Henry's rage was still simmering. He'd had a whole night and day to ponder Wednesday's events. As Boris drove the limo toward the Invarnash mansion, Henry sat in the back seat and contemplated his most pressing problem — Donil Silentshadow. The younger man was a thorn in his side that refused to go away. He was not going to allow the Panther Alpha access to Laylah. Henry had too much riding on keeping Laylah ignorant and pure.
"We're here, my Alpha, and Jacques is waiting on the steps."
"Boris, call in the other Betas. We have a hunt to plan."
Boris chuckled, stepped out, and opened Henry's door.
Henry got out, saw Jacques' face, and smirked. His Invarnash Beta was not happy. He could see the tension in the other man's body. Jacques was concerned as well he should be.
Henry went up the marble steps and brushed by Jacques, ignoring his greeting. He headed for his study and obediently his Beta followed. Once inside, Henry set to work tapping some keys and staring at the display. Before him sat his Beta, but he did not acknowledge Jacques.
After a moment he glanced up. "Jacques, go to Citrus Academy and pick up Laylah. The principal left a message saying that it was urgent someone come get her."
Jacques' eyes narrowed and he ground out, "Yes, my Alpha." Angrily, he stomped from the room as Boris entered.
Henry chuckled. Let Jacques stew. "Boris, what is the ETA of my other Betas?"
"Kenneth and Michael are thirty minutes away. Bryon will be here in fifteen, my Alpha."
"Good. Go and have Naiya prepare a meal. We have plans to make."
"Yes, my Alpha." Boris bowed and left.
Alone for the moment, Henry sat down at his desk and took a photo out of the drawer. Lovingly, he caressed it. "Oh, Helena. Why did you have to go and die? I will avenge you and then, maybe, I can find some peace." He put the picture away and called up a display of the current tests running at the Ohcale lab. So far, so good. This time he would succeed, and there would be no Zina to stop him.
~***~
Laylah sat on the bench at the pick-up spot and brooded. Next to her, Britta remained quiet, giving her space to think.
"I should have laid there," Laylah blurted out, her hand going to her braid. She tugged it hard and chewed on her bottom lip. She could see her hope of going to the party vanishing rapidly. She knew what her father would list as reasons for her not attending.
Father would cite public smearing of the family name and her failure to mind her own business. Even though Violet started the fight, he wouldn't care or see it that way. And the biggest excuse would be that Laylah had interrupted Father's day and probably one of his precious experiments.
She jumped when Britta touched her. She was surprised to feel tears on her cheeks again. When had she started crying? She was such a wimp!
"Hey now, Chica, chin up. No tears, you hear me? No matter what your father says, I'm proud of you. And Donil will be too, when he hears about it."
She gave a small laugh. "That's right, he will, won't he? He believes in me like you do, Britta." She hugged her friend, afraid to let go. Deep in her heart, fear rested. Unsure why, Laylah chose to ignore it.
"Look, it's Jacques!" Britta stood and pointed toward the road as the limo came into view.
Laylah rose. She watched Jacques stop the limo and get out. She gave a glad cry and ran to him wanting comfort.
"No!" He stopped her before she could hug him. "You are in trouble, young lady. Your father is home and not pleased with the call from the academy."
"Jacques, I can explain!"
"No more excuses! Get in the car before I toss you in."
"You wouldn't dare!" she hissed and edged closer to Britta, who had hurried over holding Laylah's backpack in her right hand.
"Mr. Lyser, the other girls jumped her. It's not Laylah's fault!"
"I noticed." Pointedly he stared at Laylah's bruised face. "Now…get…in!"
Laylah gulped and dropped her gaze at his annoyed expression. "I'm so screwed," she whispered.
"Laylah, get in the car now!" he snarled.
Not wishing to test his patience any farther, she grabbed her backpack from Britta's hand, gave her friend a hopeless look and climbed inside. She winced when Jacques slammed the door. He got in the driver's seat and she turned to look at Britta through the window. Her friend's concern almost made her cry, but bravely Laylah waved as the limo pulled away.
The ride home felt like an eternity, and all too soon they pulled into the mansion's driveway. When he opened her door, she hesitantly stepped out and touched his hand. "Jacques?"
He jerked his hand away and snapped, "Get in the house, Laylah!"
Hurt by his brush-off, she ran up the steps and inside. She came to an abrupt stop at the sight of her father in the middle of the foyer. His gaze was cold, and that cruel grin always meant harsh punishments. She heartily wished she'd never hit Violet.
"Laylah, so glad you could come home to see me," her father drawled.
She shivered at the menace in Father's tone. She started to respond, but decided against it when she saw her father's associates Kenneth, Bryon, Boris, and Michael walking into the room. Naiya emerged from the kitchen with a grim look.
She was baffled by the gathering and froze, too scared to move. She felt trapped and the feeling increased when Jacques came and stood a foot behind her. She almost started hyperventilating. This was the way she'd felt when the Weres chased her two months ago. She didn't like it then and she didn't like it now.
"You know, Laylah, many people would kill to be you. Nice home, staff that cater to your needs and a rich parent to give you all the money you could want. Most people would be grateful. But not you, Laylah. You seem to delight in destroying this precious life."
"Father, that's not true! I do appreciate it all!"
"Hmm, you have a funny way of showing it. I have very few rules that I expect to be obeyed. I do it out of concern for your well-being. And what do you do? You throw it back in my face by disobeying me."
"Father! I...." she stammered and fell silent at his glare.
"You will be quiet, Daughter! I want you here, front and center!"
Reluctantly she moved to the spot he pointed to, which put her an arm's length away from him.
"Let's review your latest lapses in judgment starting with Donil Silentshadow."
Laylah focused on her father, confused by the rage behind his calmly spoken words. "Father?"
"Quiet!" Jacques growled.
Father continued, ignoring her attempt to interrupt. "You were told to stay away from that boy for a reason. Yet what do I find? You hanging out with him in public for the whole world to see!"
"Father, that's not what happened! Please, let me explain."
"No! No explanations. All you do is lie to escape punishment. And you will be punished. I do not, and will not, tolerate defiance, Laylah!"
"You don't tolerate anything," she mumbled.
His eyes narrowed. "What did you just say?" He stepped closer.
Fear hit her as she realized her mistake. "I didn't say anything!"
"See, my daughter, you're lying right now. Another mark against you. You are forbidden from speaking with Donil and that is final."
"But!"
"Furthermore, if you defy me on this matter, you will experience firsthand what a beating is. I have been lenient with you for far too long. That ends now. About your fight at lunch today. I'm extremely disappointed that you did not win. Really, Laylah, your Le Croix blood must be rather thin if you can't stop one girl from hitting you." He shot her a look of disgust.
She stiffened, her green eyes wide as she stared at him.
"Well? What do you have to say for yourself, Daughter?"
"What does it matter? You don't care, Father! You've already tried and convicted me. You shouldn't have even bothered coming here. Do what you always do, and ground me! I have homework to finish."
Naiya gasped, Jacques appeared stunned and the other men growled disapprovingly. Laylah was amazed at her own boldness, but didn't get to contemplate her loss of control. Her father's hand lashed out and backhanded her. She yelped, stumbled and would have run, but he snagged her arm and jerked hard. She was forced forward as he pulled her to him. His left hand grabbed her chin in a bruising grip and he made her look up.
"You dare to sass me?"
Sheer terror kept her from replying. The rage in her father's eyes convinced Laylah that he might hurt her worse. She lowered her gaze.
"I asked you a question, Daughter."
He squeezed and the pain made her whimper. "You're hurting me!"
"Answer the question!"
"Sir, I did not mean...I'm sorry for back talking! Please, let me go! You're hurting me!" She cried softly, but the pressure from her father's fingers only increased until it felt like her jaw would break!
"Henry, sir, she's sorry for her behavior. You need to release her." Jacques put a hand on her father's shoulder.
Her father slowly let go and stepped back. "Go to your room and stay out of my sight. You're grounded and that includes no comm calls either!"
She knew when she was defeated. "Yes, Father," she meekly replied. Tugging on her braid, she spun around and ran upstairs to her bedroom.
A quiet settled over the room after her departure. Henry growled, "Get your hand off me, Beta. I blame you for this mess, Jacques. If you can't do a proper job of keeping her away from Donil, maybe you need to be replaced."
Jacques moved his hand from Henry's shoulder and stepped back. "That would be unwise, my Alpha."
Henry felt a feral smile form. Now he'd see where his old friend's allegiance lay. "Is that so?"
"Yes, my Alpha. Laylah is almost an adult by human standards. She chafes at all the restrictions. She doesn't understand the logic behind them and questions your motives. She is intelligent and curious. Punishing her for the feline half of her nature is like telling a mountain to turn into a river. Hitting her only makes things worse. No one, least of all Weres, likes to be controlled. Your daughter is no exception. It is your prerogative if you wish to replace me, but think how much trouble Laylah will give you if I'm gone."
He hated it when Jacques was right. "Make sure she stays in her room, except for school tomorrow. When she comes home, keep her confined to the house."
Jacques bowed. "Yes, my Alpha."
"Come, my Betas, we have things to discuss." Putting thoughts of his daughter aside, Henry walked to his study. He had a she-wolf to destroy.