Chapter 8: EIGHT
I woke up the next morning with a splitting headache; last night was well, a disaster. After I ran back home breathing heavily, I tiptoed and slumped on the couch trying my best not to wake my mum up. I was utterly terrified; the Alpha actually recognized me, even though I had acted like I hadn’t met him before in my life. He recognized me. I spent the whole of last night dreading what might be coming even though I knew I wouldn’t ever meet the Alpha again.
‘I insulted him, I fucking called him a teaspoon, a prick. I even said he has unresolved trauma. But it wasn’t my fault, I didn’t know who he was then, I just thought I was rambling to some stranger with good looks that I had never met before and it ended up bouncing back on me’ I thought to myself.
I kept on biting my nails, a reflex action that I always indulge in whenever I am nervous, I remembered I still had my clothes on and I hurriedly undressed wearing only my sad underwear. I lay down on the couch still fidgeting until my body gave up to the sleep that seemed to have disappeared a long time ago. As I woke up this morning, my head was banging I didn’t sleep well at all. I kept on having nightmares that involved the Alpha disgracing me in front of the whole pack, I saw Dana and her group of loyal subjects laughing at me, mocking me while I knelt down on the ground pleading to the Alpha to forgive me and let me go.
It was a terrible dream, I stood up and took my phone to check the time apparently it was 5 am I woke up an hour early to the time I normally wake up. I sighed and held my head wincing at the sharp pain I was getting, maybe the headache came because I only slept for 3 hours. I tried to go back to sleep, tried closing my eyes but I kept on seeing his face. I stood up from the couch and went to check on my mother.
As I opened the door, I saw my mother already awake sitting up and looking out through our small broken window.
‘Mummy, you are already awake?’ I asked surprised by the fact that she woke up so early.
My mother turned to me with a smile, she looked older now, weak and sick. She has always been a vibrant woman until life dealt with her. ‘My baby girl, come here let me see you?’ she said opening her arms for me which I willingly went to. I hugged her and took in her familiar scent. Her body offered me comfort and peace, something that has always been missing in my life.
‘I was waiting for your alarm to ring but it didn’t. I didn’t even know you were already awake. Did you sleep well dear?’ she asked with concern written all over her face as she held onto my hands scrutinizing me like she always does.
‘I did mum’ I lied trying to avoid her gaze cause she was always too sharp to catch on to my lie.
She didn’t seem to believe me ‘Are you sure? Your skin is so pale and your face looks drained’
I held on to her hands ‘I’m fine mum seriously now, will you stop worrying about me?’
My mum shrugged ‘Okay if you say so. Tell me how was last night’s event? Did any fun thing happen, did you have fun?’
The sudden change in her tone and face could show how curious she was to know how her daughter’s first nice out was. If only she knew how terrible the night went.
‘It was….ermmm good’ I replied.
My mother gave me one of her strange looks ‘It was just good?’
‘Mmhh’ I answered.
‘Hell no there’s no way I’m going with that answer. What happened there Isabel?’
‘Okay mum, it was actually nice there were lots of girls who were dressed up trying their best to impress the Alpha’ I answered rolling my eyes remembering Dana and her flock.
My mum shrieked despite her ill health; she couldn’t afford to miss good gossip since she couldn’t go anywhere. ‘So, you met the Alpha?’
‘Yes I did Mum’ I answered wondering where this was heading to.
‘Okay tell him is he good-looking looking’ she asked curiously.
I shrugged ‘He’s alright’ I answered. I was lying to her and to myself. The alpha is a gorgeous specimen, his masculine body, his sharp cheekbones, his spotless face, and his damn sexy voice made him very attractive and hard to ignore.
My mum was puzzled by my response ‘He’s alright? Is that even a compliment? I’m sure he is extremely good looking’
‘Maybe mum, I really don’t want to talk about it’ I said remembering how last night went for me.
‘Did Jasmine go with you?’ she asked.
I shook my head ‘No she didn’t, she was the one who pushed me to go to the event even when I stated clearly that I did not want to go’
My mum laughed ‘I’m so happy she did Isabel, if she could get you to go to a social event for once in your life then I’m deeply grateful to her’
‘Seriously mum, the night didn’t go well for me’ I finally told her.
‘I’m sure it wasn’t that bad Isabel, the first time might not always go well for everyone but if you continue trying, you will get better at handling the crowd’ she said slowly.
I wondered why she was talking so slowly ‘Mum are you okay? I asked.
She nodded even though her face was showing that she was in pain ‘I’m okay dear, I just need to lie down and get some rest’ she said giving me a small smile.
I helped her adjust the pillow and covered her up with the duvet lying on the bed. I looked at my sick mother, my great partner, my strong woman who always wanted me to be happy. She was getting weaker as the day went by. Chemotherapy doesn’t seem to be working anymore, I couldn’t lose her. I wouldn’t be able to live in this cruel world if my dear mother left me too.