Chapter 98
1022words
I held her close to me and felt myself relax.
'Let's go in, Moon," I whispered into her ears, and she nodded slowly; she didn't want to be beheld by the numerous eyes drilling holes in us anymore.
Disengaging her from the hug, I took her hand in mine but felt her tense up when Aunt Olivia took slow and careful steps toward us.
'Aunt Olivia?" I called but she paid me no mind.
'Moon, right?" Her voice was cracked and shaky; she was bent, and her eyes were puffy as she confirmed Moon's name.
I knew I was an Alpha, and it was an unwritten law that as an Alpha, I should always be composed and have total control of my emotions, but I could not stand it.
I couldn't stand the way Aunt Olivia looked. I could not stand the guilty feeling on her face; I could not bear to watch the way her face twisted in pain and the way she struggled not to cry because I assumed she felt she didn't deserve to cry when she was at fault.
I looked at Alpha Rex, who I had tried so hard to avoid looking at his face, and my heart shattered. If Aunt Olivia looked broken, he looked dead.
The pain in his eyes felt like a thousand knives ran through his chest, and he couldn't breathe. I felt guilty for allowing myself to be a tool in the hands of my father to poison him.
I felt bad for being the son of Alpha Victor, who kidnapped Aunt Olivia and caused Alpha Rex pain, depriving him of the joy of fatherhood and being with his mate.
I felt like I didn't deserve to be here when I saw him shrink away when Aunt Olivia moved forward because I could tell he felt guilty for having his daughter right under his nose but didn't help because he thought she wasn't his.
I wanted to encourage him to come forward but what right do I have? Being a sinner and a son of a sinner.
I dreaded looking to my left but I did. I looked at Moon and the pain in her eyes broke me down. The last source of hope I had to keep me going, the last thread of courage I hung onto to face this family, snapped into half when I saw Moon's face.
Unlike her parents, she didn't cry, but I knew what she felt inside was worse than tears; they were bottled up.
I imagined living my whole life feeling unloved and maltreated by those I call my parents, only to realize later that they weren't my biological parents. My biological parents were right under my nose without recognizing me, and neither had they seen me ever in their lives.
I wanted to tell Moon to let it all out. I wanted to encourage her to pour out her emotions but it felt heavy on the tip of my tongue.
I tried taking my hand away from her hold but she held me tighter as if perceiving my aim already.
'Don't." She warned in a voice similar to that of a strangled person.
'Moon?" I wanted to call but no, I ended up saying, 'Let's go inside. We will talk about this later." While looking at Aunt Olivia who stared straight at me.
I should have said something then to console her, but I didn't; I couldn't bring myself to. The look in her eyes unnerved me, I bet she hated me now, being that I am the son of her abductor, the son of the man who shattered her peaceful life, leaving her to gather the pieces with a broken back.
'Mmm." Moon agreed with me.
'Let's go in, we'll talk about this later." She announced, even managing to give a smile.
‘Moon.' I cried in my head, seeing her struggle to put up a brave front.
'Dismiss!" I raised my voice so I could be heard by the rest of the people gathered.
'When all these get solved, I will call you all back to this very place to pass important information across."
That was the best I could do, and with loud mutterings, they all scattered into different directions, leaving only Moon and I, along with Harper, Kia, Serenity, Alpha Rex, Aunt Olivia, the still groaning Steve, and a few guards.
'Kia, direct the Alpha and Aunt Olivia…"
'We will find our way" Aunt Olivia cut me short. My heart couldn't take it anymore and I started sniffling. Did she hate me now?
I tried not to look at her but when I caught her eyes, she struggled to give me a reassuring smile. 'I didn't mean it that way, Liam."
All right, that made me feel worse; I think I'd rather allow her to hate on me than still love me the same after all these.
'Serenity?"
'Yes, Alpha." She stood at attention, ready to receive my orders.
'Take Harper back in till the results are ready," I told her, hearing the receding footsteps of Alpha Rex and Aunt Olivia in the background.
'I will take her myself." Kia jumped in, and I nodded, ready to give out another order, when Kia still stood, looking at me.
'What?" I had made sure to clean off whatever tears were left on my face.
'There is a high probability of the baby being mine and not yours." He nodded towards Harper who had her head bowed.
'What?" Moon asked.
'Yeah," Kia responded before giving a bow and walking quickly and stiffly in her direction.
'I will just do a few things and tell the rest what to do." Serenity offered and I nodded.
I'd be honest, I had already known of her secret crush on me, but I can't give her what she wants, not after knowing and taking her as a younger sister.
I didn't have more time to think about anything as I saw Moon already heading towards my side of the pack house.
This time, I contemplated following her. Could I bear what would happen after now?
