Chapter 36: Chapter 36

He smiled down at his phone, staring at her phone number. He didn’t know when she got the phone but he was happy about it. It meant they could communicate more and he’d have a way to show how sorry he was and how he wants things to work out between them. He sincerely wants her to be part of his life. She’s a rare gem and also a key to his living.

If things had end up badly today, he doesn’t think he’d make it to morning the next day.

Having her number now is literally a huge step up—at least she’s bearing in mind to take him back even after the shit he has put her through. He can’t make that mistake again. Not after almost getting what he wants. He won’t let her slip away without getting everything that he deserves.

He saved the number quickly and made it back to the road side where he parked Tyler’s car. He borrowed it to come check if he’d find her. He was so lucky enough especially having ears and eyes in the woods. He was told she’d be there at that time and they were right.

He climbs into the car and zoned out of the place.

He arrived at the large complex building and parked in the parking lot. It was already past eight in the night and he knew Tyler would be playing video games or watching a movie. He’s thankful for his friend for letting him stay with him until he figures out his life.

He’s searching for a new job and it seems harder than he expected it to be for a small town like this and also wanted by your parents.

He unlocks the door with his key and entered. Like he thought, Tyler was watching a movie while he ate out of the pizza he ordered an hour ago.

“Hey man, you’re back. Any luck finding your dream girl?” Tyler asked him, his eyes were pinned to the TV. He was so invested on what he was watching.

Aaron took a slice off the box before perching beside Tyler on the couch. “Actually, yes. And I may still have a shot with her.” He happily took a bit of the pizza. He’s never been this happy in while. He deserves to celebrate and he was going to use that pizza to do so.

Tyler snaps his head towards him. It was the first time he looked at Aaron ever since he walked into the room. “For real?” Aaron nods, smiling.

“What about her Alpha boyfriend? Aren’t they like together or something?” Tyler was facing the TV again.

Aaron shrugs it off despite how it stings him to know Alice was with Dominic—not for long. Not now that he was back into her life.

“Not for long,” he said conceitedly. “I’m going to take her back because she belongs to me, not him.”

Tyler faces him with disbelief written all over his face. “Are you sure you want to fight that man? You know what he’s capable of. He caused you your job and your family. You’re wanted in this town—you don’t want to push him any further.”

Aaron laughed it off and took another slice of the pizza. “I know how to get to him. Alice is my firearm. I’m going to use her to destroy him in ways he never saw it coming. He’s going to beg me for mercy by the time I’m done with him. He will regret ruining my life.”

Tyler’s mouth hung open—he’s obviously scared of what Aaron was capable of doing. He wasn’t like this when they first met months back. He’s quiet and adventurous at the same time. He’s forgiving and soft. But he’s now just cold and cruel. It all started after he got bitten and exposed to the depraved side of werewolves.

“Do you even love this girl?”

Aaron smirked and rests his back into the couch. “More than words could describe it.”

**

His heart wasn’t at ease, so was his mind. He wasn’t going to calm down until she’s back safely to him. It was a bad idea to think he’d trust his sister with her—just the two of them without any escort. What the hell was he thinking earlier this morning to leave just the two of them wander in the woods.

He clenched his shirt, trying to breathe and calm the panic. It didn’t work—it wouldn’t work unless she has return home to him.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure they’re almost back. You’ve spoken to Lily on phone, right?”

He ignores Zack’s concern and continued pacing back and forth.

“You’re overreacting, Dominic. They’re going to be fine,” Zack spoke again. Dominic halts and cursed under his breath.

“Why did I even trust Lily with her? They’re two female werewolves, they can’t survive on their own, right? Or can they? I’m overreacting.”

Zack shakes his head in disbelief. Dominic wasn’t the type that shows his concern too much but when he does, it always goes out of hand.

“They are two powerful werewolves that can take care of themselves whether with an escort or not. And it’s just a twenty-minutes walk from Scuris…”

Zack didn’t finish his sentence when they showed up. Dominic heaved a sigh of relieve and went after Alice.

“What took you guys so long? Why didn’t you take your phone with you?” He asked her. Waves of irritation washed over her face as she shoved him aside and walked away.

“We ran into her ex… Aaron. He’s such a Fredrickass.” Alice heard her say. She winced but kept on walking. She should’ve warned Lily not to tell Dominic about it because he’d flip and turn it into a huge deal.

“What?” He seethed, picking up his pace to catch up with her. He did—he blocked her path as he sent her a quick distrustful look. He grabs her arms to stop her from walking away. “Why didn’t you tell me that?” His eyes seethe with rage and he tightens his grip on her arms.

She was taken aback by the question. The anger surged inside of her but she restrained it. She didn’t want to fight him—at least not outside. If he had made the mistake of asking her that question at home, he would’ve gotten his feelings hurt.

“Same reason you didn’t tell me Aaron came here every day looking for me.” She belligerently wrenched free from Dominic firm hold. She can’t stand being near him at the moment.

He paused—he actually froze to his spot. He felt a stab of disquiet in the centre of his chest and it was because he saw it coming, he knew it was coming. He didn’t have the intention of telling her anything about Aaron’s senseless demands because she doesn’t need to know but now, she has found out and Zack warned about it.

“Now you understand what I’ve been telling you? You should’ve let her know and let her make the decision…”

Dominic smacked his lips as he waves off Zack’s remark. He turned around and followed her into the house.

By the time he reached home, she was already in her room, furiously pacing back and forth as she spoke under her breath.

The door to her room creaked open and she didn’t bother to look up. She knew he was coming, she was expecting him. It’s better she let everything out tonight else she might not wake up alive tomorrow by the way she was about to explode with rage.

“Alice, we need to talk.”

She threw her head back and laughed in disbelief. She should be the one saying those words to him but here he was standing as though he’s the victim. Looking at him in the eye made her feel more repelled than she already was with him. She’s not even angry—she’s disillusioned of how she really had hope on him. She almost thought he was different.

“Oh yes, we do, because I need to know why you didn’t tell me he came here looking for me since I moved. And why you made him lose his job, his family.”

Dominic looked at her quizzically. She scoffed, rolling her eyes because it seemed like he was about to deny everything she just said.

“His job? His family? What are you talking about…”

She cuts him short. “Don’t act innocuous, Dominic. You are not innocent. You never were…”

“You need to calm down, Alice. He’s just trying to get into your head,” he said, taking careful steps towards her. “You’re angry right now I know. But just calm down and I will explain everything you need to know.”

“Bullshit,” she cursed, throwing her arms in the air and she turned away from him.

“I should’ve told you he came looking for you but then I thought it wasn’t important because you’ve moved on…”

“That’s a fucking stupid excuse, Dominic. You’re good at lying, you can do better.” Her heart was beating at a pace that made her feel like passing out at the spot. She tried to breathe to calm the panic but looking at Dominic right now in front of her and recalling everything he had done made her want to scream out.

“I’ve never lied to you. I love you. I was only protecting you because he’s not what you think he is.”

She laughed it out because it was the only thing keeping her sane—laughing out his outlandish remarks.

“I swear, I mean no harm. Whatever happened to him, he caused it upon himself. He refused to stay away from my territory and he’s a big threat. Don’t you see what he did to your home? Don’t you see what did to you? He’s trying to use you to get what he wants…”

“Bull… shit. Aaron would never use me like you did, you psychopathic manipulator,” She spat out. “I knew you were up to no good. I’ve had a bad feeling about you ever since I first met you. You’re the toxic person, not him. You’re the monster, not him. I should be running away from you, not him…”

He felt a sting in his heart when she referred to him as a monster. It breaks him completely to see how blind she was and wasn’t willing to listen to him, let alone believe him.

“You’re breaking up with me?” He asked her. She stiffened when he asked her that because she wasn’t expecting him to say that.

She quirks her brows as her orbs darken from the light colour they were. The look of that scared him because it was the first time he was seeing that side of her. “We were never a thing, Dominic. We’d never be a thing because I’ll never feel you in my heart the way I feel him.”

He lowered his brows in bewilderment as he sucks in a quick gasp hearing that coming out of her. “You’re going back to him,” he says it not like it was a question. It was the obviously true even if she wasn’t going to admit it.

She folds her arms over her chest as she scoffed. Her lack of response was enough confirmation for him. He forces a smile as he nodded his head—a sharp pain filled his chest and radiated through his whole body. Every heartbeat sent a surge of pain, as if his chest were being torn apart. He never expected that from her because he thought it was the end—he thought it was their happy ending. He really thought that.

“I apologize if I ever was a toxic person in your life. I’m maturing more every day, correcting my wrongs and slowly but surely becoming better version of me—all because of you,” he apologized.

She could feel the guilt surging inside of her but managed to mask it up. “You should’ve thought of that before you lied to me. I trusted you… at least I was trying to trust you because I thought my father was right again but it turns out that for the first time my life, I was right—you’re not a good mate. I can’t be with someone like you… I can’t be with you.”

He flinches and turned away from her. He forces himself to take a deep breath in order to remain calm. It was hard to stay cool every time she reminds him that she doesn’t want him anymore. After all they’ve been through…

“Don’t think that I’m selfish, Alice but I’m warning you… he’s dangerous and he’s up to no good. I know you don’t believe anything I say now but he’s after something else, not you.”

“You took away everything from him… how do you expect him to be? Happy? Nonchalant? Thank you for ruining his life?”

Dominic attempted to smile at how unreasoning she was but failed. He’s scared for her but she can’t see it. He’s angry but it wasn’t enough fury to let her get hurt.

“Get out of my room,” she mutters in a thick and odious tone.

He didn’t budge. Instead, he’s staring at her with a lot of feeling, and the heaviness in his eyes was making her chest tight. She shudders and looked away. “Fine… I’d leave if you won’t. This isn’t my home anyways.” She grabs her phone under her pillow and head toward the door—he didn’t stop her.

She hates that he didn’t try to at least stop her and apologize again. He just let her leave and head to wherever she pleases to go. He doesn’t even care whether she was heading out into the forest while it was late. He doesn’t even care whether she decides to go meet Aaron right now.

He’s proven to her more that he’s not capable of being her mate. He doesn’t mean all those words he used to tell her. He’s a deceiver and a traitor. He’s so good at manipulating people that her father really trusts him—she trusted him, because she really thought or hoped he was different.

She halts by the porch and scanned around the less busy metropolis. She didn’t feel like isolating herself—she wanted to talk to someone. She wanted to be close to someone. She wasn’t going to call Ryan. He’s the last person she’d want to tell her situation because he may disagree with her. And telling Miley was as good as telling Ryan.

She descends the three steps and head toward his mother’s house. Lily was the only person that was close and she could talk to even if she doesn’t have to say anything—Lily would make her feel better because she’s that amazing.

It was a five minutes walk to the house. She knocked on the door and thankfully, Lily answered. She was afraid Katrine would answer the door and see her miserable wrecked face.

Lily’s eyebrows grew together the moment she observed Alice’s face.

“Is Katherine home?” She asked, peaking into the house. It wasn’t as big as Dominic’s house but it was more homey and comfier.

“No, no she’s still at the bakery. Come in. What happened?” She urged her in and closed the door behind them.

When Alice didn’t respond to her question, she guided her to her room and offered her a cup of hot cocoa because it was cold outside.

Alice ducked her head and fiddled with the mug handler. She stared at the three marshmallows swimming on top of the cocoa until they slowly start to melt.

She was grateful that Lily was kind and patient enough to wait until she was ready to speak. Because honestly, if she opens her mouth to speak about her situation, she’d cry. She wanted to cry right now without even speaking up yet.

She lets out a tentative air and took a sip of her cocoa. It tasted so good, like the one Dominic made for her when she came running to him drenched in rain when Aaron shunned her.

Maybe hot cocoa was like an ‘I’m sorry’ gift toward a person that’s sad from them.

That single retention broke her down and her grief poured out in a flood of uncontrollable tears. She covered her face with her free hand and shook frenziedly.

She doesn’t even know what next to do. The two men in her life were just a great misperception and disruption to her mental health. They’ve both caused so much pain to her yet she still finds herself around them. She still wants to be with them. Now, she’s stuck between being with a liar as her mate or the one she now uncertain about.

Her breath was taken away, not from the squeeze but from the realization that it was what she needed. She needed a hug not a confession session. Confessions always made her cry because she had to speak out what’s hurting her and she hates having flashbacks of what she doesn’t want to remember.

Lily pats her back gently. “Don’t get yourself too worked up on this. They’re both not worth it.”

It really sucks how life is because, three hours ago she was happy, she was getting better and for a minute she had hope in having a happy ending. But in just less than half an hour, she lost it again.

Her phone chimed and she moved back to fetch it from her pocket. Lily gave her space to check it. It was a text—from an unknown number. She dropped the mug on the side drawer and wiped her face.

‘I don’t care how complicated our lives are right now, I only want to be with you. I will never stop trying because when you find the one, you never give up.’