Not The Leader Of The Pack Read Free

hand from the nurse’s grip, she moved to take her advice.
    Her father’s arm felt cold, and his hands even colder. The texture of his skin seemed rubbery and unnatural, swollen, but not hot. She forced herself to intertwine her fingers with his, stroking his hand with her thumb. He still wore the old leather ring that symbolized pack leadership. The ring had been specially crafted to stretch and cling to a shifting werewolf, allowing the ring to survive when most other clothing or jewelry would have been torn apart on the full moon. “Daddy? It’s Juli. I’m here.”
    The smile that broke over his face filled her with guilt. Since Juli’s mother had left to join the free packs in Wyoming, he’d never looked this happy to see anyone. Neil had been right, much as she hated to admit it even to herself. She should have come to visit when he’d asked. She knew the sort of man he was, and how much asking must have cost him.
    “I’m sorry it took me so long to come, Daddy, but I’m here now.”
    “Juli.” His fingers squeezed hers. She felt a hint of his old strength. “I’m so proud to have raised an alpha like you.”
    What? “Daddy, I’m not an alpha. Remember? After college, I went to work for the Werewolf Council in Lewistown. I’m a forensic investigator for them. Because I minored in forensics while I was getting my nursing degree.” She smiled, even though she was concerned about the lapse in his memory. “You did not want me to get that degree, especially not from the University of Idaho. You said I should have stayed in Missoula if I wanted to go into health sciences. Remember?” A note of desperation entered her voice. She wanted some sign that he was really in the room with her, that his brain wasn’t as much of a shadow as his body seemed to be.
    His eyes opened wide, and he fixed her with a look that she definitely recognized. Blue, piercing, and implacable, with just enough mischief to show he understood every irony the situation might have. In that moment, her father seemed very much alive and present. “Sweetheart, I wanted you to stay in Missoula because I raised you to take over the pack someday.”
    He’d never said that to her before. Certainly not throughout the many battles they’d had during her adolescence, when he hadn’t accepted a single decision she wanted to make. Juli had thought they’d agreed to disagree when she went to work in Lewistown. Had he really harbored a hope that she would return to Missoula to become pack alpha? Juli licked her lips nervously. Her mouth had gone dry. “What about Neil? Isn’t he expecting...” Surely, Neil had stood by Juli’s father so staunchly because he anticipated being named as a successor.
    A strange, beatific smile spread over his face. “You have a lot to teach Neil.”
    “Me?” She was stammering. She’d never needed so many deep breaths in her life.
    “He needs you. He’s a good beta, but he still doesn’t have an alpha’s heart.”
    “Daddy.” Juli kept her voice as gentle as she could. “I love you. I’m glad I came to see you. But I have a job in Lewistown. I can’t stay here with Neil.”
    “Not just Neil. The pack.” He released her and lifted shaking hands off the bed. He grabbed the leather ring and tried to work it off his finger.
    “Daddy, wait!”
    “I did wait for you, Juli. This needs to be done while I’m alive, or Neil gets the leadership automatically. I’m sorry, baby girl, but I can’t wait any longer.” The ring came free. He grabbed her hand. She could not believe the steel in his grip or the determination in his eyes.
    “Daddy, no!” Footsteps slapped against the tile floor. The ICU nurse and Neil rushed into the room just in time to see Juli’s father force the leather ring onto her finger. She snatched her hand from his grip, but he continued to struggle, locked in a battle with an invisible force.
    “Darrow!” Neil cried.
    “Is he okay?” the nurse asked, her voice urgent despite