Chapter 10 Ty
TY
The past twenty-four hours had been absolute chaos. After the call with my mother, I’d hightailed it home, weaving through traffic, running through stop lights, and breaking the sound barrier with my car. I’d even left everything behind at the gazebo.
I hadn’t thought to call Liza because I was in such a panic. Then, when it occurred to me later, it was too late. I had to see her in person. I had to look into her eyes while I explained everything.
The ten-minute drive to the estate was torture.
In my mind, I was busy imagining every possible scenario, and none were good.
The only information I had was my mother saying Dad was not doing well, and the odd tone of her voice.
She spoke quietly, but with resolve. Something terrible must have happened.
As soon as I pulled into the drive, the staff met me at the door. They didn’t speak, instead ushering me through the foyer and pointing up the stairs. Some of the women looked as if they’d been crying.
Fuck. This wasn’t good.
My heart pounded against my sternum as I took the steps three at a time, reaching the second floor in a mere matter of seconds.
“Ty?” Mother poked her head out of their bedroom.
As soon as she saw me, her guard dropped, and she began to weep bitterly into her hands. Rushing over to her, I caught her just before she collapsed. I lowered her to the floor and held her close, allowing her to release the tears she’d obviously held back all evening.
Finally, she pulled away from my now-soaked chest and lifted her gaze to meet mine. “Your father took a fall in his study. We aren’t exactly sure if he tripped or had a dizzy spell. Either way, he hit his head pretty hard.”
My stomach clenched as I imagined my dad lying helpless on the floor. In my mind he was helpless, anyway. I didn’t know the details—didn’t care to ask. I needed to see him. “Is he okay?”
Mother shook her head. “I’m afraid not. He was unresponsive for a long time.
.. much longer than the medical team would have preferred.
The doctor came earlier and said we’d have to wait and see if he heals on his own.
Medicine at this time could do more harm than good.
” Such was the way with wolves. “He’s not supposed to get up for any reason. ”
“What does that mean?” Panic rose in my chest. No way in hell was the conversation I’d had with Dad the night before going to be the last. It simply couldn’t. “Will he return to normal?” I couldn’t imagine my father as an invalid. He would despise that.
“No one knows.” Mother wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. “Come inside. You can speak with the doctor.”
She led me into the dark bedroom where the curtains had been pulled, which told me Dad probably had a concussion. Even though it was already dark outside, the garden lights must’ve been too bright for him.
Dr. Anderson, our family physician, greeted me with a firm handshake. “Hello, Tyson. So sorry to meet under these circumstances.”
I forced a smile. “What can you tell me about Dad’s condition?”
He frowned. “Your father is getting weaker. As you know, wolves have a lifespan the same as humans, so we’re not immortal. Though I think your dad likes to think that he is.”
I hadn’t wanted to say those things aloud, so I was grateful Dr. Anderson said them for me. It still hurt to hear, though. Dad wasn’t the young, vibrant, strong alpha anymore. Instead, he was becoming frailer and weaker with each passing day.
Dr. Anderson gestured toward Dad, who shifted positions and moaned softly in his sleep. “The older shifters get, the weaker their wolves become. Your father’s wolf is very weak.”
This wasn’t new information, either. Even the estate staff knew about Dad’s declining health, though they knew better than to speak of it.
Some packs prayed for the family’s downfall.
There was a lot of pack jealousy, not only of the pack but inside it as well, and the territory lines often bled at the chanting of an alpha.
If anyone caught wind that Dad was vulnerable, they would use that against us in an attempt to take power from the pack.
“Is there anything we can do to strengthen him?” I asked, desperate for a miracle. We needed to transition publicly without Dad’s accident being a factor.
The doctor shook his head sadly. “I’m afraid not.”
Tears burned my eyes, and I gave a slight nod. I could hardly believe this was happening. No matter what, Dad would never be the same again. We had to accept it.
Just then, Dad cleared his throat. “Tyson, are you bothering the doctor?”
I forced a smile and knelt next to the bed. “Dr. Anderson was filling me in on your... situation. How are you feeling?”
His eyelids drooped as he attempted to make eye contact with me. “I’m only tired, son. You don’t need to worry about me.”
That was impossible.
“This probably goes without saying, but it’s time for you to focus on mating more than ever before.
” He turned his face away from me. “There’s nothing that can be done now because we don’t have time to waste.
You must become alpha soon, and I’d like to be alive to personally hand that honor down to you. ”
The truth was it wasn’t about him being alive to see me become alpha.
He could’ve just handed it down, given it to me right then if he wanted, and I would’ve been alpha for at least a year.
But an unmated alpha could be challenged after a year, and they would come for me.
All of them. I would be forced to fight every single wolf with a taste for blood or power. I needed to be mated.
Dad’s voice cracked, and he covered his face with his hand. It was torture to watch him in that condition. He was broken, physically and mentally. I sat there, helpless, not knowing what to say to bring him comfort.
“Try not to worry about any of that right now.” I patted his shoulder. “You just need to focus on regaining your strength. I’ll do what’s necessary to mate.”
There was a long, awkward silence before Dad spoke up again.
“What about Cecily? She’s ready to take on the role of your bride immediately.
You could skip all of the formal dating protocols.
Her parents have assured me that she’s ready to take the next step with you straightaway. There’s no need for courting, Ty.”
I stared in bewilderment at my dad, who’d just given me his blessing to pursue Liza the night before. Was he so concerned about his health that he wanted me to settle for marrying a woman like Cecily?
“Let me stop you right there, Dad.” I pushed to my feet and tried not to raise my voice. He did have a head injury, after all. Likely he wasn’t thinking clearly. “There’s no way in hell that’s going to happen.”
Dad sighed. “Fine, Ty. I’m not going to argue with you. If you’re adamant on being with Liza, then all I’m asking is that you move quickly. I’m afraid time is not on our side.”
The conversation had come full circle, back to the point where we’d started. I nodded and squeezed Dad’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. It’ll all work out.”
But I wasn’t so sure of that. My thoughts returned to Liza.
Liza. Fuck!
I pulled my phone from my back pocket. I had been so panicked about Dad that I hadn’t remembered to call her.
I dialed her number and held the phone to my ear. One ring turned into eight, then to voicemail.
“Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Mother walked to my side as if to look over my shoulder to see who I was calling.
“It’s nothing. I’ll take care of it.” I kissed Mother on the cheek. “Do me a favor. Get some rest and don’t hover over him. That’s what the staff is for. If they need you, they’ll wake you up.”
I leaned down and kissed Dad on the forehead. “Take it easy, old man. I’ll be back to check on you first thing in the morning.”
Dad smiled weakly and pulled the covers up to his chin.
As I made my way to my wing of the house, I tried calling Liza again, hoping she’d answer. This time, it didn’t even ring, just went straight to voicemail.
I’d messed up. Again. But it hadn’t been intentional. The thought of Liza searching for me at the park, wondering where I was, made me sick to my stomach. The poor woman probably assumed she’d been stood up.
I paced the floor of my bedroom and glanced at my watch. It was too late to show up unannounced at her house, so I forced myself to take a hot shower and get some sleep.
Tomorrow would be a big day, and I needed to prepare for it.
Not only did I need to secure my mating with Liza, but I also had to ensure that no one in the pack caught wind of Dad’s ailing health.
For the time being, I’d need to take on more responsibilities to ensure nothing fell through the cracks.
The next morning, I woke up early and raced over to Liza’s house.
After ringing the doorbell and knocking multiple times, I concluded that she wasn’t home.
I was desperate to talk to her, so I called her office.
The secretary said she had clients all day and wouldn’t be returning to the office until later.
My phone rang, and I almost dropped it, scrambling to answer. My heart sank when a male voice came through on the other line instead of Liza’s.
“Hey, Ty. It’s Zephyr.”
I’d forgotten about the job I’d given him. “Hey, man. What’s up?”
“Can you meet me at the shop?”
The shop was a tech store Zephyr used as a front for his hacker business.
“Sure. What time?” I glanced at my watch, trying to decide the best time for me to return to Liza’s house.
“Now, if that works for you.”
Nervous energy coursed through me. Out of all the words he could’ve chosen, now was the one that stuck in my gut. When Zephyr wanted an immediate meeting, it never meant anything good. He must’ve unearthed something about Liza.
“Be right there.”