(…painful resolve)
Alex's POV
Alex flinched due to reflex.
“I didn’t mean to scare you”, the young man immediately apologized, adjusting a circular len closer to his eyes “Are you related to any Sherlyn Blake?”
Alex, who was still trying to recover from the shock, examined the man in front of him, from his neatly dressed hair down to his white tracksuits, like one who just completed a workout session.
“And you are?”, he asked in curiosity.
“Just a new friend of hers,”, the lad went on.
Alex watched his mannerisms closely. Sherlyn was 24 but the person claiming to be friends with her looked way younger. It was too early for her to start making friends, male friends at that, he thought. With jealousy stirring up inside him, he responded,
“And what makes you think we’re related?”
“I just felt to ask. My instincts are usually right most times”
He marveled at his blabs--no doubts he looked nerdy.
“When did you meet?”, he asked, trying to read his intentions and the validity of his claims.
“Couple of days ago—in a park”.
“Well, I’m her husband and we’re having our first child together” Alex replied, feeling a strong sense of possession over Sherlyn. “You might not be lucky next time with your instincts”
“Oh! I was aware of her pregnancy but she never spoke about having a husband. You’re lucky to have such fair lady”, he smiled and turned to leave.
Alex continued his way into the hospital while pondering on the new face. He sensed something off about him but couldn’t place it. He shouldn’t worry about a total stranger, he thought. He had a tangled life to fix.
Charlotte was fast asleep. It was getting really late. The pack must be searching everywhere for him, he thought. He paced around the hall, anticipating the arrival of any of the medical attendants in the ward where Sherlyn laid. A nurse came out hastily. He ran towards her,
“Is she awake yet?”, clueless of the right question to ask.
“You’ve to be patient sir”, she replied without sparing a second of her time.
He had two options; either to leave Sherlyn and hope she survives, or stay with her and miss his wedding, which sounded like a good way to avoid the forced marriage anyway.
Few minutes passed, and no positive news.
Finally, the doctor came out,
“Mr. Wills. She’s responding well to treatment. She’s still very weak but you can check on her”
Alex didn’t wait for any further response before pushing the door open.
Not until he saw her did he realize how much he loved her. It felt like a fresh flame of emotions had been ignited in his heart. He creeped slowly to the side of the bed. She looked a little different from the last time. Her face was puffed and filled with red blemish with her belly more pronounced. He felt a rush of guilt as she squinted at him. She groaned mildly at an attempt to sit up.
Charlotte joined them not long, with a nurse holding the baby.
“He needs to be fed”, Charlotte said to her, while patting her unkempt hair.
She feed the baby with breast milk and returned her gaze on Alex, who stood speechless.
“Have we met?”, she asked weakly, looking back at Charlotte,
Alex realizing their unresolved issue in the past, sought for the right words,
“Yes, we’ve.”, he replied, wishing to retract his words.
She wore a straight face.
“We met years ago…in a bar”, he continued.
None of his words seemed to strike a memory as she retained her expression.
Alex rethought the urge to explain further. She was already in enough distress.
She looked down at the feeding baby, with tears streaming down her eyes.
“Why did you come back?”, she asked, without looking up.
Alex eyes widened in surprise.
“What do you mean?”, he asked, also feigning a memory loss.
She lifted her gaze back at him, with sorrowful eyes,
“I remembered everything the moment I delivered the baby. Don’t give me that pretense”, her voice had strengthened. She looked back at Charlotte again,
“And I know you are not my mother. I don’t see the need for all your lies, anyway.”
“We wanted your quick recovery”, Charlotte explained.
“We?. I should have known.”
“I hired her to take care of you. It was needed”, Alex interrupted
“And who requested for your help? You didn’t think of taking me to a safer pack and the alpha…” she paused, when she caught a confused look on Charlotte.
“Excuse us for a while, Charlotte”, Alex requested, realizing the intensity of their discussion.
“No. Excuse yourself from my life. I don’t need your services and lies. I can take care of myself.”
Charlotte stepped out of the room after replying, “It was nice working with you”
“Sherlyn, listen. All I did was to make you comfortable. Don’t make me regret my actions. Do you know how much mess I’m in right now?”
“Oh!. I’m so sorry my prince. I’m the cause of all your misfortunes.”, she mocked. “I’m so enjoying my life right now. Isn’t it great to be a single mother with no family? Not to mention among beautiful humans”, she continued her sarcasm. “And yes, your son would be so proud to have a father that rejected him to please his f…”
“That’s enough Sherlyn”, he shut her up, already feeling exasperated, trying to comprehend what warranted all the attitude.
“I don’t care what you think of me, but I don’t want you feeding Xavier with your lies about me.”
“Xavier? Who agreed to call him that? What right do you have to name my son without my permission?”
“Our son, you mean. I still remain the father of the child whether you like it, or not, and I’m choosing to take full responsibility”, he was getting pissed.
“No father would behave the way you did, Alex. Every time I think of our journey together, I blame myself for believing your stupid lies! What happened to all the promises of convincing your father about me? And then, you thought it necessary to make love to me the very day your engagement to the princess was announced. What can you say to justify that? And then you hired a cheap matron who felt my recovery can only be hastened up but spilling lies all over my face”
“It wasn’t without your consent and I still love you”, a fact, he couldn’t deny, to his own detriment.
“If this is your definition of love, then sorry, I don’t want it. I’ll find a better man and not some selfish loner like you who think they can use people and get away with it all because of some ridiculous title they carry”
He didn’t understand why he chose to stay, despite the guilt trips.
The baby began to cry.
“Shh. It’s okay, my dear”, Sherlyn fondled the baby. “I’m here to protect you from people like your father. He doesn’t deserve us”, the baby seemed to be satisfied with her words as he fell quiet again, staring into his mother's eyes. There was no doubt he took after Alex, aside the red hair.
Alex knew whatever he says would do nothing to appease her. He stood silent. It was already half past nine. He had to go prepare for his wedding. He dares not mention it to her.
“What more do you want?”, she asked, with clenched teeth
“The doctor said you’ll be discharged tomorrow”, he replied flatly, as though angry with himself for loving a woman this much.
“So?”
“I thought you’ll be needing help, now that that Charlotte isn’t available.”
“I don’t need your help, Alex. I can take care of myself”
“And by what means do you plan to achieve that? You don’t have a job and you just had a baby”, he stated the obvious. He had footed all the expenses alone.
“There are a million jobs I can apply for. Keep your filthy money”.
He had tolerated her independence long enough to get angry. He assumed it to be the celebrated hormones associated with motherhood.
The door swung open, but it was neither a doctor nor a nurse.
Alex was startled.
“Mother?”
Alex's POV (…a threatening silence) For the very first time since the beginning of his mental breakdown, his wolf shuddered from within. The Luna's face expressed a mix of disappointment and amazement, with her eyebrows arched. She eyeballed him and the baby in Sherlyn's hand, as though attaching coherence to her perplexed state. “There's nothing reasonable you've to say. Stay quiet”, Alex wolf condemned. But, She's your mother. Be thankful she came alone.” The loneliness he felt was more than that of a lost child in a desserted island. She realesed her hold on the door, as she gained full entrance into the ward, still wearing an awestruck expression. His worst fear finally happened— caught in the act, no lie could save him this time. It seemed as though the silence in the room echoed louder than their thoughts, as the distant footsteps of other occupants of the building kept on filling the void. When she seemed convinced by what she hoped to be a dream, she commanded, “Let
Alex's POV(…welcome, mate)The Alpha's royal custume gleamed radiantly as he approached him.Alex wished for the ground to open up and swallow his remains before an actual pronouncement from the Alpha.He swallowed a large lump of fear stuck in his throat.“I almost thought I lost my only son. Your mother explained everything to me”, the Alpha stated.His heartbeat skipped again as the look on the Alpha's face contradicted the gravity of words that fell from his lips. “ It's the start of a new beginning. Every father would be proud of”, the Alpha continued, with the cornea of his eyes taking a watery texture.Alex was thrown into a den of confusion. What exactly did his mother say to him that made him so much at peace with me, he drifted into pensive thoughts, as he retained a neutral expression.“You should be glad, son. I've no fear whatsoever inducting you as the next alpha of the region…soon”.Alex forced a curve on his lips as his confusion only grew wilder.“I see you're ready
Alex’s POV(…a sour wedding)A large circle of disorganized crowd formed and Alex struggled to have a glimpse of the source of the fearful cry. “No!”, a woman screamed, this time, he was certain he heard his mother. He ran to the scene and manipulated his way towards the center of the event. He was shocked to see the helpless figure of the Alpha jerking vigorously on the floor.The guards, including Charles dispersed the crowd and cleared the way as Alex assisted in pulling him back up to his feet.“Get the doctor!” Alex yelled as they approached his vehicle.“Party’s over. Every one go home”, a voice spoke into the speaker behind them as Alex drove out of the place with the Luna at the backseat with the dying Alpha.Alex was overwhelmed with fear as he drove past the escort vehicles that were supposed to lead the way. “Please, hold still”, the Luna whimpered. There was a mild traffic in front. Alex honked multiple times, yelling “Get out of the way”. The escorts behind came to his
Alex POV(… a family tradition)His ego deflated instantly at the sight of her. Her eyes were swollen from excess tears as she spoke, “you certainly will. I wouldn’t have you ruin her day with your excesses.”, she continued. “Change into something nice, dear”, she faced Lucia, who kept a long stare on Alex as though she were processing his thoughts, “Alex will join you in 30 minutes. We’ve a little chat”.Lucia excused herself from the room leaving Alex and the Luna in the burning heat. She pushed the door closed. “Aren’t you surprised your father hasn’t disowned you?”, the Luna asked.Alex knew her statement was more of an attack than a question. The tempo of his heartbeat skyrocketed. She sat beside him, while he retained a standing posture, following her movement and dreading her next choice of words. “My mother died when I was seven. A month after her death, my father took in another woman who already had a son for him. Which only meant he had been cheating on my mum even be
Alex's POV(…. elope) “Can you calmly explain what happened? “, he asked, straining his ears to decipher the incoherence in her speech. “There was…a ghastly fire outbreak. She…was…in the fire and the baby… it … was…”, she explained amidst frequent whimpers. “Her body…is missing”Alex eyes glazed in disbelief as he restlessly awaited a meaningful retell.“When did it happen”, he panicked.Before a response came in, the call dropped. He stood alarmed as he had no idea of what next to do.Lucia, who had the look of disgust written all over her face asked dismissively, “Anything serious?“, leaning on her two elbows and facing Alex.He ignored the question, but it wasn't intentional as his mind raced faster than his thoughts could process. “Do you mind telling me what's going on?“, she asked again, but this time with a raised voice.He rushed into his shirts , buckling his loose black belt in place, before replying her, “I'm sorry but this is very urgent. Enjoy the rest of the vacation
Alex's POV(…a secret potion)A sounding slap fell on his face immediately he entered the great hall. Her eyes were reddened with baggy lids, which only meant one thing—she had been devoid of sleep. The whole aura on her was nothing close to cheerful—even her hair hung gloomily at her back.That he didn't feel the pain would be an understatement as she smote him on the face the second time. He made no reaction, looking away from her in the direction where the strike led him to.“What has come over you?!“, the Luna shouted. Thankfully, no guards were on sight.The next question that came to his mind was, “What have you done to her too?“, but he held his peace anticipating the worse thing that could befall him since he thought the worst had already happened. “Why do you seek to ruin everything your father built with his life!? How do you intend to govern the affairs of the region if you can't manage your personal affair?! What have you grown to become? A beast? or a coward? How do we
Alex's POV(…a new ability)He heard faded stamps and a cold press on the left side of his face. Two slim legs kept sweeping past his blurry gaze. He shut his eyes slowly again. As he flipped it open, Lucia's face came close to his, waving her hands over him as though confirming his state.Alex lifted his body in a hurry. He remembered his last sight when Lucia gave a mischievous smile,“ Right about time”, she smirked, walking back towards the tiled counter. “You trust so much in your strength. Sometimes, all you need is a little less pride”Alex rose to his feet, gaining full control of his body. He felt embarrassed and remained silent. His respect for her had grown after seeing her special abilities in display, wild enough to knock him out.“Just a drop of this should do”, she remarked, rather to herself.The two flask were filled with bright green mixture that seemed like it had been boiled for minutes as she wore a thick glove, dispensing the liquid into tiny bottles and arrangin
Alex’s POV(…a raging war)Lucia ran into the bathroom and came out with a damp white towel. She placed it on the Alpha’s forehead as they all watched in horror for the slightest body movement but, there was no response. “We have to call the doctor”, the Luna panicked already dialing the telephone.Alex ran towards her, snatching the receiver from her hands, “We’ve to protect Lucia, mother”, he affirmed, holding her tight in his embrace as she struggled to free her self. His heart broke at the whimpering of his mother and the lifeless body of the Alpha—he could do nothing to save the moment. “You expect me to watch him die?!”, she yelled. “You prefer to watch your father die, Alex?”, she continued her display of grief when Lucia’s voice overpowered hers,“He just moved a finger!”Alex moved towards the bed as the Luna pushed him out of her way. She placed his large palms into hers and began stroking the back of his palm, as though trying to produce heat. The Alpha sneezed loudly a