It was all him
The thunder rumbling through the sky and the gloomy weather felt like a depiction of what was going on in my heart at the moment.
The only difference was that it was already raining cats and dogs deep inside me. Deep inside and outside, because tears wouldn't stop rolling down my cheeks.
I couldn't console myself. There wasn't any part of my heart that could muster up any words of consolation. My brain was shattered. My mind was an absolute wreck. And I was alone, in my car, packed in a corner, hands tightened around the steering, with my head resting on it, so there wasn't a possibility of anyone else offering me the consolation I needed.
It didn't help that memories of my loved-up moments with Vince flooded my mind. There weren't many of them as we've fought more than we've been happy. But they were priceless. I'd never trade them for anything else.
So what do you mean I won't experience moments like these with him again? What do you mean we fought so hard to be together just to split like this?
Why did we go through all that torture if we were gonna have to say goodbye to each other like this?? Why…why did I get pregnant for him?
That part made my heart constrict in agony. My poor baby. Growing up without a Father would be traumatic. Growing up without a Father…because I'd never stick around to watch him get back together with his first mate. It'll kill me.
I'll need to leave. Go far away from here. Far away that I'd never hear anything about them.
Then again, what's a life without Vince gonna be like? Miserable. Bland. Sad. Those emotions would kill me even faster. Being away from him would destroy me. But if he asks me to stay, I just might end up being a mistress. A fucking second!
Either way, I lose. I fucking lose. And that sucks! I didn't put up with so much to be a mistress or be forced to let him go. I gave up too much already to just settle for this.
Crying for hours made my eyes dim and saggy. When I finally arrived at the hospital, I looked almost sickly.
Coming to see Father was the only thought in mind; my only getaway. I applied a bit of makeup to hide my tear streaks. But my puffy eyes were still kinda obvious. I just hope Father doesn't notice.
I stepped out of the car and headed inside. It was almost midnight and definitely not visiting hours. But I was an exception. The only downside would be that he'd definitely be deep asleep.
Wrapping my hand firmly around the doorknob, I slowly pushed the door open. My eyes widened at the sight in front of me.
Father wasn't asleep. On the contrary, he was very much awake, dressed in denim pants, a top, and a jacket, with a scarf around his neck. I've never seen him out of his hospital gown in months.
And he wasn't alone. His lawyer was right behind him. And then there was…Tracy? Tracy! I thought she was in some rehab or asylum. Why was she here? And looking every bit like her old, bitvhy self. She didn't seem as shattered and broken as her Mother had pictured her to be.
Her mother was right beside her too. They were standing at a corner, with their heads lowered.
It looked like an awkward, tense family meeting. I seemed to be the only one who didn't get the memo.
Father's gaze darted to me as I walked inside. His stare was cold. Rigid. The usual warmth was gone.
“I was gonna deal with you later. But I guess it's a good thing you're here too.” Father said in a stern voice that sent goosebumps down my skin.
“What's…going…on?” I stuttered, glancing at everyone of them.
He stood, took two bold steps towards me and his hand swiped across my face, leaving a harsh, excruciating feeling on my cheek. I gasped at the unexpected slap. I bet Tracy or her mother gasped too.
He wasn't done.
His hand swiped across my face again, leaving a harsher impact. Tears flew out of my eyes at the shock and the pain.
I held my cheek, staring at him in disbelief. Father had never hit me. Ever.
“Fa…Father…” I whispered in disbelief.
“I'd hit you again but I fear my heart won't be able to handle it.” He said through clenched teeth and a hand suspended in the air.
Hot tears filled my eyes. “Father…”
“How much longer were you trying to keep it from me, Elena?” He gritted out. His hand was done but was fisted.
My heart raced. “What…what are you talking about?”
“About the fact that you're Vince’s mistress!”
My senses went on a fritz. Time seemed to stop ticking. Blood drained from my body. I couldn't even blink. This was the moment I dreaded the most. And it was happening with no heads-up. I wasn't the least prepared for it.
“About the fact that you've been sleeping with him for years!”
Years?! He makes it sound like it's been a decade.
“No…I'm not…I've not…” I couldn't make any coherent sentences. I needed help. I needed someone to rescue me from this moment.
Mother…Tracy's mother seemed as terrified as I was. Did she tell him? Was it she who ratted me out?
I don't think so. She wouldn't look so…frightened if she did. She'd look proud instead. It couldn't be Tracy either. She seemed as terrified as her Mother.
My gaze went to the other person in the room. Father's lawyer. He had a stoic gaze on his face. A depiction of his firm loyalty to Father. It had to be him.
How much did he tell Father?
“How could you even do that?!” Father's angry voice cracked with disappointment. “How could you sleep with a man who literally watched you grow up?”
“Please…forgive me, Father…” I sobbed, going on my knees. “I knew you'd be disappointed when you find out. I knew it'd hurt you…but…”
“But you still went ahead and did it.”
“I couldn't help myself. I tried not to…But I was just…I was in a hard spot. Trent had cheated…”
“Right. Tracy sleeping with your mate, that's another mind-blowing news I've had to deal with.” Father scoffed, stepping backwards. He also knew that part? Does he know everything?
“What the heck happened? How did you two end up doing such disgusting things?” He scolded, glancing between both of us. Then his gaze stayed on Tracy. “She's your sister. Didn't that mean anything to you?”
Tracy was sobbing. I wasn't about to decide if those were real tears.
“She's been the sweetest to you since you both were younger. She gave you everything she ever had. She shared everything with you. How could you hurt her so badly?”
“I'm sorry, Father…” Tracy whispered.
“Sorry? Yeah, you should be. You should be sorry for your whole life. What you did is unforgivable and disgusting!”
“She's still your daughter, Richard. Regardless of her unholy actions, she's still your daughter. You can't undo that.” Tracy's mother defended ever so calmly.
Father's face was squeezed like he had been stung. “You wanna know something, Lucy? I wish she weren't. I never thought I'd give birth to a daughter with zero morals and such despicable hatred for her sister. I'd give anything to undo the fact that she's my daughter.”
Father's harsh words made Tracy sob even harder. Her mother held her in her arms. I was getting engrossed in watching them that I didn't realize fast enough that Father's gaze was back on me.
“But you, Elena, I thought you were the best thing I ever did. I thought you had all the morals and all the elegance in the world. I could tolerate Tracy's nasty behaviour because I had you, the perfect one. Hell, I wouldn't be so pissed if Tracy had gotten involved with Vince instead. Because that's not very far-fetched. But you…you? It's almost unbelievable.”
My heart shattered into bleeding bits. The disappointment in his voice was killing me.
“I'm really sorry, Father…” No amount of apology would heal this, I knew that much. But there was nothing else I could say.
“Tell me something. How…how did it all start? I know I'm gonna puke from hearing the details so don't give me that. Just tell me who initiated this disgusting bond. Was it you or him?”
I froze at the question. Vince might have pulled his dirty strings in the background. But it was I who approached him that night. It was I who dared to ask to suck his dick. It was me.
“Who's the creep between the two of you; him or you?”
“It's…It's…”
“It was certainly Vince, Alpha Richard.” Father's lawyer intercepted. I looked at him with shock. Quickly, my lips moved, voicing all the words that were hanging on my lips.
“No. No, it wasn't. I…I…”
Would you rather have your Father disown you over this, or would you just dump the blame on Vince and stay on your Father's good side, Luna Elena?
Father's lawyer mind-linked me, shutting me up. I looked at him and he arched a brow, questioningly.
My heart raced in anxiety. It was a crucial moment. Take the whole blame and let Father cast me aside forever or dump it all in Vince and stand a chance at Father's forgiveness?
It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I'd do anything to get back Father's love and trust. But then it's gonna be unfair to Vince blaming him for everything. I played a huge role in it too. I did.
Then again, if I lose Father's love, who do I fall back to? Certainly, not Vince. Not when his first mate just resurfaced in his life.
I'll be all alone. And I dread that fate…
“Is that true, Elena?” Father asked. “Was it Vince? Did he lure you into this? Were you a victim?”
A victim. Was I lured? Yes. But did I like it? Also, yes. Did I love the chase, the sacrifices, the obsession? YES!
Luna Elena? Father's lawyer whispered into my mind again through the link. It's an easy choice. I'm sorry I ratted you out to your Father. But he deserved to know. But it can all be fixed if you just blame it all on Vince. You're the victim. We know you are.
“Elena?!” Father grumbled.
“Yes.” I blurted out, with my eyes shut. “It was all him.”
My stomach tightened as the words left my lips. It was like my unborn child was revolting for my very simple betrayal of its Father.
“I can't believe it. Vince seemed like a true friend. I never thought he was such a creep.” Father cursed, tightening his fists. “You're gonna cut off ties with him. You're never seeing him again. You're never going back to his Pack. Not as Trent's mate and certainly not as Vince's mistress—”
“I'm pregnant, Father.” I voiced out, looking up at him with tears-blurred eyes. “It's Vince's.”
Father staggered at my confession. His eyes squinted with hurt. “Wh…what?”