The Tough Decision

TALIA'S POV

"Why are you so shocked?" I ask as I approach the bed and Taylor keeps watching me with a baffled face.

I had imagined she would be happy to see me. But don't see a hint of joy on her face. Her gaze doesn't leave my face until I reach the bed and peck her forehead. A timid smile curves on her lips. I was however hoping for a more jubilant reaction.

"Don't you remember me?"

"Of course I do . . . you're my sister. You just look . . . so different. Like a heavenly Queen." She stutters the look of shock finally fading away. I sigh in relief because I had thought she had lost her memory or worse gone mad.

"You're exaggerating. I only look older because it's been three years since the last you saw me. Your face on the other hand has grown prettier." I give her another peck on her left cheek and she giggles.

"I look like a living skeleton thanks to our mad father. I didn't even know he existed until he locked me in a dark room for months." She mutters with pursed lips.

I take a seat on the edge of the bed and rub her arm reassuringly. "I am sorry I wasn't able to find you earlier. I didn't know it was our father that had taken you away." I apologise and she nods her head like she actually understands.

"Why didn't you come to rescue me yourself? Why did you send the man that killed you and made us slaves?" She questions bitterly.

Seems Evan wasn't kidding when he said that she doesn't want to be here, she sounds just as angry as our mom. I imagine mother did also encourage her to hate my mate more since she was in this room earlier.

After having time to think I decided that I won't push either of them to forgive Evan or to live in his palace. For the three years I was dead they went through tribulations that I probably don't know about. I saw for myself how unbearable life slavery is, and I shouldn't blame them for holding grudges. I after all have more reasons to forgive than they do. They have not been here to witness the things he has done to help me get them back.

"I had to go rescue our mother before the former Alpha of the Red moon pack killed her. But didn't Evan rescue you just like I would have done and brought you here to get treatment?" I question.

She frowns and glares at me. "So you trust him? Do you love him now? Like he didn't watch you get executed by a mob? Maybe you were in too much pain to see the smile on his face because I am sure he enjoyed watching every second of your death!" She hisses with her jaws clenched.

I stand from the bed and walk a little far from her to take a few deep breaths to calm myself. But she carries on berating me for things that she doesn't understand and describing them in ways that anger me.

"How can you choose that man over your own family? Have you forgotten how blissful everything was back when our family was together? All the dinners? The hide-and-seek games? The storytelling? I thought you loved us?!" She questions in a sorrowful tone.

"Of course, I loved every one of you," I affirm but see her shrug her shoulders.

"But you now love Evan's wealth and power more." She states in a disappointed tone.

I snort because her accusation is so ridiculous. I may have been thankful that I had a safe place to leave Michael every time I went searching for her and our mother. But it has never been about the riches or the power that I am yet to figure out what to do with it.

"So you think that I am here because of the gold? Because Evan is a king?" I question.

"Why else would you refuse to go back home with us?" She replies still glowering at me. "It's obvious you don't wanna leave this lavish room and go back to our mother's small house! You care about Evan's money more than you care about us!" She snaps annoyingly.

I don't remember a single instance I have thought of his family's wealth or if I want it. I actually wish that he wasn't a king so I wouldn't have to figure out how to be a deserving Queen. Not to forget that I will endure being the subject of public gossip for life.

"If it wasn't for Evan I would still be out there searching for every one of you. Michael would be dead if Evan didn't find him before he starved to death. How about you learn about what he has done to help before you accuse me of liking his wealth?"

I didn't know she was able to sit up on her own but now she does. Her eyes have turned red with rage.

"So he should get away with what he did to us because he offered you a little help?! We would not have been slaves in the first place if it wasn't for him!" She fires back angrily, her eyes beginning to swell up with tears. She flops back onto the pillows and sighs out loud. "If only you were smart enough to reject him . . . he would have learned his lesson!" She mutters wiping off the tears that have already begun streaming down her cheeks.

"If I rejected him you would be dead!" I snap having had enough of her infuriating ranting.

"You could have taken alpha Jason's deal and he would have rescued all of us! Our mother wouldn't have gone through so much trouble!" She stupidly argues.

I am afraid that I will say something really nasty to her if we keep arguing. I wanted to persuade her to stay. But it appears that she had already made a stand to hate Evan regardless of whether him being good or evil.

It breaks my heart to see my family fall apart again after all I have done to bring us together. I love her and our mother just as much as I did three years ago. I am however not breaking up with my mate just so they can feel better.

He did the best he could to right his wrongs. It was more important than the revenge they are so desperate to have. And why is neither of them wishing for revenge against our father? Shouldn't my sister be demanding that we punish him?

I am already tired of pleading with her to see sense. How dare she even suggest that I should have taken Alpha Jason's deal? Like it was as easy as saying yes.

"I chose what I knew was right. I won't stop you from leaving if it's what you want. I know I did my best even though it doesn't seem enough to you. I really hope you will one day be reasonable enough to understand the truth." I turn and head for the door.

"I wish you all the best with marrying that devil!" She snarls but I keep going. "It's not too late to leave him though!" She shouts but I don't look back as I step out and close the door behind me.

I hate that Michael will have to choose between living here with me and going back to our old home with our mother and Taylor. Whichever side he chooses I will not blame him. All kids love being close to their mothers after all.