Chapter 165

Victoria POV.

My dad! My dad's hitched breath sounded through the phone, and with it, my eyes began to water uncontrollably. He was alive! He really was alive.

"Daddy... Dad, are you alright?" He couldn't speak! Every single time I heard him open his mouth to utter the words that rested on the tip of his tongue, his voice would seemingly get caught in his throat, causing nothing but stuttering to come out. "Dad"?!

"Victoria?" His voice was breathy; you could clearly tell that he, too, was fighting the urge to break down. It had been over three years since I'd seen or heard from this man and since he had heard from me. It was a moment I had built up in my head until I realized that he was probably dead. I couldn't believe that we were both now freely able to speak to each other. "Oh my god. Victoria, I love you so much. I've missed you; every single day, I would think about you. How are you? Are you happy? Are you safe?!"

"I'm alright. I'm... I'm happy, Dadd!" I really was, but I wasn't entirely sure how to tell him about my mate. As far as I knew, he wasn't happier with his own pairing.

"Thank god..." I heard him sigh deeply while a few sniffles left me. It was so surreal, actually being able to speak and to hear his voice after so long. I loved my dad, and I really hadn't had the time to realize just how much I missed him. "What about your safety? Is your location still unknown? There's been a few concerning reports."

"The safe haven isn't known to anyone yet; however, after Lewis and Dylan closed the borders, I think it's fairly obvious where the rebellion is located." My voice held a slight sustain when mentioning Dylan; I was actually quite jealous of her.

She held command and respect, none of which she had to fight for, and people naturally rallied around her without effort. I had to work hard for a year for people to start taking me and my decisions seriously, and even still, I would be questioned at every turn. If Dylan says jump, everyone seems to shout out a reply of 'how fucking high'? No one questioned why they would jump; they'd just automatically do it. It was infuriating.

"Wait, the beta is there with you too?" I nodded my head at my estranged father's words, then sighed, realizing he couldn't see my actions through the cell phone.

"Well yeah... his cousin helped to establish the rebellion in the first place, and his parents were aiding us in keeping the location secure. Once beta Lewis realized how bad things were, he joined us straight away." I was still shocked to find out that Royal Beta Lewis was Elias's son, but it made a lot of sense after hearing the Betas story when he first came to reside with us, and it took Dylan to make the guy see sense.

"That explains how you were able to set up a cellular connection with me." If that's what he wants to think, then I don't mind. I wasn't about to tell him that it was Dylan who, as usual, sorted everything. "Are you happy?"

"What's happening with you? They told me you've been marked?!..." I finally asked as I thought about that man, the one that Dylan shot, the shouts and screams that came from him as his body attempted to morph into something completely unnatural to him. My dad's silence told me everything I needed to know: the news of his force marking was indeed true. "Daddy, I've only just found out you're actually alive; I can't go through that again."

"Niña, I'll be ok. I've been through much worse than this in my time. I survived your mother, after all; that amazing lady was stubborn as hell." Tears began to build in my eyes as I thought about my mom; I hadn't seen her in 5 years either.

"This is no time to make jokes. I'm serious; I can't lose you. You have to promise me you'll be ok, or Oliver and I will come back ourselves." Oh... I hadn't even thought about my words as I blurted out Oliver's name and paused, waiting to hear my father's response.

"Whose Oliver?" Shoot... well, it's better to bite the bullet, I suppose.

"I'm mates to royal beta Oliver, dad." I swallowed. Ready and waiting for the onslaught of questions that were about to come my way.

"I'm so sorry; I wouldn't wish that fate on anyone. I wanted so much better for you." He just sounded deflated. It was as if finding someone who genuinely made me happy was just the worst feeling in the world.

"Dad, I like him... I really like him. He's... he's  my soulmate, and he's kind, he, he treats me right." I found myself smiling like crazy as I thought about him. All I wanted now was for the world to know exactly who we were to each other. I wanted to wear his mark, and I had every intention of giving him my permission tonight while we both resided in the pack house for the night.

"I'm glad you're happy... I hope one day I'll be able to meet him outside of the palace setting." I knew he wouldn't jump for joy at my news, but he could have shown a little more enthusiasm for me. Just because he didn't like his mate, it didn't mean I had to dislike mine.

"Carlos... it's time!" I heard the doctor's voice down the phone and frowned, already knowing we had to hang up the call. I didn't want to. I hadn't seen or spoken to him in 3 years, but now I am finally able to hear his voice. The voice I had dreamt of for three years, and I had to just let him go.

"No, just two more…" A consistent long beep… That's all that I was met with, which meant that he had to be cut off quickly, the call had been disconnected so abruptly that I was worried he might have been caught. Had he really been found on the phone by someone who shouldn't have seen him? Was he getting punished or worse.

"For fucks sake! "I growled loudly as My anger grew enough to throw the phone in my temper; it was the wall of the room I was in, which in turn alerted my soul mate. He came out of the bathroom so fast that I just knew he had finished whatever he was doing and was simply yet patiently waiting for me to finish my phone call. "He's going to die!" I admitted as I looked at Oliver, tears once again taking over my features. "He's going to die, and there's nothing I can do about it."

"Hey…" The royal beta was quick in running over to me; his arms then hastily engulfed me into a firm hug, and my own wrapped around him as I finally allowed my tears to fall. "Carlo is stubborn; he’s not going to succumb without a fight first."

"Why would someone be so cruel? Why would someone want to hurt their mate so bad that it would kill them?!" I was confused. I had heard about it from Dylan, obviously, but hearing it from my dad as well, that hit me. How many wolves were out there that could harm their mate?

"I honestly don't know. I used to think that it was simply because a mate belonged to you, and having them deny that they were yours was the worst thing that could happen. Now, though, I could never dream of hurting you, even if you were to formally reject me. I guess some wolves are just hardwired differently." He quickly leaned over and kissed the temple on the side of my head gently. Allowing me to continue my upset outburst.

"Do you think we will win? This battle I mean, do you actually think our side has a shot of dethroning the king?" Oliver looked unsure, but there was something else swimming within his eyes, that was determination.

"I think if there's honestly someone who can take him down, then it's either Lewis or Queen Dylan. With those two fighting at the helm, I genuinely think we have a decent shot." Maybe he was right. I may not like her, but Dylan had without a doubt been gifted with her speech. Everything out of her mouth always made so much sense, and when it didn't, she often found a way to rephrase it so everyone would understand her views.

"Would you ever hurt me?" My mind was working over time as I sat in the arms of the man I truly had found love with. I felt his muscles tense around my body, but after one large breath, he gave his heartfelt answer, and I knew he meant every word.

"Vee, my darling… I love you more than life itself. I don't know why some people harm their mates because I would go to the ends of the earth to make sure that you are safe." That was The exact answer I wanted and needed to hear.

I pushed myself off of the man who held me so effortlessly and looked into his bright, sincere eyes.

"Then… mark me!" I watched those enticing globes widen in shock at my order. I wanted his mark; I wanted everyone to know that we were together. This battle was just around the corner, and I'd be damned if I was to die without telling Oliver exactly how I feel. "I want you to mark me, and I want to be fully and completely mated to you. So… I give you permission to mark me. Please?"

His eyebrows scrunched up in contemplation. However, he looked nothing but relieved as he gently wrapped his hand around my neck and moved my head slightly, exposing the area where my neck meets my shoulder; I felt a strong shudder of anticipation shoot through me like lightening, as his mouth neared my flesh.

He placed a small, teasing, and very gentle kiss on my skin and inhaled deeply, obviously taking in my scent as he did so.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" He asked however, his voice was strained, and when I looked up at him, his canines were out and his eyes held their wolfy glow. I swallowed thickly, feeling slightly nervous about what I was about to let happen. I didn't answer him with words; I had already given my consent, and so instead, my head nodded, and I allowed my neck to be exposed again.

I frowned when a few kisses met me before the sensation of his teeth piercing my flesh met me; my eyes widened; however, the extremely shot burst of pain was quickly substituted for nothing but pleasure.

My pussy began to throb as it gushed with readiness, and a loud moan escaped my parted lips. My entire body tingled with readiness as Oliver remained latched onto me for a few minutes. Once he had finally let go, his eyes were closed, his muscles seemed to flop, and a contented sigh left him as his eyes fluttered half open, taking in my now lustful gaze.

"Goddess, I love you." He whispered, gently resting his forehead on mine, while Holding his body up right using my own as his prop. It was as if all the energy within him had been drained entirely.

"I love you too." I placed a kiss against his parted lips and watched as he became jolted back to reality. His body quickly overpowered mine, and he lay me on my back, leaning over me to give me an onslaught of kisses.

"I'm going to complete our bond until you pass out from pleasure."