My muscles burned from training and all I wanted to do was take a shower, but Father sent for me, and when your father was the alpha, you had to obey. I sniffed, trying to wipe some sweat off my forehead. I only managed to mix it with the sweat on my arm and make me feel all the more miserable. Wesley, Father's beta was leaning against the gym door frame. His muscled frame made the doorway appear smaller.

"Any idea what he wants to talk about?" I said, walking up to him.

"No idea, but he's in a mood after he went out hunting with new enforcer recruits and demanded to see you."

I sighed, running my hand over the short stubble on top of my head in irritation. "Let me guess, he screwed his knee didn't he?"

"I think so."

I scowled and rubbed the top of my head again. The plane crash that took Mom's life and almost took my father's was nearly twenty years ago, but his knee never did heal right. It was only thanks to the doc he kept his leg at all. He was lucky, but he didn't see it that way. In his mind, he had been scoured with a weakness he couldn't allow. "Great, now he's going to be on the warpath to prove he's not weak."

Wesley chuckled and shrugged his massive, meaty shoulders. "It'll do no good to keep him waiting."

"Yeah, let's go."

I followed him to Father's office, and as soon as Wesley opened the door and I saw the gnarled scowl on my father's angular face, I knew whatever he wanted it wasn't going to be pleasant.

"Don't just stand there, Nicole. Close the door and get in here, girl," Father barked, nodding in dismissal to his beta.

Nicole. He called me by my full name. He hadn't called me that since I was a little girl. It had always been Nic. Lifting my chin, I did as he told me and sat in the chair in front of his desk. "You wanted to see me, Sir?"

He rested his forearms on the desk and leaned forward to look at me, his expression was grim as usual. I tried not to squirm and kept my chin high as he continued to stare. After a moment he sighed. "You would've made a fine son. Pity."

Oh, so it was that again? "I'm as good as any son." Better. I stayed, and Brandon didn't.

Father's derisive snort told me he disagreed. It hurt. No matter how hard I tried, it always hurt. "Doesn't matter. The trackers can't find your brother, and I'm getting too old." I blinked and stared at him, not sure if I honestly heard him right. "Don't look at me like that! I'm no idiot. I know when my time is up. The knee is getting worse, and it's harder to hide. It's time for a new alpha and for me to retire."

My heart sped up. Was Father going to step aside for me? I wasn't sure if I was ready. Most alphas came into their position in closer to their thirties. I guess I'd have to be. "I see and what do you need from me, Sir?"

"A mate."

I blinked and stared again. "A…what?"

"A Mate, Nic. Pay attention. You've got the support of the council and our pack, but you need a mate - Someone strong. I will not allow you to take over without one."

No. This couldn't be right. Father had to be testing me. Yes, a test, nothing more. "I'm a suitable alpha all by myself. I don't need someone strong father, I am strong all by myself. Ask any of the enforcers."

"No, you're not. You're a woman, and you will always be weaker than a man."

All the breath left me as I stared at him. This couldn't be happening. My heart clenched in my chest. All the hard work I'd put myself through. All the hours training and make sure, I'd fit in with the guys, to be one of the guys just to have him tell me it wasn't enough?

"The annual alphas meeting is coming up next week," he said, clearly oblivious to how he just shattered my world. "It will be held in Blue Crescent pack territory this year, and you will be coming with me. With so many alphas and young men around, I'm sure I'll find someone suitable, and I would like to see my grandsons before I go. "

My nose wrinkled before I wiped my face of any emotion. "Father-"

"No. There is no discussion here. You will do as I say and learn your place. Wesley's mate will make sure you're ready by the time we need to leave."

My mouth was dry and my hands shaking as I stood. I hid them behind my back in a military stance. "Yes, Sir," I bit out and marched out of his office without a word. As soon as I turned the corner, I leaned against the wall. How could he do this to me? My eyes stung, making me even angrier. I would not cry. I would not cry like some sissy girl.

No, I wouldn't give Father so much. I ground the heels of my palms into my eyes until they hurt and sniffed. There had to be a way to change his mind.

Feeling more in control, I pushed off the wall and headed back to the gym. Before anything, I took out my phone sent a quick text then marched over to a punching bag. I didn't even bother with the gloves as I started hitting with quick jabs, imagining my father's face there. I didn't stop until my knuckles were bloody. I heard someone whistle as I shook out my hand.

"Whatever it is, it must be bad," Jon said.

"It is," I replied, turning to face him. He sat on one of the weight benches. He was only a little taller than I was, but his build, while muscular, was lithe and slim. His father's Korean heritage made him appear about my age when he was actually a good ten years older. He worked for Father on the enforcers' team and was my best friend, well my only friend.

He lifted a single eyebrow at me, no doubt trying to decide if I was exaggerating or not. I may or may not exaggerate things time to time. "What happened?"

"Father's decided it's time to retire," I told him.

"And?" The eyebrow lowered, giving me a flat stare.

I returned the stare. "I've been ordered to accompany Father, so he may find me a mate next week."

"Wait, he's not-"

"He's not," I said, my tone as flat as the stare earlier. "I'll never be 'man' enough for him, so he will not give me the alphaship unless I have a mate."

His lips quirked in a start of a smile, but he knew me well enough to not laugh. "Well, that is unexpected."

"What am I going to do? I don't want to change myself for a man. I don't need a man. The pack doesn't need some stranger coming in who doesn't know our pack and crap. Seriously? What am I going to do?" I kicked the bench, biting back a yelp of pain.

"How about you start by not breaking your foot," he suggested and patted the bench next to him. "Okay, so this isn't exactly the end of the world here, Nic. There has to be a way around this. Perhaps something like a fake boyfriend kind of scheme. I'm sure I can find some guy willing to live the pampered life and leave the hard stuff to you."

I chewed my lip. "Maybe I can talk him out of it. I don't want to lie to my father, Jon."

"Right, so barefoot and pregnant it is then. Hopefully, the guy won't be too old or too ugly or weigh a lot, and perhaps you'll get even luckier to have twin boys so your Father can have his heir and a spare. Cause one grandson isn't going to be enough, and he will demand you have more."

My chest tightened as I stared at him in horror. "Okay, so we lie to my father. How?"

He grinned at me. "We find us some lazy, second son of an alpha with no ambition or dominance willing to be a kept man and let you lead. Don't worry, you play along with your father, and I'll find us the lackluster alpha's son."