The Alpha’s Runaway Bride

My father was dying. The healers couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him, no matter how many herbs, potions, or spells they tried. Every day, I watched him grow weaker. It felt like life was slipping out of him piece by piece. And there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.

Murray and I had agreed on a simple rule. No bad news in Dad’s room. We’d promised ourselves that, at the very least, he deserved peace in his final days. No arguments, no panic, no mention of the mess Murray had left me to clean up. Only smiles, laughter, and the pretense that everything was fine. But even with all the pretending, it didn’t feel fine. None of it did.

“I’m worried about the truce,” I said, adjusting the blanket over my father’s frail form. His chest rose and fell slowly. I hadn’t meant to bring it up, but I couldn’t help myself. It weighed too heavily on my mind. And I needed him to understand why I couldn’t accept things as they were.

“Don’t,” he whispered. “Not now.”

I bit my lip, hesitating. It was always the same when I entered his room. I’d come in with every intention of keeping things light, of holding my tongue about all the responsibilities crushing me under their weight, but it never lasted. I couldn’t stop myself from seeking his guidance, hoping he’d offer me a way out. Hoping he’d pull the strings I needed to avoid the disaster that was looming over me.

“They expect me to marry him, Dad,” I continued, pacing at the foot of his bed. “Harvey Thornburn. Of all people. How can they expect me to go through with that? You know he’s impossible.”

He closed his eyes. And I thought he’d fallen asleep again. His moments of wakefulness were so brief these days. But then he stirred. His hand trembled as he reached for the glass of water by his bedside. I quickly handed it to him, holding it steady as he took a small sip.

“You’re strong, Liana,” he said, his voice weak but sharp. “Stronger than you think. But strength isn’t enough. You have to be wise. You have to do what’s best for the pack.”

“And marrying Harvey is best?” I asked, incredulous. “You really believe that?”

He let out a slow, tired breath and nodded. “Without the Silver Pack’s protection, we’re vulnerable. The truce has kept us safe for decades. And it will keep you safe long after I’m gone.”

His words struck me like a blow. I knew he was dying. We all did. But hearing him talk about it so openly, it made it real in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

“But there has to be another way,” I insisted, frustrated. “I don’t want to live my life shackled to someone like him. I want to lead the pack on my terms, not as someone’s wife.”

“And you think the elders will just let you?” My father’s voice rose, sharp and cutting despite his weakened state. “You think you can challenge the traditions that have held this pack together for generations and come out unscathed? Grow up, Liana!”

The words stung. I hadn’t expected him to side with the elders after everything. I blinked, trying to swallow the anger and hurt rising in my chest. “I thought you’d understand. I thought you—”

“I understand that you don’t have a choice,” he interrupted. “But the pack comes first. Always. You want to lead? Then prove you’re worthy of it. But don’t expect me to coddle you when the entire pack’s future is at stake.”

“Dad—” I began, but he cut me off again. His face twisted with anger. It was the first time I’d seen him so animated in weeks, but it wasn’t the kind of energy I’d hoped for.

“Enough!” he barked. “Do you think I want this? To leave you and your brother with this burden? To die knowing the pack could fall apart at any moment? No, I don’t! But I’m not going to let you destroy everything I’ve built because you don’t like the way things are.”

I flinched at his words as I felt my eyes burn. This was the man who had always supported me, who had taught me how to stand tall, who had made me believe I could be more than just the youngest child of the White Pack. And now he was tearing that belief apart, telling me to fall in line like everyone else.

“I need you to talk to the elders,” I whispered. “Please. You can convince them to—”

“No. I won’t. This pack needs Harvey’s protection. Without him, without the Silver Pack, we’ll be overrun. You think you can fight them all on your own? You’ll get us all killed.”

It felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. I stared at him, speechless. My heart broke. He was supposed to be on my side. He was supposed to understand.

I stood abruptly. “I can’t do this,” I muttered, barely able to keep my voice steady. “I can’t—”

Without waiting for his response, I fled the room. My feet carried me through the halls of our home without any real destination. The walls felt like they were closing in on me. The tradition, expectation, and duty was crushing me with every step.

I didn’t stop until I reached the top of the hill, where my mother’s grave overlooked the entire White Pack’s territory. It had always been my sanctuary, the one place where I could escape everything and everyone.

I knelt by her grave with my hands shaking. “Mom,” I whispered, choking back tears. “I don’t know what to do.”

The wind picked up around me, rustling the leaves of the trees nearby. I stared out at the territory below, the land my family had protected for generations. And now it was my turn. I was supposed to protect it, to lead it, but how could I do that when the world was set against me?