Chapter 76: Chapter 76

Something unreadable crossed over my fathers face as he held my hand. I stilled, watching as desperation exhibited from his actions, my entire body straightened. My teeth ground together as I was trying to keep it all in, knees already shaky.

"Please, Rose, you are the only one who can help your mother..."

A burst of wet, humourless laughter escaped from my lips; hands pulled out of his grasp. "That explains why your wife was acting so lovely with me."

My father bent his head down in shame because it was the truth. He could not deny it to my face. Not when I had to endure the cruellest treatment from her all these years.

"S-She loves you in her way." He said after a beat, barely meeting my eyes.

"Funny way of showing that."

My father made a noise in the back of his throat, his brows knitted together, nose flaring. "Why are you acting this way? You were never this..."

"Bold?" I finished the sentence for him. "Because I am tired of feeling helpless and like I am a punching bag. You let me suffer all these years without telling me the truth, dad. How am I supposed to react then?"

He crossed his arms together. "So is this how you take your revenge? Turning your back on us and letting your poor mother suffer?"

Anger boiled inside me, fingers curling into fists by my side. How could he say that to his daughter? I shook my head, teeth grounding together. "No, this is not revenge. I cannot help your wife.

My powers are still new to me. I don't know how to heal others, dad."

"But your mother...I mean, Renee did it to me. How could you not know?" He let out a frustrated sound, hand raking through his hair before tugging on them. The low growl almost made my omega whimper.

"Because I had no idea!" I let out a strangled cry. "Please leave me alone. I need some time to think."

With that, I turned on the balls of my feet, hearing him call my name several times from behind. Turning my head over my shoulder, I pinned him with a look. "Do not follow me."

***

I rushed out of the study room, ignoring Aiden calling for me, climbing up the stairs, taking two-step at the same time. Pushing the doors of the balcony, I stepped out, letting the calm wind wash over me, my arms coming to wrap around my body. A loud exhale slipped out of me as I stared at the view in front, my breath coming out in gasps.

Seconds later, the door was pushed open again, and the sound of loud footsteps thundered behind me. As soon as the familiar scent hit my nostrils, I turned around.

"Rose?" The Alpha cleared his throat. "What happened with your dad? Why did you run away?"

Instead of a reply, I sagged forward against his chest. My legs gave out, and I clung to his shoulders for all it's worth. "A-Aiden", I breathed out through my clenched teeth, my chest shattering, tears pooling in my eyes.

At the sudden impact, the Alpha couldn't hold upright, so to keep up along with his weight, we crumbled down to our knees. I could feel the sting as tiny pebbles digging into my knees, but it's nothing compared with the ache that spread from my head down to my toes.

"Deep breaths, Rose, come one." He pressed his fingers into my sides, and my body relaxed seemingly out of nowhere, going lax and tension rolling off of my shoulders. Aiden slowly pulled me back, his warm fingers swiping across my cheeks. "That's it."

I exhaled. My fingers loosened their grip, and it's like someone poking at the wound, the painful tightness in my chest overwhelming me.

"I-I cannot breathe..."

"Focus on me," Aiden whispered, my vision going blurry, a cacophony of sounds echoing in my ears. "Rose...copy my breathing."

The Alphas arm retreated, and he started to move away, but I pulled him back. I could feel his hair against the bare skin of my arm, and it's not exceptionally comfortable with our arms tangled, but I didn't dare shift even a single muscle.

"You are alright."

A sob caught in his throat, curling my body around the Alpha, clinging to him as my arms encircle him again. When I buried my face against his neck, my body started trembling with short, cut-off breaths, wet and throaty, breathing hotly over his warm skin. His scent was so soothing and familiar, so distinctive that I was sure I could pick it out amongst thousand other ones.

Squeezing my eyes against the onset of wetness, I could feel my throat burns with the effort of holding back a sob, the silence pushing in on me. Before I could fight against it, tears stream down my cheeks, and there's nothing I can do to stop them. A shudder wracked my entire body as Aiden softly dug his fingers behind my back, rubbing it in circles.

"Let it all out."

Every sound sounds like it's been pulled from deep in my lungs, raw and strangled, but Aiden held it through it all.

***

When I finally pulled myself out of his arms, the Alpha asked me if I wanted to talk about it. I did not tell him the entire thing, only mentioning my biological mother. It took me by surprise when I saw anger cross his features, fingers curling into fists.

"We are leaving!" The Alpha blurted out, staring deep into my eyes, pulling me back to my feet. "I think it's enough now. They cannot walk all over you and expect you to still care for them. How could your dad such a huge thing?"

"No!" I shook my head, my hand instinctively wrapping around his wrist. "Umm...I am used to it. Besides, my dad is still my dad, so that's something, I guess."

"Rose..."

I pinned him with a final gaze. "Aiden, please let me handle it in my way. You are not going to say anything to them."

His face fell, a soft sigh slipping out of his lips as he bobbed his head. A smile curved around my lips. Looking around the open balcony, I realised that Aiden did not see my town yet. An idea crossed my mind.

"But we can get out of here for a while. How does that sound?"

***

There's a low buzz in the back of my ears, a nervous sweat soaking my skin as I start walking through the familiar alleys. I did not have a lot of fond memories with the pack members as they always picked on me. Having no friends also did not help my status in the pack.

The sound of Aiden clearing his throat snapped me out of my panic, and I caught the Alpha's eyes.

"Are you sure? We can go back if you want." He said gently.

I waited a moment, taking deep breaths in and out. Where we stood, it was quiet and calm, so I closed my eyes briefly and opened them again. "I can do this," I said, unsure if I was talking to Aiden or myself.

"Okay, then let's go," He said, grabbing my hand and lacing it with his own, my breath catching in my throat. Trying to ignore the pounding in my heart, I started walking towards the market.

We crossed the street, and my eyes drifted to the people, talking and walking towards the familiar outline of the market. For a moment, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia and deja vu. My hand was sweaty in his hold, but nothing at this moment could compel me into letting go.

Keeping my head a bit lowered, determined to escape any awkward small talk, I continued walking.

"Rose?"

My head snapped to the side as the familiar sound echoed in my ears. I froze, my lips parting, limbs stiffening into rods and heart stuttering in my chest as I took in the Alpha walking towards us.

The voices around me dull down to a murmur, gaze frozen on the person who was busy straightening his jacket. The Alpha was all alone, appearing fit, all long legs, broad shoulders, and trimmed curls.

"Zain?"

***