Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Dylan's POV

My heart constricted painfully at her words, she's leaving, "you can't leave me" I gritted,my heart racing, not wanting to believe what she said, I swallowed hard, trying to swallow the bitter taste of betrayal, she didn't say a word, she just kept on putting her clothes in her bag, I dragged the clothes she was holding and about to put inside the bag and flung it and watched with satisfaction as it hits the floor, you can't leave me, I yelled grabbing her shoulders, I shook her hard that her teeth chattered, "you're hurting me" was all she managed to say and my eyes went to where I had grabbed her by the shoulders and noticed that my claws were digging into her, I didn't even know they were out, abruptly, I left her as if she burns, I took two calming breathe carefully letting my claws go back right in, I ran my fingers through my hair and repeated more calmly, "you can't leave me" she kept a straight face and I felt like shaking her again, I grabbed her and looked deep into her eyes,"I won't let you leave me, you're mine...your body, your spirit, your soul, your anguish, your fears, your tears, your laughter, everything about you all belongs to me, got that? I won't let you leave"

"You can't force me to be yours, I need space to think"

"Think about what? Why won't you realize that I love you" I screamed and was shocked at my sudden outburst and love confession and she looks taken aback also, yea, she's my mate and I love her and will love her for all eternity, "can't you see my love for you?" I know I sounded desperate but I couldn't help it, the acrid taste of rejection filled my tongue, she doesn't want me because I am a werewolf, she doesn't love me enough to accept who I am but a part of me doesn't want to believe that, perhaps, she was having a bit of a hard time but she doesn't have to leave, I cupped her cheeks in my palm and stared into her pain-filled eyes, ", I love you, Ariana, please don't go" but instead of her to reply, she simply removed my hands from her as if she couldn't bear my touch and took a step back, tears brimming in her eyes and fell down her cheeks, "I need space Dylan, give me space and time"

"You claimed that you love me yet you can't love me for who I am, admit it, you love only the rich and famous side of Dylan, you simply don't love me completely" I yelled and two angry spots jumped to her cheeks, oh yeah! She's angry, well which makes the two of us, "don't you dare become judgemental on me, you claimed you love me right? Then why the hell did you keep such an important detail about yourself a secret?"

"I was wrong, I admit and I said I was sorry"

"You should be because right now I'm leaving" I stared at her as she carries her bag, "where are you going?"

"I still have family, remember?" She answered without looking at me and I snorted, what family was she referring to exactly? "The family that didn't give a hoot about you when I took you in as my slave "

"Still, they're my family" I watched as she walked out the door. Pain pummeled my heart and I sank to the bed, my wolf also recoiled in pain as he watched his mate walk out the door, "she left us, she didn't want to accept the you side of me but we cannot be separated because I am you and you are me" I whispered continuously to my wolf, the world suddenly looked bleak, "we shouldn't blame her, finding out about me all of a sudden was such a huge shock to her, she'll come back" I listened as lien tries to defend it's mate, "what if she doesn't? Are you going to live with the fact that you might not find a mate in this lifetime?" He whimpered at my tone and the implications of what I had just said and I immediately felt sorry, I softened my tone, "don't worry lien, perhaps you're right, let's just give her space as she had said then I'll get her back for you, I promise" I'll have to get her back no matter what because I simply can't live without her.

Ariana's POV

My heart thudded in apprehension at what I would expect when I got home, I have been away for a while now, have my dad and sister missed me? I wasn't so sure about my sister because even at the office, she had always avoided me completely, I wish I could talk to just any of them right now because I was hurting so badly, I imagined walking into the warm hug of my father, leaning my head against his shoulder, I would cry out my pain and tell him about Dylan's betrayal, he would pat my back and console me while I take solace in his fatherly hugs, "what the heck are you doing here?" I was jerked out from my reverie by the harsh tone, it was my dad, he was seated in the living room already drinking so early in the morning, for a moment, I contemplated running back but then, going back to Dylan right now doesn't sound appealing either, "I..I... I'm back father" I stammered, my heartbreaking at the realization that he didn't even miss me while I was away, "you ain't welcome here, go away" his tone was slurred indicating that he was already drunk but that didn't stop his words from piercing right through my heart, I was already used to his hatred, yet I still yearn for a little show of fatherly affection. He staggered as he tried to stand up and fell on his face, "father!" I screamed dashing towards him, I grabbed his arm to help him up, that moment, the door to Samantha's room swung open and she appeared, pausing in the doorway when she saw me, "oh! I thought I heard your voice, what are you doing here? Have you finished whoring for the boss?" Her words were like tiny pebbles breaking through the glass of my heart, nothing has changed over here, my absence didn't even change a thing, rather, I was hated the more, "Sam please, I already have a lot on my plate right now, can you not add to it" she twisted her face and made a caricature of my words, tears brimmed in my eyes anew, they were supposed to be my family, one I would run to when I am hurt rather my family are the once responsible for my hurt every now and then, I see I had made a huge mistake coming back here, but I'm here already and would be here for a few days before thinking of what next to do, I didn't say a word to her, I just carried father and gently placed him on the sofa, he was already snoring, I wonder what sort of trouble he's in that results to his drinking so early in the morning, the sun was not even up yet, he mumbled something I can't hear and I left him there to let him sleep. I took my things and walked past Samantha into our old room, I gazed around, nothing has changed indeed, except none of my things had been spared, it seems like Sam had carefully removed everything that belongs to me which I had left behind, I was indeed really hated by my family that they wouldn't even spare my belongings, I fell on the bed with a heavy heart and closed my eyes, relieving all the recent events of my life, my eyes flew opened when I heard Sam scream.

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I skidded to a stop at the sight before me, father was throwing up and writhing on the floor in obvious pain while Samantha tries to hold him, "what happened to him?"

"I don't know, get some water" I dashed off to do as she ordered and came back almost immediately with the water, we sprinkled it on him and he started jerking uncontrollably, what was going on, "let's take him to the hospital"

"What's going on here?" A voice boomed from the doorway, Dylan, what the hell was he doing here, I had told him I needed space, was this the space he was supposed to be giving me, "none of your business" I snapped just at the same time that Sam cried "my father is dying" she looked at me when I snapped at Dylan but didn't say a word, her silence had conveyed her message, I should shut the hell up, she turned back to Dylan, "it's my father, I don't understand what is wrong with him, all of a sudden he started throwing up and holding his stomach, writhing in pains"

", Let's quickly get him to the hospital" he signaled to his driver to bring the car nearer to the house, "we didn't ask for your help, we can take care of him on our own " Sam whirled around to face me, "what the hell are you saying? You damn well know we need all the help we can get right now, my car is packed outside but is having some damages which I haven't been able to repair, so, please tell me, how do we transport him to the hospital?"

"Sam, listen to me, we don't need his help, we'll manage somehow, maybe call a taxi" she hissed in annoyance, "what if something happens to him before the taxi gets here"

"Nothing will happen to him"

"To hell with you Ariana, you may do as you pleased but get this straight, I will never forgive you even in generations to come if something happens to him, I can't lose a mother and a father because of you"

"Sir, the car is here" the driver interrupted our argument, and father was carried into the car, once in, he suddenly stopped writhing in pain, he jerked twice and grew completely still, "Dad!" I and Sam screamed in unison as the driver started the car and sped off, "it's your bad luck that caused this, dad was fine until this morning when you arrived, why did you have to come back to our lives, only bad things happen whenever you're around" Sam wailed

"It isn't anyone's fault, things happen, do not blame it on anyone" Dylan chided softly

"But it's true, you have no idea, my mother died also because of her" tears were flowing down my cheeks at Sam's words, she had no idea how deeply they hurt

"We'll talk about that some other time, for now, let's all just focus on your father okay?" Sam nodded, howbeit, reluctantly, she stared at my hands which I have placed on my father's shoulder, she threw them off him and replaced them with her hold, silently warning me to stay away from him.

Soon, we got to the hospital, and father was given special attention all thanks to Dylan, some tests were performed and we were asked to wait for the results, I prayed for everything to come out fine, I just can't bear another guilt on my conscience that I was the cause of father's predicament, Sam already thought I was the cause of mother's death, I don't want her to pin father's suffering on me also, I glanced towards Dylan, he was sitting on the chair, his head was leaned on the wall with eyes closed, the only indication that he was awake was the taping of his foot, he looked so forlorn and worn and I wondered if it was my leaving that affected him this much, my attention was snatched from him when the doctor showed up, I jumped to my feet just as Samantha ran to meet him halfway, "doctor, what's wrong with my father? Will he be okay?" She asked breathlessly, from the corner of my eyes, I saw Dylan sit up, even in his tiredness, he looked so damn handsome and I marvel at how I could manage to notice something like that in this serious situation that we're in, " your father need to undergo an operation ASAP"

The doctor announced, his eyes traveling to every one of us, "he needs to undergo appendectomy " what was he saying? I do not understand, "doctor, please, I do not understand, what do you mean by that?"

"Calm down Ariana, he's only saying your dad has an appendix and needs to be operated on but he'll be fine" Dylan spoke up from his sitting position, "are you sure he'll be alright?" I asked, my tone filled with fear, "of cause he will, after the surgery, he'll be perfectly fine" he must have understood that I badly needed reassurance for he nodded at me, his eyes telling me that he's here for me, I felt grateful to him, despite me leaving him, he was still here trying to help me, "I'll need a family member to sign this before the surgery can be performed"

They held out a paper and instinctively, I held out my hand towards it just as Samantha did, "I'll sign it" we both spoke at the same time and Samantha glared at me, I quickly back off and allowed her to do the paperwork, she was my senior anyway and more educated than I could ever be, soon, father was wheeled into the theatre and I prayed as I've never prayed before, I need him to survive.