The Alpha and The Fool
Chapter 25

"This is crazy," Marquice demanded and if I doubted his words he gave me the look of bewildered horror. "Your father will never agree to this."

"Then that's his choice, but if he wants my help, he is going to have to agree to those terms. I will not save his ass, just to have it all fall apart at the next turn. What happened to Father's dignity?" He scowled a me but took out his cell and tapped the screen.

"Alpha," Marquice said with a much softer voice when the call connected. "She's agreed to help, but with conditions. Yes, Sir, I told her the pack was at risk. Yes, she still insisted." Marquice glared at me for good measure, and I replied with a grin. "The first condition is Brandon will never be allowed to become alpha, no matter what happens in the future and secondly-"

I took the phone from Marquice. "You either join the 21st century, join Harry Ford's better pack project or keep your own bigoted mindset and forget you ever had a daughter. If you accept, I'll want it in a written contract." I tossed the phone back to him. "He's all yours."

Marquice put away his phone and shook his head. "He agreed to the first, but the second he wants to discuss with you in person. How soon can you leave?"

"I need to make arrangements, obviously, but I think I'll be ready to leave in the morning."

"Good, don't be late," he said and stalked out of the room.

"Whatever," I said, shaking my head and left to tell the others. They took the news about as well as I expected. Jon was frustrated. He didn't understand why I needed to go. Thankfully, he didn't push me to explain, though that might have been Dean's presence. Dean and I sat on the couch of the empty living room, our hands clasped and fingers laced. "I want you to go with me," I told him after a moment. "I'm kind of nervous about going back."

"Why? I thought you'd be excited," he replied.

I took a breath and let it out. "I am, but...what if I get there and Father steam rolls me? What if I forget everything that's happened here? I know if you're there, none of that will happen."

"I think you give me entirely too much credit," he replied, laughing.

"No, I don't. So will you go?"

Dean hummed, tapping his chin with his finger and I punched him in the shoulder. "Owe," he cried out, rubbing his shoulder with a pout. "Well if you're going to be mean about it..."

"Dean!"

He laughed and slung an arm around my shoulders. "Nic, seriously. Do you think I'd let you leave without me?"

"Wait, let me? Dean, just say yes, you'll go and shut up," I teased him.

"Oh Bossy, me likey," he teased me right back.

I rolled my eyes. "I swear you are something else."

"I know, right?" He hugged me to him.

Again, I shook my head and stood. "I wanted to leave tomorrow, but I'm still not entirely sure how we're going to get there. I have exactly no money."

"Eh, I'm sure Dad can help you out there," Dean said, standing as well.

"I'm starting to owe your father a lot," I replied, a little worried that was going to bite me in the ass one day.

"Don't worry," Dean said as if he could read my thoughts. "It's all going to be cool. You're part of the family now, anyway. Come on, let's head to the gym and I'll spot for you."

I still wasn't convinced owning his father anything wouldn't end up having huge strings, but I nodded and followed him to the gym.

Dean was right, Alpha Brent lent us one of his jets to travel to Kansas. It was a nice trip, and quick. We were back in Golden Plains before noon. Father and a few other enforcers waited for us as we got off the plane.

"You seem to be doing well for yourself," Father said with a sniff, looking from the others up to the plane and back.

"Hello Father, and yes, I've been managing. It was you after all who taught me never to let adversity take me down."

"Strange, I was beginning to wonder if you'd learned anything from me at all," Father replied with yet another sniff. He didn't even bother to hide the contempt on his face. "What is this nonsense about a 'better-pack' project that you were trying to hold over my head? Have you gone insane, Girl?"

"Exactly at the name implies. It's a project to create better pack life. One where women can hold any position a man can or intelligence matters equally, if not more, than pure strength. For example,

You

wouldn't have to fear for your pack because you're getting old and have a bad knee."

Father worked his jaw as if he was trying to eat a piece of particularly tough meat. "Absurd. That's now how the world works!"

"It could be," I replied.

"No, it couldn't. It's a foolish dream of those too weak to rule. I will not allow such ideas to taint and ruin my pack."

I shrugged. "Suit yourself, but in doing so, as per my request. We're done after I do this for you. When I finish, you no longer will have a daughter."

"You don't mean that. You wanted to be the alpha of this pack too much for too long to just give up now."

I forced a smile on my face as I did my best to look down at him. "Oh, but I do, and I'm not giving up. Just moving on."

Father narrowed his eyes at me. "You ungrateful bitch. After everything, I did for you." He took a step towards me, but before I could do anything, Dean shoved him back.

"Seriously? You calling her ungrateful? She's here saving your ass after you ditched her," Dean said, glaring at him. He looked almost furious. "If anyone is ungrateful it is you, you old, asinine dick."

"How dare you! This is my territory! I am alpha," Father shouted at him.

Dean snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. "Are you? Are you really?"

I stepped in between the two before

a fight could break out. "Okay, enough," said, holding up my hands to stop them. "We've got one challenge to deal with. I don't think we need another. If you will sign the contract, stating you agree to my terms, Father we can get started."

Father worked his jaw again, glaring at all of this. "A bunch of ungrateful..." he muttered but took the papers Wesley offered him and signed them messily.

"Great, now let's go inside, and you call tell me about this alpha who's challenging you."