face.
However, those were the only signs of aging I could spot. His entire body was one of someone at least ten to twenty years younger. I gulped as my eyes took in his defined muscles. If it came down to a physical fight, he might stand a chance against Damon after all.
He was flanked by two other men, which I assume to be his Beta and Charlie.
"Dahlia, I see you brought Damon and his party," Alpha Thorton said gruffly, gesturing for the three of us to sit on the plush chairs, while he did the same. The two men with him still remained standing. "You must be Blaise Valentine, Damon’s long-lost twin brother. I see the family resemblance remains strong."
"Guilty as charged." Blaise smiled with a polite nod.
"And who is this other lady?" Alpha Thorton asked.
"She’s his fated mate," Dahlia replied before I could even open my mouth to introduce myself. "Her name is Harper― and she’s a human!"
"A human?" Alpha Thorton raised an eyebrow and hummed in surprise, but unlike his daughter, he didn’t make any rude comments. "I see. Well, pleased to meet your acquaintance as well."
"Likewise," I said. Thankfully my voice did not waver― I didn’t want Alpha Thorton and Dahlia to think I wasn’t capable of speaking properly.
Alpha Thorton then cleared his throat and then addressed Damon. "May I know what brings Fangborne all the way out here? Your missive was not clear. And I recall your young self being less than pleased the last time you visited. Why, I thought you swore you would never return!"
There was a shrewd gleam in his eyes as he waited for Damon’s reply.
"I am here with regard to my pack, Alpha Thorton," Damon said. "Will you be open to discussing an alliance with Fangborne?"
Alpha Thorton let out a bark of laughter. "An alliance? Are you going to offer me the same bargain you offered Ironclaw?" He saw Damon’s eyes widen imperceptibly in surprise and scoffed to himself.
"Oh yes, I’ve already heard about what you’ve done to Alpha Natan. He was weak, corrupted by vices, and he was complacent because of his pack’s natural advantages. You’d find Thunderstrike a lot harder to conquer than Ironclaw."
Alpha Thorton’s meaning was clear; if Damon was out to invade, he would find his attempts ending in failure. Thankfully for everyone involved, Damon had no plans to repeat his experience at Ironclaw, and neither did I. I had enough of silver bullets for a lifetime.
"I am not here to pick a fight with Thunderstrike," Damon insisted. "I am here to propose an actual alliance. To put things bluntly, we’ve recently found ourselves attacked by vampires and hunters alike, and they have managed to cut off our food supplies. I hope that Thunderstrike could supply us with food in exchange for resources."
Alpha Thorton let out a full belly laugh at Damon’s words. "So you’re not here for an alliance. You are here, to beg for help. Alpha Damon, you should have swallowed your pride and spoken plainly to begin with, instead of wasting our time beating around the bush."
Damon’s jaw clenched, and I sensed his anger rising up within me, along with a wellspring of shame and embarrassment that colored the back of his ears an ugly red.
