“If she wasn’t compelled, why would she do something like that?” Kay asked. She had to know, although she didn’t really care. The only thing that mattered was that Gideon was free. If her mother had been in the room, Kay would have kissed her.
Russell cracked his knuckles. “Until we find him again, you’ll be staying here, where I can keep an eye on you.” He stood, his gaze capturing hers. “You will not contact him,” he said, and it was no longer her father speaking, but her Alpha. “If he gets in touch with you, you will let me know. Are we clear?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Go to bed.”
Kay stood as well. “What have you done to my mother?”
His eyes narrowed. “Are you questioning my authority?”
She refused to be cowed by the tone of his voice or by the way he stood there, bristling. “I want to know what you’ve done to her.”
“I taught her a lesson she should have learned a long time ago.”
“You broke her spirit!” Kay exclaimed, remembering the vacant expression on her mother’s face, the way she had bowed her head, as if she were a servant instead of a member of the family. “How could you do such a despicable thing? She’s as good as dead inside!”
“I will not have anyone who resides under my rule defy me.”
Kay felt her anger rise up, as bitter as gall. “You’re her husband, not her master. You’re supposed to love her, protect her… .”
“I am Alpha here,” he said, his voice a low growl. “As such, I will be obeyed. By my pack. By my daughter. By my wife. I do not need your approval, Kiya, only your obedience. I will not be judged by you or anyone else. Do you understand?”
“No, I’ll never understand. Good night, Father.”
“Remember what I said.”
She nodded curtly. As if she could ever forget.
Kay paused on her way up the stairs when she heard footsteps behind her. Thinking it might be her mother, she glanced over her shoulder. It wasn’t Dorothy, but Jerry Mule Deer, one of her pack mates. His gaze slid away from hers, as if he was ashamed to look at her.
With a sigh of resignation, she continued on to her room. Once again, she was to be under guard.
Jerry bid her a quiet good night when she closed her bedroom door.
Alone in her room, Kay sank down on the foot of the bed. Gideon was free. She shook her head, unable to wrap her mind around the fact that her mother had done something in blatant violation of her father’s will. Kay didn’t know what her father had done in retaliation, but whatever it was, it had drained the life out of her mother. Looking at her was like looking at a zombie.
Blinking the tears from her eyes, Kay fell back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling, her thoughts again turning to Gideon. He loved her. She knew he did. Where was he? And why hadn’t he let her know what her mother had done?
Kay rolled onto her side, her head pillowed on her hand. It seemed like years since she’d seen Gideon. What if he had gone back to New York? Maybe he’d decided that butting heads with her family was just too much darn trouble. Not that she could blame him.
She gasped, remembering what else her father had said. Verah was free. Was that why Gideon hadn’t contacted her? Merciful heavens, surely the witch didn’t have him in her power again!
It was a thought that kept her tossing and turning until dawn.
Victor arrived with Kay’s clothing and other belongings while she and her parents were at breakfast, a strained, silent meal. Kay was surprised that Victor hadn’t brought any of his own things, since she had assumed he would be moving into the compound with her.
She was even more astonished when her father didn’t invite Victor to stay for breakfast, or even offer him a cup of coffee.
Kay glanced at her mother, but Dorothy refused to meet her gaze. As soon as the meal was over, her mother began to clear the table.
Too nervous to sit still any longer, Kay said, “Have another cup of coffee, Mom, I’ll do the dishes.”
“It’s your mother’s job,” Russell said sharply. “Let her do it.”
Kay dropped back down in her chair. She knew better than to argue with that tone.
When Dorothy finished clearing the table and loading the dishwasher, she left the kitchen.
Russell laid his paper aside.
It took all of Kay’s courage to meet his gaze across the table.
“You’re probably wondering why Victor isn’t staying here,” her father said.
“It crossed my mind.”
“I don’t know how to tell you this except to say it straight out. He was apparently beguiled by the witch. I should have told you last night.”