The Broken Warrior's Daughter

When Mr. Nelson kicked Liam and | out of Cara’s hospital room, | was furious. | had made promises to her. She may not have heard them, but that didn’t mean | didn’t want to keep them.

| head back to the packhouse and up to my room. I’m pacing around, trying to figure out how to get back to her when my father mind links me and tells me to meet him in his office.

| head down immediately and walk into his office without bothering to knock. “Can you believe what he did dad?” | ask.

My father watches me as he sits in his seat behind his desk. “Son, in this, | think | can relate to Clint’s reaction, and | can’t disagree with him. You and Liam were wrong. But you potentially have a bigger problem.”RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

| stop my pacing. “What do you mean?” He looks at me for a long moment. “You don’t realize what you said in the hospital, do you?” | wrack my brain. “I said a lot of things. What specifically are you referring to?”

He raises his eyebrows at me. “Well, son, do you remember the part where you announced, very publicly, that Cara is your guarantee

mate? You can pretty much that that bit of gossip has spread like wildfire and the only person who doesn’t know is Cara herself.” | feel my

heart clinch. My father is right. | sit down, hard, putting my head in my hands. This is not how | wanted her to find out. | wanted to let her fall for me before the mate bond went into effect. | wanted her to want to be my mate because she respects me. But now, it will be impossible for her to not find out. Someone will tell her or ask her about it.

| look up at my father. “Shit! What can | do?”

My father smiles at me. “Well, there’s not a lot you can do with the Shadow Falls Pack members since I’m guessing Alpha Liam isn't your best friend when it comes to Cara. But, you are the future Alpha of Canyon Ridge. An Alpha command. would keep anyone in this pack from saying anything to Cara.”

I stare at my father. It’s brilliant! An Alpha command would force everyone in our pack to follow the command and they would physically be unable to disobey.

When | look back at my father, he is watching me intently. “What do you think?”

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“Yes, | want to give the pack the Alpha command to keep quiet and not say a word to her.”

He nods his head never taking his eyes off me. “Do you want the command to come from me or you?”

| hadn't expected that | would give the command. I’m not technically Alpha of the pack, even though | will be soon. However, | was born to lead and be the pack’s Alpha, so | know my command will be just as powerful as my father’s.

| think about it, then look at my father. “I think it should come from me. Tell me how to do it properly.”

My father smiles proudly at me before explaining the requirements of giving an Alpha command. You have to be specific, you have to be clear, and you have to open your mind link to everyone that you intend to command. In this case, my entire pack.

Once we discuss wording and I’m ready. | open up the pack link. “Attention all Canyon Ridge pack members. This is Rik Forte, your future Alpha. Many of you may have been at the hospital earlier and overheard my conversation with Warrior Nelson. Others may have heard rumors of what was said. | forbid any member of this pack to discuss my being mated to Cara Nelson. You will not speak of it to anyone until Cara discovers the truth for herself. This is my Alpha command.”

| could feel the command going through the pack link. My father nods his head letting me know he can feel the command going out and that | did well.

After leaving my father’s office, | head to training. When | arrive, | search for Lacey and Jason. | let them know my plan and get their agreement. | am willing to approve both of them missing school, work and training, to sit with Cara until she is released from the hospital as long as they provide hourly updates to me.

“Wait.” Lacey stops me. “You want hourly updates all day AND night.”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

Lacey and Jason look at each other. “No, no problem.”

“Good. Dismissed. | expect updates starting within the hour. | want to know anything and everything that happens. Changes, updates, good or bad.”

“Yes Alpha.” They say in unison.

“I'll let your parents know.” They nod and head out. | mind link both of their parents and let them know that | have them watching over Cara for me and if

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they have any concerns about them missing training or school, to speak to me directly about it. They assured me that they did not have any issues.

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