A Father's Rage

[Fallon’s POV]

I stare up at the large mansion that I haven't seen in years and prepare myself for what is to come when I walk through those doors.

Even though I was coming to terms with the fact that I would forever be stuck with the beginnings of a mark that was forced upon me, that didn't mean that my family would.

I was sure the minute my father saw it, he would go berserk and demand to know who was the one that did it. And despite the anger and betrayal I felt towards Fineon for what he tried to do, I couldn’t find it in me to give him away.

‘Weak.’ Artemis huffs, not bothering to hide her disgust. ‘You don’t owe him a thing, yet you’re still willing to lie to your family on his behalf.’

‘Yeah, I’m a weak fool.’ I respond, shoving her aside. ‘We’ve determined that.’

Squaring my shoulders, I head inside, where I can sense my family waiting for me. There was no point in lolligagging outside; it was only prolonging the inevitable.

Inside, I find mom and dad flirting.

Gagging, I force a smile and let out a cough to announce my presence.

"Fallon!" Mom gasps as a slight blush colors her cheeks over being caught in the act. "You’re finally home!"

"Yeah, I’m home." I respond, letting her wrap her arms around me. "Sorry for not being able to make it back last night as planned."

"No need for apologies." Mom insists, pulling away and examining me. "I’m sure you were exhausted and needed a rest."

"Yeah."

Even though I had used the excuse of being tired and wanting to get some sleep, I only took a detour to see him.

"What’s that?"

Flinching, I slowly turn my attention towards dad as he storms toward me with pure rage evident in his eyes. Dammit, he had sharp eyes.

"What are you talking about?" Mom asks, looking from dad back to me. "What are…"

Gasping, mom's eyes grow wide as her eyes zero in on my neck.

"Fallon," she whispers, reaching out and attempting to touch the unfinished mark. "What is this?"

"It’s nothing." I insist, taking a few steps back, but stopping as dad reaches out and grabs my arm.

"Don’t you dare lie to us." He warns, "Who the hell did this?"

‘Just tell them.’ Artemis insists. ‘He deserves to be killed by your father for doing that while thinking you were your mom.’

‘No!’

I let out a growl and yank my arm free while mom and dad both watch me with anger and something else written all over their faces.

"Please don’t look at me like that." I sigh, "this is no big deal, alright?"

"Fallon," mom murmurs, gently touching my arm. "How could you possibly say that it is nothing when there is so much pain written all over your face?"

Busted. Shit, mom and dad were too good at reading me, but this was my problem to deal with, and I didn’t want them involved.

"I’m only going to ask one more time." Dad hisses, clearly doing his damnedest to stay calm. "Who the hell did that to you?"

Opening my mouth, I prepare to tell him it isn’t any of his business, but I realize that will only cause his barely contained anger to grow to the point of him going on a rampage.

"It doesn't matter." I sigh.

"Doesn’t matter?" Dad booms, causing Cyrus and Idris to come rushing down the stairs from wherever the hell it was that they were hiding. "ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?"

"I’m not a child anymore." I point out, not backing down. "And I’m going to be the alpha of this pack soon. I can handle this myself."

"What did we miss?" Idris asks, coming to stand beside dad.

"Stay out of it." I warn him, keeping my gaze fixed on dads. "I think all of you tend to forget that I’m not a child anymore, and I can handle my problems myself."

"Not a child?" Dad repeats, narrowing his gaze. "I don’t give a damn how old you get, you’ll always be my child, understood? And as such, when someone hurts you, they hurt me and need to be dealt with properly."

At his words, my heart gives a tug, and I find myself torn.

"Uh..." Cyrus says, reminding us that he is there too. "What exactly happened here?"

"Don’t you see it, dumb ass?" Idris snaps, pointing to my neck. "It looks like someone tried to take advantage of our sister."

In that moment, I find myself being met by the same glare from three different sets of eyes and realize that this is much worse than just having Dad on the hunt. Now Idris and Cyrus are ready to join in the killing of the one that managed to put half his mark on me.

"I can handle it myself." I warn my brothers before they can begin to slam me with the third degree as well. "I don’t need you two idiots sticking your noses in my business."

"I think..." Mom announces, trying to diffuse the situation. "We should trust in Fallon."

"No way in…"

Dad doesn’t finish his sentence as mom places a hand on his arm and shakes her head. 

Immediately, I can see him beginning to deflate, but Idris and Cyrus continue to look ready for attack.

"Fallon, sweetheart." Mom continues, turning her full attention to me now that dad is calm. "I’m not exactly sure what happened, but please know that your father and brothers are only worried about you."

"I know." I sigh, "I do." I add, as dad’s expression shows that he doesn’t quite believe I do. "But this is for me to handle." Moving forward, I fake a yawn. "And I’m kind of tired. Would it be okay if I went to my room now for a shower and a nap for tonight’s festivities?"

"Of course." Mom responds, giving me a gentle smile. "Go ahead. We still have some prep left anyway."

Nodding, I give mom a hug.

"Thanks," I whisper, "and please believe in me."

"Always." She murmurs, wrapping her arms around me. "You’re my daughter, so I know you have a good head on your shoulders."

Letting out a small giggle, I pull away and meet her gaze, which is so similar to mine.

"I’m also dad’s daughter." I point out.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Dad snaps.

"It means that she is stubborn as a mule." Mom laughs before I can respond. "And strong enough to face anything that comes her way."

Nodding, I give mom another hug before moving on to dad.

"Do you trust me?" I ask, meeting his dark gaze. "Or have you lied all these years?"

I know maybe it is a low blow, but I want him to understand that I am no longer the little girl who used to cry for her daddy during thunderstorms and when someone picked on her.

"I wasn’t." Dad finally sighs.

"Then trust in me, okay? In a year's time, I’ll start to take over Fire Rose, and in order to do that, I have to stand on my own two feet."

"I know." Dad huffs, "but that doesn’t mean that I have to like it."

"Like it or not, it’s going to happen." I point out, "It’s time you began to look over your shoulder because I’m planning to be the strongest leader Fire Rose has ever seen."

"I’ll hold you to that." Dad chuckles, pulling me into a bear hug. "Don’t let your old man down."

"Wouldn’t dream of it."