Chapter 59 #2
“Thank you, Ty,” she murmured, leaning into my touch. “That means everything to me.”
The tender moment was interrupted by Nico’s security team entering the room, wheeling in a camera on a tripod. They began setting it up in front of my father’s desk, adjusting the lens and checking the lighting.
“Is this happening now?” I glanced at my watch. I hadn’t realized how much time we’d spent discussing Liza’s speech.
“We’re setting up for Dominic to record his announcement to the pack,” Nico explained, glancing over at my father, who seemed to straighten his back with renewed energy.
A member of the security team stepped forward and applied a light amount of makeup to my father’s face. Before our eyes, he made Dad appear more alert and awake than he really was.
“Everyone ready?” Nico asked, taking charge of the situation, as usual.
My father nodded, sitting at his desk with an air of authority that hid his true physical state.
“Three, two, one,” Nico counted down, then pointed at my father to signal the start of the recording.
“Hello, and thank you for tuning in for this special message from your alpha,” my father began, his voice steady and strong.
“Tonight, I’d like to address the rumors that are being spread about our pack.
Please know that these truly are rumors being supported by fabricated and altered video footage.
It’s important for you to know that there is a man out there who, for selfish reasons of his own, wants the demise of the Keller pack.
This man is obsessed with obtaining power, and he will stop at nothing to get the recognition he thinks he deserves.
Do not be fooled by this man. He is, in fact, the lowest of the low and doesn’t deserve to be in the Keller pack’s presence. ”
As I watched my father, I couldn’t help but be awed by his unwavering resolve.
No one watching the video would be able to tell that he was at his weakest. We were all grateful that Castro, our enemy, wasn’t aware of my father’s waning power.
If Castro had known, he surely would have attacked us more swiftly, knowing he truly had the upper hand.
“Rest assured that we will always be prosperous, and it’ll take much more than a deranged man to tarnish the Keller name.” He paused and stared into the camera, and for a moment I thought he’d forgotten what he was going to say.
“Our pack has always been recognized as leading the community, the state, and even the country when it comes to shifter’s rights and our responsibilities to humanity.
We will continue to stand strong together and rely on our core values of strength, courage, loyalty, and honor. That is what makes us the Keller pack.
“We will continue to lead, guide, and direct those who need us, and we will not falter under this threat being posed to us. The Kellers will remain a strong and solid pack for years to come. Thank you for your support.”
When Dad completed his speech, and Nico stopped the recording, we all cheered for him. He slumped over, exhausted from the effort it took to appear strong and undeterred.
“I guess it’s my turn now.” Liza squeezed my hand and stood.
“Wait.” I stood, too, and wrapped my arm around her waist. “Let’s talk first.” I inclined my head at Nico. “Liza will be back in a minute.”
Nico nodded and continued fiddling with the digital camera, adjusting the settings to match the change in lighting after Dad stood from his place behind the desk.
Liza followed me upstairs to my room so we could have a private moment together.
We came to a stop just inside the door as I tried to find the right words. “I just wanted you to take a moment to think and make sure you’re really okay with all of this.”
Liza’s eyes locked on mine. “That’s all I’ve been doing. I’ve been thinking about it nonstop, Ty. I know that telling the truth about being an omega is the best thing for all of us.” Her voice was resolute, confident.
A gust of wind blew through the open window, rustling the curtains and threatening to topple a stack of papers on my desk. I quickly got up to close the window, eager to keep the conversation focused on the matter at hand.
I sat down next to her again. “You were saying?”
Her eyes were steely as she said, “I’ve realized that I have power here, Ty. Power to shift the narrative. I’m tired of Castro having the upper hand, and he won’t expect me to do this. It’s going to piss him off, but I feel like it’s the best move for all of us.”
I took both of her hands in mine, stroking my thumbs along her delicate skin. “As long as you are comfortable with it, I’ll support you. I’ll follow you to the edge of the earth, Liza, if that’s what you want.”
Her eyes misted over. “We have to leave a legacy behind that our kids can be proud of, and I don’t want it tainted because of choices we had no say in.”
Every time she mentioned the future, the possibility of having children, my wolf preened within me.
A possessive need consumed me, and Liza must have sensed it, too. Her head cocked to the side as she tried to make sense of the change in the air.
My pheromones betrayed how much I wanted her, needed her, right then and there.
As my inner wolf growled, a fierce and possessive longing surged through me, yearning to claim her as mine.
The sweet sound of Liza choosing us, choosing me, ignited an untamed fire deep within my primal instincts.
It was an overwhelming desire that consumed me, driving me to seize her in my arms and reveal the depths of my affection, to show her just how passionately I had chosen her, too.