Chapter 12: Unspoken Promises
The house was silent, save for Michelle’s angry sobs.
“Enough, Michelle.” Gareth’s voice was sharp. “Go up to your room! We will talk about this later.”
Michelle flinched but didn’t back down. She screamed louder. “No! You’ll just kick Jasmine out and expect me to be okay with it! You can’t fool me!”
“Michelle, stop this nonsense right now. You don’t understand,” he warned again, but I could hear the strain in his tone. He could order the entire Lycan community, but he was helpless when it came to his young daughter.
“You are the one that doesn’t understand! You didn’t even come to my last archery test! All the other parents showed up!” she shouted, her voice breaking with hurt. “I won a prize, but you didn’t even ask how it went! Only Butler Jones congratulated me!”
There was a sharp silence. I looked at Gareth, and for just a second, I saw it—pain. It flashed in his eyes before he blinked it away, but I caught it.
He opened his mouth, then closed it. Ran a hand down his face. He looked... tired.
Then he let out a long breath. “Fine.”
Michelle sniffed. “What?”
“Jasmine stays. Happy?” Gareth muttered, rubbing his temples.
Michelle wiped her face on her sleeve and nodded quickly. Her voice was softer, but it wavered with childish hope. “Promise me. You can’t lie to me.”