Chapter 243
Xena’s POV
Rights? Dad’s voice was deadly quiet now. “Did my daughter have rights when you locked her in the basement for hours? Did she have rights when you disciplined‘ her with your fists? Did she have ghts when you made her feel worthless and unloved in her own
home?”
Each word hit me like a physical blow. He knew. He had always known.
“I was trying to make her stronger!” Martha protested weakly.
“You were destroying her,” Dad said flatly. “And I let you. That’s my sin to bear, and I had carried that guilt for so many years. But I won’t let you hurt her for one more day.”
*I, Hank Harris, Alpha of Nightcedar Pack, reject you, Martha Harris, Luna of Nightcedar Pack. Dad’s voice was steady and firm as he spoke those words.
Marthe screamed in agony, clutching her heart as she collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. The sound tore through the room like a blade, sharp and devastating.
Dad closed his eyes, his jaw clenched tight as he endured the pain of the rejection. One or two tears had already fallen without permission, and I reached out with trembling hands to wipe them away with a tissue. Ryder’s hand found my back, steady and warm.
Slowly, Dad opened his eyes and smiled at Martha with a look of pure determination.
“I’ll get everything,” Martha snarled through gritted teeth, her voice filled with venom and desperation.
“No, you won’t. I’ve been planning this for a long time. Everything will go to my children.” Dad’s voice wasn’t as strong as it had been at the beginning, but his resolve remained unshaken.
“I accept your rejection, you spineless bastard!” Martha screamed, her eyes wild with despair and rage.
I gripped the tissue tighter in my hand, fighting every instinct to rush forward and tear Martha apart with my bare hands. The hatred I felt for this woman burned through me like fire.
Logan had already risen and walked toward Dad, helping him stand. Dad looked into his eyes with a mixture of pride and sorrow.
“I, Hank Harris, Alpha of Nightcedar Pack, pass the Alpha title to my son, Logan Harris.”
“I, Logan Harris, accept the position of Alpha of Nightcedar Pack!” Logan’s voice echoed throughout the entire room with authority and strength.
Pride and grief crashed over me simultaneously. My brother would make an excellent Alpha, but this meant Dad was truly leaving us. The finality of it hit me like a physical blow.
“NO!” Martha wailed as she watched this exchange, her cries heart–wrenching and desperate.
Dad bent over, and I watched as the power transferred to Logan, a visible shift in the air around them.
“Take her to the cells,” Logan commanded sternly, looking at the guards who grabbed Martha’s arms. They had to drag the king and screaming Martha away from us toward the holding cells.
Watching her being dragged away, I felt a sense of relief, but it was quickly replaced by overwhelming sadness.
1/2
Chapter 243
“Xena.” Dad called my name in a weak voice, and the sound of it pierced straight through my heart like a needle.
As if my feet had a will of their own, they carried me toward my dying father. “What?” I answered with a trembling voice. I didn’t realize my eyes had filled with pars until I could no longer see Dad early. Closing my eyes, I felt the tears spill out, and then ! could partially see him again.
For you. These are for you.” Dad’s trembling hand reached into his pocket and pulled out a string of pearls. “These were your mother’s. I wanted to give them to you at your Luna ceremony, but I won’t make it that long.” When his shaking hand couldn’t reach toward me, he gave me a weak smile. I quickly grabbed his falling hand, pulling it toward me as I tremblingly accepted the pearls.
Mom’s pearls… I had never owned anything that belonged to her. Now, holding them in my hands, they still retained Dad’s warmth from his pocket.
“Oh, Dad…” I couldn’t stop the tears that refused to slow down. Already streaming down my face, the tears dampened the pearls in my hands. Logan knelt down on the other side.
“I love you, old man.” Logan’s eyes were also filled with tears, his voice thick with emotion.
We were all crying now. This strong man who had always silently protected us now looked so fragile and vulnerable.
“I’m proud of both of you.” Dad looked at us, slowly raising his hand to touch my head, then looked up at Ryder. “Take care of my daughter, I wouldn’t trust anyone else.” His speech began to slow, his breathing becoming shallow.
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