Xena''s POV


    "Have you invited the Darkthorn Pack to the children''s gathering?" Dad asked.


    "Of course I did. It''s the polite thing to do," Martha replied sweetly.


    "How could you be so stupid? His son threatened X!" Logan exploded. "Watch who you''re talking to!" Martha shrieked, edging closer to my father.


    "Martha!" Dad''s voice boomed through the room. "This is serious. He threatened to challenge anyone who mates with X. This is a huge problem!"


    She noticed Dad''s tone and moved to take his hand. "Who knows, maybe he''ll be her mate. Besides, she''s always wanted to leave, hasn''t she? She could go with him. I heard he travels frequently. And having a strong mate would be good for her-"


    SLAP!


    The room fell silent. Everyone stared in shock.


    I wasn''t entirely sure what happened. One second I was looking out the window, the next... I''d crossed to Martha, faced her, and pped her with all my strength.


    Arms immediately pulled me back. No one moved tofort Martha. Shey bleeding on


    the floor, but Logan stood between us.


    I didn''t fight against whoever was holding me, but my fangs and ws were fully extended, ready for battle. Rage filled me, a fury I''d never experienced before burning through my veins. How dare she speak about me like that? Like I was just an object to be


    disposed of, a wild animal that needed "taming." Every fiber of my being screamed for me


    to lunge at her, but the rational part knew this wasn''t the solution.


    "Martha, go to the hospital and get checked. Imand you not to tell anyone what happened," Dad sighed, still seated.


    Martha saw that Dad wouldn''t take her side and left the room crying, throwing me


    one


    me.


    7:41 pm E


    He cupped my face with both hands, looking into my eyes. "Calm down. Deep breath." Dad nodded, and whoever was holding me loosened their grip. He guided me to Martha''s


    vacated seat.


    Looking back; I realized it was Samuel who''d restrained me. He stared at the ceiling, eyes


    narrowed to slits. My heart still raced in my chest.


    "There''s nothing we can do right now," Dad muttered.


    "This could trigger a war. We need to appear friendly. See what his next move is. They''re


    unpredictable," Alpha Benedict began.


    "We''re stronger than them!" William said, cracking his knuckles.


    "We don''t want war. We need to handle this correctly. So far, it''s just verbal threats. He vited the treaty by entering your shop. I''ll call Alpha Wiley and speak with him," Dad


    sighed.


    "What about X''s safety?" Logan asked anxiously.


    "She won''t go to school. Continue with what you''re doing. So far, aside from threatening to challenge her mate, he hasn''t directly threatened her,” Dad said.


    "Dad! No! She can''t go to school!" Logan persisted.


    "I can and I will."


    The room fell silent as everyone turned to look at me. My voice was calm, but inside I was


    boiling. They all treated me like a little girl who needed protection, and I was tired of feeling this way. Maybe I was afraid, but being afraid didn''t mean backing down. My wolf


    howled inside me, eager to prove her strength.


    "I ept your protection, but I won''t let him stop me from living my life. I''m not going to hide in my room like some frightened little girl. No, I am Alpha Hank''s daughter, an Alpha female, and I won''t be intimidated easily." My voice sounded more confident than I felt.


    "Xena, think about this," Samuel pleaded.


    "I have thought about it. None of you know what it''s like being a girl. Every day we''re gendered, belittled for not being strong enough. I''m not someone who just takes it. I


    won''t let him think he can disrespect me and get away with it. He won''t have that effect on me. I''d rather die than allow any man to think he''s better than me!"


    I mmed my fist down on Dad''s desk, cracking the edge. I could feel their displeasure, but I wasn''t giving them a choice.


    "If he threatens her safety, she stays home," Samuel stood up as if he had any say in this


    matter.


    “I think her safety isn''t what we need to worry about. The issue is physical," Ryder spoke


    1. up.


    Samuel puffed out his chest like this was some kind ofpetition. Ryder stood up too.


    "This has nothing to do with either of you. As far as I''m concerned, she''s still a member of


    this pack," Samuel dered.


    "For now," Ryder was taller, so Samuel had to look up at him.


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