The Broken Warrior's Daughter

Lily is a Guardian. | wouldn’t have believed it if | hadn’t seen it. When | take her in my arms, she breaks down. I’m not sure what happened while | was away, but | intend to find out.

| hold her for a moment while she cries before picking her up and carrying her to a chair. Sitting down, | settle her in my lap and let her cry until she cries herself out. | can tell the moment she realizes that I’m wearing nothing but a towel, and I’m holding her in my lap.

Her body tenses and | relax my arms, letting her pull back. | rub my thumbs over her cheeks and wipe her tears away. “Better?” She nods. “I’ve been waiting for you to get home all day. | didn’t... “Shhh, I’m here now. We can figure this out together.”

| was so worried about her. It encompassed all my thoughts for the last day and a half. Now, | can’t help but touch her. | tuck her hair behind her ear, sliding my fingers down her cheek. She leans into my hand.

“Why don’t you start from the beginning.” | say.

It's everything | can do not to lose it when she tells me about her time with Alpha Mahli, how her father left her alone with him and his expectation that she would become his. Donovan is thrashing around in my head, ready for blood.

“We need to take care of our mate. That must be first. We'll deal with the idiot Alpha when the time comes. | tell him, forcing him to calm down.

“I'm afraid, Clint. If he or my father finds out I'm a Guardian, I’m afraid he might try to steal me away.” “That won't happen. But we need to talk to Anders.” She’s shaking her head before | can finish. “What if Alpha Anders tries to force me into a mate bond?”

Donovan snarls. “He won't. First, he’s not like that. But, he has me as a Guardian. He doesn’t need another one.” | tell her, trying to lighten the mood.

“But you’re right that other Alphas will be looking for you. We need to confirm that the previous Guardian has died. Then we need a plan to keep you safe. Do you trust me?” | ask her, desperately wanting her to say yes.

She nods her head, sniffling. “Then trust me that Anders will help as “1 tilt her head up to look at me. “Okay?” “Okay, Clint”

| smile at her before mind linking Anders to come to my room. Since we are on the same floor, it only takes a minute before he’s knocking and walking in Lily hurriedly pushes herself off my lap and | stand, the towel not entirely able to hide how her being seated in my lap has affected me

“| apologize, | should have waited until you answered. | didn’t realize you weren't alone.” Anders says, turning to walk back out.

“Anders, wait.” | say. Lily has turned her back on him and while | know she’s embarrassed having been caught on my lap, | can feel the nervousness vibrating off of her. Anders must feel it too.

“Is everything alright?” He asks, looking at me before focusing on Lily.

“Could

you close the door?” | ask, giving Lily a minute. | walk to her rubbing my hands down her arms. “You need to show him Lily.”

She turns, looking at Anders before looking back at me. | nod my head encouragingly at her.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

When she looks back at Anders, | watch as Andra pushes forward. Anders sharp intake of breath is similar to my reaction to seeing her gold eyes the first time.

“You're a Guardian.” He says in awe before looking at me.. It takes a moment, then | see the realization sink in. “Shit.” He whispers. “Yeah, shit.” | echo his response.

He begins pacing the room, his hand running through his hair. “I need to confirm that the previous Guardian has died. Their pack is on the other side of the country, but we had heard that they were having issues with a neighboring pack. | didn’t think it had gotten out of hand enough that a Guardian’s life would be in danger.” He continues pacing.

“And we need to figure out what to do with you.” He waves his hand in Lily’s direction, causing her to flinch. | growl at his implication that he will be doing something with my mate.

He stops pacing and looks at me. “Having one Guardian in this pack was enough to cause the other packs to be envious. If they find out we have two, they will hunt her down, trying to get to her.” He says, piercing me with his gaze.

“They won't care

me that she’s underage She will bring them power frost being whe and what she is “He turns to look at Lily “You were already strong Lily, now yet and Andra will be even stronger and more powerful”

He looks at her for a moment. “What do you want, Lily?” He asks her gently.

She looks at me. “There’s more to the story here Anders. That issue we talked about this weekend? It’s come to fruition.”

He turns to Lily. “Alpha Mauli wants to take you as his chosen mate?” He asks and Lily nods, looking startled that he already seems to know.

“And how do you feel about that?” He asks and it’s everything in me not to snarl at his question.

“| don’t want to take him as a mate, but my father is insisting that | do, even if he’s not my fated mate.” She says, her voice quivering. | wrap my arms around her, lending her my strength as she leans against me.

“| need to confirm what happened with the other Guardian, but Clint,” he says giving me a meaningful look. “We need to bring my father into this tonight.” | nod. | knew from the moment Lily told me that her father was pushing her into a mate bond with Alpha Mauli that we’d have to pull Patrick into this. Between that and her being a Guardian, it's the only way to keep her safe.

“I'll have some food sent up for both of you, while | research the status of the pack that had the Guardian. And I'll set up a meeting with my father.” He turns to Lily. “Lily, where is your father?”

“At home, | think. | was so upset when we got back this morning that | ran into. the woods and waited until Clint got home.

He nods, turning to leave. “I'll let you know when we can meet with my father. Oh, and Clint,” he says, turning back to me. “Put some clothes on.” He smirks before walking out the door.

Cooper

Author

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