I''ve flipped through countless pages, my eyes beginning to blur from the strain. My father''s expression is intense, sharp with purpose, as if he''s hunting for something specific. Yet, despite his focus, he remains closed off, unwilling to share whatever it is upying his mind.


    "So, Alpha Ryan," Josh breaks the silence, his voice steady but curious, "why have you been avoiding Kennedy?" The question catches me off guard-I nearly choke on my own tongue. I''ve been wrestling with the same thought, but haven''t found a respectful way to bring it up with Dad. His attitude toward Kennedy has been so inconsistent that I''m left confused.


    "There''s a reason, beta,” he replies without looking up from the page in front of him. He doesn''t deny it, nor does he seem bothered by the avoidance. To him, it''s apparently just understood, and eptable.


    "What?!" I stop pretending to read the same line for the third time, frustration bubbling up. "Why would you do that? I thought you approved of her as my mate."


    "Oh, I do approve," he says firmly. "I''ve seen her with you and the rest of the pack. She fits perfectly—not just with you, but with all of us. Before she came along, we were growing slowly. Now, we''re thriving." Still, he avoids meeting our eyes. What on earth is going on here?


    "That doesn''t add up, sir,” Josh says carefully, his tone respectful. I''m relieved it''s him speaking because I wouldn''t have been so tactful.


    "Kennedy and I have history," Dad admits quietly. "I''m not sure what she remembers, but I''m in no rush to dredge up the past.”


    At that, both Josh and I stop pretending to read. Our full attention is on him now. "You''re going to have to exin more than that, Father. How do you have history with my mate? We didn''t even know about her until Rayna met Jeremiah."


    "I''ve known Kennedy Mattews for nearly three years," he says, voice steady but with an edge I can''t quite ce. "But I''ll only tell this story once. If you need to hear it, so does she. Though I doubt it will do any of us any good." His calm demeanor feels fragile, as though something beneath it is roiling. "Call your mate. Call your mother, too."


    There''s a firmness in his eyes that sends a chill through me.


    "Kennedy, baby,e to your office. Bring Mom with you-my dad has something important to say." I try to mask the worry creeping into my voice over the bond. I know she can sense it, just like yesterday when I was in ude''s office—she must have been suppressing my anger through the connection. It''s strange because she doesn''t have a wolf, and I always thought that bond between mates was something our wolves created the magic they share.


    I pace nervously as I wait, my heart pounding. I need her close; this feels ominous, and my anxiety is growing. She must have been nearby or running, because less than five minutester, she bursts into the room and immediately melts into my


    arms.


    "What''s going on?" she asks softly, looking up at me. She''s not afraid—just concerned by the tension in my voice. Goddess, she really is perfect.


    "Kennedy, this is my dad, Ryan Tryn. Dad, this is my mate, Kennedy. But why don''t you tell us all how you already know her?" I keep my gaze locked on him while Kennedy and Mom exchange confused looks between us.


    Dad settles onto the small couch, and Mom finds a seat beside him. Josh follows suit, and I pull Kennedy onto myp, sinking into the plush office chair. I wrap my arms tightly around her waist, holding her close to my chest, craving thefort of her presence.


    Taking a deep breath, Dad exhales slowly and fixes his eyes on Kennedy. "Kennedy, what do you remember about your ident and your parents'' death?"