~Alpha Kilhan~
“She’s awake!”
Hearing this made my eyes widen. I looked back at Celine and gave her a nod before I hastily headed to the room my mother was in.
Getting into the room, I found her seated up, with her back up against the headboard. Her hand was on her forehead like she was trying to remember something she had forgotten.
“Mother,” I called, and she raised her head to look at me.
“Kilhan.” She called with widened eyes. I rushed to her bed and wrapped my arms around her.
“Oh my… I’m so glad you are awake. I almost began to think some awful things.” I muttered sadly as I slowly disengaged from the hug and took a seat on the bed, next to her.
Just as she was about to speak, she raised her head and her gaze fell on Celine. Instantly, I saw a frown creep up her face.
“What in the wolfsbane is she doing here?!” She muttered under her breath, her angry gaze fixed on trembling Celine.
“Mom, I can explain.”
“The only explanation that can make me feel better is if you tell me that she’s here because you’re ready to do what it takes, that you’re ready to finally punish her for our misfortune.”
“But that isn’t her fault. It was her father’s.”
“Well, if we can’t get her father. Why the hell can’t we take it out on her, hun? You were almost killed in her father’s house, and she was there!”
“She is innocent, mother,” I responded calmly, looking at Celine too.
“My father is dead, Mrs Anna. He died a miserable death, killed by his own flesh and blood. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted? That your husband’s death is avenged? Isn’t that why you hated my guts so much? He is dead, and he’ll never bother us anymore.” Celine uttered with an unwavering tone.
I let out a soft smile and she looked at me like she needed emotional support, I nodded and turned to look at my mother again.
“She’s right. The great Darius Gomez has fallen, and he fell by the hand of his own son, mother. We have nothing to worry about anymore. Justice is served.” I added.
“And for the fact that she deceived you?” She further asked angrily. She wasn’t ready to just accept Celine.
“I have suffered pretty damn much for that, Mrs Anna.” Celine butted in again.
“I made a mistake that I would never ever make again. I couldn’t trust the love of my life and I had to lose him. This is one thing I never want to happen again. I almost lost my mentality, knowing I’d have to raise our child alone because he had no idea I was carrying one…”
“A child?” She cut her short and turned to look at me. I smiled and nodded in agreement.
“Yes. A child, mother. I am a father.” I uttered with a hearty laugh, and to my greatest surprise, I saw the enthusiasm she had lost for years pop out of her eyes.
“You… you have a child?” Her eyes watered up in no time, and I nodded, chuckling.
“Yes. And an heir at that. A very strong and handsome man.” I responded. I felt my eyes heat up too, but this time, not in a painful way, but in gratitude.
“Like your father.” Mother added in tears, and I bobbed.
“Like my father,” I answered, and she broke into more tears, placing her hand over her mouth. She shut her eyes tight, giving in to her tears more.
I looked at Celine, who was also teary, and signaled to her to come closer. She moved closer to us and held my hand.
My mother raised her head and looked at Celine. “Where is he? I want to hold him.” She muttered, and Celine nodded eagerly, letting out a smile.
“He’s with Drex right now. I’ll bring him to you right away.” She answered, standing up and heading out of the room.
As soon as she was out, I looked at Anna again.
“Mother, can you please accept Celine into our lives again? We all have made terrible mistakes, and we weren’t crucified for it. Celine is the mother of my child, there’s nowhere else she’s supposed to be than with me, mother. She’s terribly sorry, and I know you can see this.”
After listening to me, she gulped hard and let out a deep breath. She nodded and looked at me. She reached for my hand and held it in hers.
“Let’s take care of our family. The best is yet to come.” She said, and her words had never been so soothing to me. It was like drinking cold water after thriving in the desert for days.
“Thank you, mother.” I leaned closer to her and rested my forehead on hers. While we still maintained this position, Celine returned, this time, with Kendrick in her arms.
“Here, mother. Meet Kendrick.” I uttered as she stretched out her hand to receive him.
“Kendrick? That is a beautiful name.” She mumbled. Her lips shivered as she was trying to hold back tears. “He… he is so beautiful.”
Tears rolled down her eyes effortlessly as she admired her grandson. I looked at Celine and smiled. She returned the smile and sighed softly.
“Look… he’s holding my thumb.” She whispered happily, and I chuckled.
“Well, that is one of the few things he can do,” Celine added, and we all laughed.
The door opened, pulling our attention to it. Betty walked in but paused in shock as she saw what was going on.
“Betty, have you met Kendrick, my grandson? He’s such a lovely boy. His smile is so…”
“So just because she bore him a son, you’re okay with everything that has happened?” Betty cut in angrily, causing me to raise my brows.
“Betty,” I called, trying to caution her.
“Don’t call me, Kilhan. When you weren’t here, I was here, right next to her, taking care of her while she was unconscious. And now that she’s awake, she didn’t even ask to see me.”
“We came in first, so we distracted her,” Celine added.
“I never asked for your opinion, woman! You will never be accepted in this house!”
“Betty, enough! Get out! Go to your room and don’t show your face until you’ve calmed the f**k down.” I ordered, standing up.
“Kil…”
“Out! Now!” I roared, causing her eyelids to flicker. She ran out of the room and slammed the door behind her.
At this point, anger began to well up from within me. I wasn’t sure if I could keep up with her b**chy attitude anymore.
Celine proceeded to touch my hand softly, and I turned to look at her.
“It’s okay. She’ll eventually come around.” She uttered with a soft smile. I heaved a sigh and looked at Mother to see that she was busy playing with Kendrick and care less about what just happened.
“Mother,” I called. “Can you please tell me what you felt when you heard the news and lost consciousness?” I asked, and she raised her head to look at me.
“When I heard the news and lost consciousness were two different times.”
“Two different times? But I was told you lost consciousness immediately when you heard the news and slipped into a coma.” I replied.
“What?” She asked in confusion. “That wasn’t what happened. I didn’t lose consciousness immediately when I heard the news. I lost consciousness hours later, after eating.”
“When I heard that Darius had held you hostage, I was devastated, scared, and worried. But I wasn’t weak. At that time, I wanted to come up with a plan with the pack to strike Darius the second time. I was going to call the meeting after eating.
“I remember having a meal, but I can’t remember finishing it. Everything went blank midway.”
“After eating the meal?” I asked with furrowed brows, taking a glance at Celine too, who looked surprised and confused.
“Yes. I… don’t know. But, I think the meal did something to me.”
“What?”