Chapter 186
Chapter 186
ARON
“Again, I can’t apologise enough for what Layla did. There are just some things that can hever change. Even now, after I had warned her. There’s still some resentment. But in a way, she’s looking out for you, Aron.” My mother says, her voice rather different from before.
Perhaps it’s old age or the fact that she has finally realised the truth, that her family is all she has left. Everything’s going to disappear eventually.
I sit in front of her, across the table with a glass of scotch in my hand.
Most of the wolves have returned to their cities and packs, even Layla left last night without saying a single apology.
“That’s not looking out.”
My mother sighs, “In her own sense, it could be. She didn’t want to harm you or Rhea.”
“She sent a woman after me, knowing well enough that I’ve marked Rhea, and that I will choose her over and over again.”
My mother stays silent for a few seconds, her fingers wrapping around the edge of the cup she has.
The tea inside has already gone cold.
“It won’t happen again, Aron.” There’s some sincerity in her tone that I accept.
She’s no longer stern on her demands or her wishes. She’s just letting me and accepting the fact that some things are never going to change.
“I’ll speak to her when I return.”
“And when do you want to go back?”
“Eventually,” She sighs. “But if you don’t, I can stay here, Aron. I can help you with the pack, with the council. It would be better if I was around-”
I shake my head, knowing well that there is no reason for her to be.
My mother was never much of a help or a support. She didn’t care about pack politics, and there’s no need for her to do now.
“I can handle it on my own.”
“What do you intend to do? With the council? With this pack?”
“I haven’t thought of it much.”
“But he has, hasn’t he?”
I take a sip as she watches me with certainty that she knows about it–him. Kael. The last time she was here, she heard about it. She saw him.
When I was young, and when my father was still alive, I had mentioned my wolf several times. I had given him a name. Told stories to myself about him. About what he was capable of, what he felt, and when he was in control. My father called it a phase. My mother? She was furious and wanted me to stop with it.
Regardless of what I did, I could never make it go away. So after that, I just hid it from my parents.
After my father’s death, things took a different turn and for years, Kael was in control, handling everything and no one knew.
“After I went last time, I thought about it and then later, when the rumors spread from the Council about your wolf, I put two and two together.”
“It’s different now.”
1/3
Chapter 186
Why don’t you let me stay, Aron? Let me help you. Let me be your mother for once. You don’t have to fight this alone. You don’t have to fight him al
“That’s the problem,” I take a deep breath. “There’s nothing you or anyone could do about it. This is my fight alone, It has always been
My mother stands across from me, her hand still resting on the edge of the table, her expression softer than I’ve seen in years. Maybe ever
“Aron…
“Don’t,” I shake my head. “And you should probably head back. Things are going to be changing, constantly, and I don’t want to drag you away from your perfect life.”
“But you’re my son.”
I look up at her, “And I needed you years ago and you weren’t there. So, this is all very late. It wouldn’t make any difference,”
I watch her reaction. Her throat tightens, and her gaze falls away. I don’t regret the words. They’re true, and I’ve needed to say them for a long time.
She doesn’t argue further.
Around late evening, my mother left with her belongings and another member of the pack that she and the rest of my family had travelled with. Once she’s gone, the house falls into a dead silence.
“Long time coming…” Marcella comments as she stands next to me as I look outside the window.
“Better late than never.”
“You’ve got to forgive her at one point.”
“I think I already have.”
She presses her hand over my shoulder, easing the tension brewing inside me. Marcella has been here the longest. She worked for my father before he died, raised me from when I was a child, and she still remained here even when she wasn’t blood.
My family abandoned me and this pack the moment things got worse.
“Good. Forgiveness is moving on, and now you can do that, Aron.” I know well enough what she’s hinting on.
A family.
My own.
But I’m not ready for that. I’m not ready to become a father, to take responsibility for someone. If something goes wrong, if I hurt them, or if they don’t understand, I wouldn’t know what to do.
+ wouldn’t know where to start, how to make things right.
Because what is right? What is good enough?
I don’t know.
Up until now, I’ve been fighting for survival. For her. For this pack. For myself.
“I’m not saying now,” Marcella’s hand lingers on my shoulder. “But don’t keep closing the door just because you’re afraid of what’s behind it.”
That’s the problem. There’s nothing behind that door. Rhea’s dead. All that’s there is a shadow, and there’s no assurance that she can bear a child.
And perhaps that is my punishment for the life that I have
