Ruby:
“Alex, that’s enough!” I exclaimed, my voice stern, as I intervened, trying to put an end to his disruptive behavior. But my son seemed undeterred, his anger fueling his determination to assert his dominance.
“Why don’t you tell her the truth, mother? She is not your daughter, so let her go find hers. After all, I never asked her father to be my dad, so why is she so selfish?” Alex’s words cut through the air like knives, his bitterness palpable as he directed his ire towards Anna. The hurt in Anna’s eyes was evident, her lower lip trembling as tears welled up.
“Alex, that’s not fair!” I snapped, my patience wearing thin as I struggled to maintain control of the situation. “Anna is like your sister now, and she deserves to be treated with respect.”
“Like my sister?” He scoffed, his stubbornness evident as he began laughing, sending a shiver down my spine. Frustration bubbled up within me, and I could feel my temper flaring as I tried to reason with him, but he kept laughing.
“Enough, Alex! You need to stop this right now!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the room as I tried to assert my authority. But instead of backing down, Alex doubled down on his defiance, his anger simmering beneath the surface.
“Fine! If you’re going to take her side and act like her mother, then I don’t need you in my life anymore!” He declared, his voice filled with venom as he issued his ultimatum. My heart sank at his words, the weight of his threat hanging heavily in the air.
Was he serious?
“Alex, don’t say that; she is your mother,” Damian pleaded, his voice wavering with emotion as he reached out to him, desperate to mend the rift. But Alex remained resolute, ignoring Damian as he stared me down.
“Choose, Mom,” he demanded, his voice as cold as ice, challenging me to make a decision. My heart felt torn as I grappled with the impossible choice.
Feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration, I turned to Damian, my cheeks flushed with shame.
“Excuse me, Damian,” I muttered, unable to meet his gaze as I hurriedly made my way over to Alex. Gripping his arm firmly, I led him towards his room, my heart heavy with disappointment.
Pushing open his door, I ushered him inside before closing it firmly behind us. “Alex, what has gotten into you? What was that all about?” I demanded, my frustration evident, but he remained silent.
“What’s your problem? Why are you acting this way towards Anna?” I questioned him again, my tone firm as I locked eyes with him. He shifted uncomfortably under my gaze, his defiant demeanour faltering slightly as he avoided my eyes.
“Why do you keep taking her side, mother?” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose in exasperation.
“Alex, you can’t continue to behave like this,” I admonished gently, trying to reach him.
“Anna is now like a sister, and she’s done nothing to deserve your hostility. I know she and Damian have hurt you in the past, but you need to be kind to them, especially since we’re living under their roof.” Alex remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor as he wrestled with his emotions.
“You have to apologise to her and Damian because, right now, I am ashamed of you for acting so immature.”
“If you’ve forgotten, mother, I’m still a child. And besides, when have you ever not been disappointed in me? You’ve never been proud to have me as your son,” he scoffed, and the level of my frustration increased. I shook my head in disappointment, not recognising the boy before me.
“Alex, that’s not true,” I protested, my tone firm.
“You hated my eyes and everything that had to do with me. You never tell me why, though, and when I ask, you shut me off. It’s a miracle you even allowed me to go to the werewolf academy,” Alex’s words stung, his accusation hitting me like a punch to the gut.
“I know I haven’t always been the best mother,” I admitted, my voice tinged with regret. “But I’ve always loved you, Alex, and I’ve always been proud of you. I love you in my own way. I just find it hard to show it.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to convey the depth of my feelings. “But what you did just now isn’t something I am proud of,” I continued, my voice trembling with emotion.
“I know I deserve your hatred, and I know I have kept secrets from you, but you shouldn’t behave rudely. I’m sure your grandmother would be disappointed in you for this,” I said, and Alex’s expression softened, his eyes filled with regret as he realised the impact of his words.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I can never hate you,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. I reached out to embrace him, pulling him into a tight hug. After a few moments, my son pulled away from me.
“But I don’t want him as my father. I know he is your mate, and you can’t live without him, and that’s your fate, but I can,” Alex declared, leaving me speechless.
When did my son become this mature?
“Alex-”
“Mum, I didn’t tell you this, and I am tired of hiding it. I think I’ve met my dad. He’s Alpha Liam, right? And I am planning to tell him that I am his son.”
“Wh-what.. Alex?”
Alex met Liam. No, never.
“You don’t need to lie to me, mother. I saw the colour of his eyes… hell, his whole face looks just like mine. The fact that your love story didn’t work out with him doesn’t mean he won’t be a good father to me. I miss my dad, and I want him in my life. And if you don’t accept it, then I’m sorry. I would rather be with him than you. You can take care of Anna; after all, she’s in desperate need of a mother, and I am in desperate need of my real father.”
Alex’s words slowly sank into my head, and a wave of heartache washed over me, leaving me feeling utterly defeated. The honesty in his voice pierced through me, and I couldn’t deny the truth in his words. The pain of realising that my son longed for his real father, despite all my efforts to be there for him, cut deep into my soul.
His declaration felt like a dagger in my heart, with each word carving out a piece of my love for him. The weight of his desire to connect with his biological father weighed heavily on me, crushing me under its unbearable heaviness. The thought of losing my son to someone else, to a past I had hoped to leave behind, filled me with profound grief and sorrow.
Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I struggled to find the right words to respond. The ache in my chest intensified with each passing moment, threatening to overwhelm me completely. I wanted to hold onto him, to plead with him to reconsider, but I knew deep down that I couldn’t deny him the chance to find his true identity, his real father.
“Alex,” I whispered, my voice choked with emotion.
“Give me time, please. I will tell him myself, please.” I pleaded, my hands trembling as I reached out to him.
Desperation etched itself into every line of my face as I begged for just a little more time to handle the delicate matter myself.