The Half-Breed Who Found His Other Half by Scarlet Hyacinth

“I haven’t asked you to produce heirs with her. You would just be in a partnership, a platonic union, if you will. It would give both of you the authority you need to lead our people.”
    While those words were somewhat relieving in the sense that they told Isaac his father hadn’t completely lost his mind, they still didn’t change the fact that there was no way he would obey this particular command.
    He turned toward his niece, curious as to what she thought about all this. “And you agreed to it, Mel? It doesn’t strike you as weird at all?”
    Melanie looked a bit doubtful, but nodded. “As long as we don’t have to, you know, have sex, I don’t see why I couldn’t be Alpha bitch. I mean, my mother was supposed to have occupied the position before my dad mated Daniel. It’s only fair, right?”

    46 Scarlet
    Hyacinth
    Isaac’s eyes widened. Where was this coming from? Isaac had heard the story many times from his brother, and he knew all about Melanie’s past. It was true that her mother, Carlie Denning, had been Soren’s beta before her tragic death. In fact, originally, Elder Wade had planned for her to be Alpha bitch—Soren’s mate. But after Soren had found Daniel, she and the squirrel-shifter had become great friends. In fact, Daniel had nearly given his life while trying to save hers. In the end, she had died, but her pups had lived.
    All this time, Isaac had been convinced that Soren’s pups loved Daniel like a second father. But judging from Melanie’s words, she almost seemed to resent him. It was strange, and very much unlike the generous, loving girl Isaac knew. Yes, Melanie had character, and yes, she would probably be a great Alpha bitch, but she shouldn’t be so resentful toward her adoptive dad. It simply didn’t fit to what he knew of her.
    “Does Soren know about all this?” he asked his father. “What did you tell this girl to get her to agree?”
    Mel flushed red, obviously not appreciating the fact that he was suggesting she’d been manipulated. “It’s my decision,” she said mutinously. “I don’t need to ask his permission.”
    “I didn’t think you had,” Isaac said without missing a beat. “But I expect it wasn’t your fault. Come on, Father. Answer the question.
    How did you convince her to play along? How long have you been turning her against her parents?”
    “Don’t presume to judge me, Isaac.” The elder wolf shot to his feet. “My agreement with Mel is none of your business, and neither is her relationship with her family.”
    “I disagree. Soren is my brother, and as such, Daniel is like another sibling to me.” Isaac didn’t remember ever standing up to his father in such a way, and God, it felt great. “You’ve gone too far, Father. But I guess people never change, huh? Brody and Soren might have thought you stopped your controlling ways when they found mates, but you’ve only changed targets.”

    The Half-Breed Who Found His Other Half
    47
    “Isaac, our people need a leader,” his father answered. “I’ve been around for a long time, and I don’t plan to leave any time soon. But that doesn’t change the fact that soon, I’ll need one of my sons to take charge of my affairs.”
    Isaac knew his father would never confess to needing a break, at least not in so many words. But this was clearly about that, about the elder wolf’s need to find someone else who could shoulder the burden of a nation. Obviously, Isaac couldn’t do it alone. With Melanie by his side, he might be able to, but that was out of the question. In fact, he didn’t even know why his father had approached him with this and not one of his brothers.
    “Pick Soren,” he said. “He’s Alpha and your eldest. He’s the best choice, not me.”
    “Soren has a different life, with his mate, with his pack. So does Brody. You don’t have any responsibilities yet. You can stay by my side and learn how to lead our people.”
    So this what it all came down to. Isaac