172. The decision is yours

Alana

“The girls have several suggestions, but I prefer to wait for you to name your daughter yourself,” I replied when he asked about our baby's name.

Sedrik was giggling nervously now. “Did you prefer to wait for me for this? There's no problem if you want to give her a name. That doesn't worry me,” he said, shrugging.

“But it's your first daughter, my love,” I replied. “I thought you would want this honor.”

He was just sighing now, his head down. “What I'm telling you is, Alana, she's not that special to me. I mean, sure, I know he's my daughter and everything, but it's not exactly what I was expecting, you know what I'm talking about?”

“I understand that you are upset that I gave birth to a girl instead of a boy because of the pack's Alpha male heritage, but that is also no excuse for you to tell me that you won't try to have any kind of close relationship with our daughter just because of that,” I told him without smiling or anything. I looked at the nest of blankets where the child was lying, sleeping, and then sighed. “She is your daughter, Sedrik. She needs you just like she needs me, so be aware of the things you are doing because otherwise you will affect not only her but also me.” I looked at him steadily. “Because I will not accept continuing with the man who rejects his own daughter.”

I saw him gasping in surprise at my words. “What are you talking about? What is this now? Didn't I already say that everything would end well? We will have an Alpha son and everything will end well. That was our plan, right? Why are you saying these things now?” He looked nervous as he asked those questions.

“Yes, I aligned myself with doing everything you are talking about. I already told you that for me, there is no problem having our daughter lead the pack as your heir, but if your pack or your species has a problem with that, I don't mind giving you a new son who is a boy now, so everyone would be happy about it. But at no time will I agree with the neglect you are trying to do to our daughter,” I told him, now not being condescending.

He sighed uneasily, clicking his tongue. “Please, Alana,” he cooed.

“Now that we're at peace with Prince Emory, I'm sure he won't deny me housing in the City of Gold, so my baby and I can go there, and you'll never know about us again,” I said, wanting to be firm, but my voice came out shaky at the end, and I swallowed hard, but my gaze was still fixed on him. I was as serious as the fact that the night was dark outside.

“What are you talking about..?” He muttered. “Please don’t joke about these things, they’re too serious… we’ve been through a lot so far, but now you’re going to want to divorce me just because of a baby that was born all wrong?”

“My daughter is not wrong, Sedrik,” I corrected him. “Your people are the ones who are the wrong, and your fucking laws are the ones who are wrong. It’s the world who is wrong.”

I got up and wanted to go to my baby, but Sedrik held my elbow. “Where are you going? We’re talking,” he said, stopping me.

“My daughter and I are going to find a place to sleep. We are not going to stay here with you and your sad and shameful thoughts.” I spat those words in his face angrily.

How dare he use to say that my daughter was the wrong one? There were limits to everything. I loved him, yes; I couldn't see my life without him, but now that I was a mother, I loved my daughter more than anything in this life, and I wasn't going to let anyone treat her with neglect or contempt, even more so for a reason as stupid as this.

He and I were now looking at each other firmly, the black of his eyes fixed on the lilac of mine, neither of us wanting to shake hands. “So this is what you really want? Leave here and go back to the city where they almost ended us?” He sounded bitter as he spoke.

“In difficult times, even enemies become allies,” I said firmly.

He chuckled mockingly. “I bet Emory would love having a witch as powerful as you on his side, wouldn’t he? I'm sure he won't deny you shelter,” he said.

“I'm counting on it,” I replied firmly.

“I bet he’ll put you on a really high pedestal there. Alana, the most powerful witch in existence, is back home,” he then said mockingly.

“Don’t I deserve this?” I was firm.

He growled, gritting his teeth. “I won't let you go anywhere. If you go there, I'm sure Emory will make you his wife. How do you think I’m going to stay aware that you’re giving your pussy to that man?”

I slapped him because of his words. “Do you happen to see that I’m a whore?” I yanked my arm angrily, letting go of him. “Let go of me! If you don't want to recognize the child as your daughter, then I'm sorry to say that our relationship has come to an end,” I said firmly, still looking at him, and then I walked away, going to hold the baby in my lap as she started to cry.

“Get that idea out of your head, Alana. Why the hell are you putting our relationship at stake here? This should never be happening,” he said, looking exhausted, but I was already packing my things—at least the things I would need to use in the other room. “Please, can you realize what you are doing? You are destroying us, Alana. Things shouldn’t be this way.”

“The only one who is destroying us here is you with your absurd idea,” I objected when packing my things. “Do you think I won't have any reaction while you reject the daughter you placed inside me? You know I’ll survive just fine out there, I don’t necessarily need you and neither does this baby.”

“I'm absolutely sure Emory will be very happy to help you,” he said sarcastically. “He needs strong people like you by his side, doesn’t he? I'm sure how happy he will be if you decide to go to his side.” He was laughing skeptically.

“Take the if out, Sedrik. Swap that with when,” I said decisively.

He gave a skeptical laugh. “You’re not really thinking about doing this, are you?” He asked, but I didn't respond.

I just didn't respond to him, with my daughter in my arms and a bag on my shoulder. “You know my stance, Sedrik. Either treat my daughter the way she deserves to be treated or say goodbye to us,” I told him and then left the room, leaving him behind me.