Chapter 31

CLAIRE'S POV

I woke up with a start, beads of sweat gathered on my face as I try to get up from the bed gently and without waking Erica. I could still perceive the faint scent of lemon and mint, as if he was still around me or something. I looked around in fear and quickly switched on the light which quickly luminated the whole room and I heaved a sigh of relief, finally confirming that he's not around.

I entered the bathroom and washed my face while still a trying to wrap my head around what the strange handsome young man had told me in my dream. I still couldn't believe that he was the same terrific monster whom I had helped in the forest the day before. The helpless, dying monster with beautiful blue eyes. I find it difficult to believe him not until he moved closer to me and I saw those blue eyes, the same ocean eyes that had attracted the monster to me in the forest. If not for his eyes, I may not have connected the dots easily.

“You are my business partner!” I shivered in fear as his words echoed in my ears. I don't want to imagine being a business partner to a monster. He was breathtakingly handsome and I could have mistook him for an angel had he not introduced himself as the helpless monster I helped in the forest. He seemed gentle and polite but the very image of his monster form kept overshadowing the good impression I had of him.

He couldn't complete his last sentence to me before disappearing and this made me eager to see him, once more because he had a lot of questions to answer. While still thinking about this, a shadow appeared behind me and I looked back to see my father looking at me with concern and I sighed in relief.

“Nightmares?” He asked, moving closer to me.

“W-well yeah I guess” I replied, yawning lazily.

“Guess as much, judging from the way you looked at me” he drew me closer and hugged me as if trying to erase the memory of the nightmare and I smiled at him.

“How did you know I had a bad dream Father, and how did you get here?”

“Well I heard the door creaking and I decided to check on y'all and I discovered that you were not and guessed you are here” he said, gently patting my back.

“Now go to bed darling, we have a long day tomorrow huh? He coaxed me like a child and just then, the bed clock chimed.

“Well.. tomorrow is here” he said and I gave him a cheeky smile.

“Or do you prefer I cuddle you to bed instead-?”

“I don't mind Father, anything to ease myself from the nightmare-”

“More reasons you should find your mate soon, he can always help with that yunno” he teased and smiled mischievously.

“Dad?!!” I screamed out his name and he bolted out of the room, laughing.

The following morning during breakfast, I and Erica decided to ask him about his relationship with mom seeing that he was in a good mood.

“Erm dad-” Erica called him hesitantly.

“Yes dear” my father answered with joy filled eyes.

“Is it possible to hate someone you loved so much?” Erica asked.

“Erm,well.. yes”. He said after swallowing two mouthfuls “ It depends on whatever happened between them and why are you asking me this question?” He asked, looking at the both of us suspiciously.

“Well… nothing serious dad, we just want to know what happened between you and mom-” Erica asked, fear overwhelming her and I could literally hear her heart palpitating.

My dad was quiet for a while as if trying to gather all the memories of the past. He eventually sighed and looked at us intently.

“Well.. your mother was my life and breath literally, all I have right now is all thanks to her, I achieved so much with her help and wisdom, and the moment our relationship went south, I lost all…my pack-”

“But you are still here in your pack Father-”

“Yes but I'm not the Alpha of Darkmoon anymore, somehow some of my council members got to know about my condition and they all started protesting against me claiming they don't want a rogue as their Alpha - so I had to move down here with few of my guards and workers-” he sniffled,trying hard not to break down in our presence.

“I'm so sorry about that, Father “ Erica coaxed him again.

“Thank you my dearest” he responded, forcing a smile.

“So as I was saying, your mother cheated on me..he had an affair with one of my guards-”

“That's not possible!” It was my turn to shout now. “Mom can't possibly do that!” I added, with so much confidence while Erica looked on in shock.

“I-I-I-well.. I saw her myself and prior to then,I've gotten several messages from people claiming they saw my wife-er- your mom with this same guard but I never believed until I saw them, myself and-” he said, betrayal evident in his facial expression.

“Well… when you saw them together, did you even bother to ask them what happened or you just judged based on assumptions?” Erica cut him off.

“Well… I tried confronting her about it but your mother being the person that she is, started feigning innocence and was emotional instead of answering me.. she accused me instead, saying I did not trust her blablabla” Dad said with a distant look on his reddened face.

“Love hurts!, it really do hurt!, I pray I heal from the pain your mother inflicted on my fragile heart” Dad added, sniffling.

“Did you hated mom afterwards?” I asked, trying to connect the dots.

“Well… erm I hated her for hurting me and breaking our relationship, infact we hated each other but-but-but I still love her and had expected her to at least give me a cogent reason for betraying me but she never did until the time of her death. Dad said,sighing dejectedly.

“You said someone provided you with information on how mom has been cheating on you with the guard right? Erica asked, with a deep thought as if trying to solve a puzzle.

“Yes, he was my friend and an Alpha”.

“You were best friends right?” Erica asked again as if trying to confirm something and looked at me.

“What's his name?!!” We asked chorusedly.

“ALPHA….”