Chapter 8 8
Maisie's Pov
I don't know why I lingered in the pack house but a part of me waited for Xavier to come look for me.
I slowed my steps. I even stopped walking at some point until it dawned on me that he wasn't coming.
He was never coming for me.
I boarded a taxi and didn't look back.
I needed to find a place to stay and fast. But where would I go? I had no friends. My family? I wasn't sure they'd accept me. They had warned me about Xavier's family but I didn't listen. However, they were the only ones that could help me so I gave the driver my family's address and sat patiently in the back. I hoped they would accept me back.
The taxi pulled in front of the house that felt like a memory.
I stepped out and paid the driver.
I stood there, staring at the house I grew up in.
I smiled sadly. I missed this place more than words could say.
I walked to the front door and paused. Something inside of me screamed not to enter, to scram and run but I pushed the voice to the back of my mind and knocked on the door.
My heart thundered in my chest as I waited for someone to open the door.
A moment later, the door opened and there stood Marie, my sister.
“Maisie?” Her brows knitted with confusion. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Her eyes dropped on my luggage and she scoffed. “What is this supposed to mean?”
I couldn't answer.
“Marie, who's at the door?” A familiar voice asked.
Mother.
A moment later, mom appeared beside Marie.
“Maisie?” her voice cracked with emotion when her eyes locked on mine.
“Mom,” I choked out, tears slipping down my cheeks.
Mom didn't need to say any other word. She stepped forward and put her arms around me. And just like that, I broke, sobbing into her arms. That hug was just what I needed.
But the moment was shattered when father appeared at the door.
“Maisie.”
We pulled away quickly and I lowered my head.
“Father…” I mumbled.
“What the hell are you doing in my house?” he said in a harsh voice, then her eyes narrowed to my luggage. “Let me guess… your beloved Alpha threw you out and the first place you thought you'd come was here?”
I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off.
“Get the hell out of my house or you'll regret the day I became your father.”
I sat in the living room with my hands folded on my lap as I faced my sister's cold glare.
From the hallway, I could hear my parent's loud voices.
“She's not staying in this house! She should go back to her Alpha husband!” Father snapped.
“She's not leaving!” Mom yelled back. “And there's no way I'll let her leave in this condition.”
Suddenly, silence filled the air and the only thing I could hear was the sound of the clock ticking in the hall.
“This is all your fault,” Marie spat from across the room. “The only time mom and dad fought like this was when you chose to marry Xavier.”
I looked down, guilt clutching my chest. “I'm sorry but I didn't know where else to go.”
“You should've slept on the street!” She hissed.
“Marie!” Mom said as she entered the living room. “Don't say those things to your sister.”
“I'm only telling the truth. She shouldn't even be here.” Marie hissed at me.
Father walked in, his fists clenched. “Get out of here, Maisie or I'll force you out!”
I rose to my feet. “Father, please…”
“Get out!”
“Greg,” Mom stepped in front of me. “Don't do this to your own daughter.”
“She stopped being my daughter the day she chose to marry Xavier.” Father glowered.
“It's fine,” I clutched mom's arm. “I'll leave.”
She turned to look at me. “But Maisie…”
“No, it's fine,” I swallowed a sob. “I’ll call you.”
“Maisie, you can't leave.” Mom shook her head, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.
“She better leave this house.” Marie snorted as she turned aloof.
I reached for my luggage and bowed before walking out of the living room.
“Maisie!” Mom called behind me but I couldn't look at me. I couldn't bear to watch her cry. I'd already caused too much damage.
I decided to return to the pack's clinic to hear what the doctor had to say about the next line of action for Aria.
I got out of the taxi cab and dragged my luggage behind me.
I could feel all eyes on me but ignored them. I couldn't care less.
I went to the front desk and asked for the doctor when I was told he would be with me shortly.
I stayed in the reception and waited. I waited and waited for hours until I became impatient.
I walked to the front desk and asked for the doctor again until he called my name.
“Miss Maisie?”
I whipped around and found him approaching me.
“Can I see Aria one last time?” My eyes watered as I asked. “Can we…”
His face went ten shades paler and he looked down.
My heart sank. “Doctor, is something wrong?”
“That’s the thing,” he looked up. “we had to cremate your daughter's body.”
Those words sent a ripple of shock through me and I staggered.
“You what?”
“To avoid the disease infecting anyone, we had to cremate her body,” He said softly. “I'm so sorry.”
My head suddenly felt heavy and I fell to my knees.
“Miss Maisie?”
I couldn't hear anything else but a high-pitch ringing.
Aria, my only daughter, my child, the thought that I'd never see her or hear her laugh or bathe her or read her favourite book, slammed into me like a brick wall.
I clutched my chest and tried to steady my breathing but every attempt failed.
My vision failed me and everything went dark.