Karen, the too-goody-two-shoes, the nerd, fell for the bad boy, the werewolf, the alpha ultra to be. And she fell hard.
Her plans of making it out of the town and into the college of her dreams became a reality soon enough. And Aiden, the man she called hers, even admitted enjoying his time in college.
All issues had been addressed, and peace had been restored.
The couple spent each of their summer holidays at the palace, learning everything they could about their upcoming responsibilities.
It wasn’t Aiden’s idea but rather her own to do that. He tried to convince her to go abroad more, to experience life fully, but she was much too indebted to his parents, and admittedly dedicated to him, to think she wouldn’t enjoy everything the palace had to offer.
As long as she could stay with her beloved Aiden, she didn’t mind not getting a taste of the world.
The world was a nasty place. And the man she had always looked up to as her father figure never even bothered with her. And sadly enough, she never got a clue as to who could be her real father.
On the other hand, Aiden felt like home, and he had become at the center of her world, for which she was forever grateful.
** ** ** ** ** **
She and Aiden had been ruling for nearly 5 years when her beloved mate suddenly announced that he needed to go somewhere.
Like the curious little thing she was, she asked about his whereabouts, but he didn’t give in to her demands. He merely smiled at her and reassured her that he’d be back for her, that he’d never leave her, that this journey of his wasn’t one she could accompany him on.
She agreed with a nod and let him leave. Even though she was heavily pregnant with their first child, she had to believe that whatever needed his attention was of utmost importance.
Many days later, she was busy watching over the training of some warriors, in human form, when she felt stares on her. She looked ahead of her and saw Aiden approaching her with a man who looked vaguely familiar.
She approached Aiden in haste and hugged him for dear life, as if to never let go.
“Welcome home, honey,” she greeted him softly.
“Missed me?” He teased, his eyes twinkling at her.
“Do not act as if you didn’t miss me or else…” she threatened, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
He nodded at her, his smile as blinding as ever.
And then, she looked at the man standing beside her mate stiffly. The stranger had dark blonde hair and hazel eyes that only enhanced his skin tone. He seemed fairly old, at least twenty years her senior.
And upon looking at her for some time, tears started to gather in his eyes.
“You truly look just like her,” he said in a somewhat woeful tone of voice. .
She frowned slightly and turned to look at her mate with a bemused expression on her face. “Who’s this man?”
“Look at him closely, love,” Aiden urged her with a smile of encouragement.
“I did. And I do not recall meeting him before,” she drawled even as she tried to remember.
“We have never met before,” the man announced before wiping away his tears with the back of his hand and then saying, “But I was a friend of your mother.”
She stiffened at the mention of her deceased mother. How many years had it been already? Nevertheless, she still felt a tug at her heartstrings.
And then, she looked at the man again from head to toe.
Could it be…?
“He’s your father, love,” Aiden whispered. “I went to the oracle. And then, after getting a name, I went in search of him.”
Tears stung her eyes at that. She didn’t deserve Aiden. How had he figured out that there was a void within her that could only be filled with a parent’s love?
“Had I not seen a picture of you, I would not have believed I fathered a child,” her father said, his voice wavering slightly. “You look like an exact replica of your mother.”
He reached out to touch her face hesitantly, almost as if to make sure she wasn’t a figment of his imagination, and asked softly, “May I?”
Instead of just nodding and allowing him such a sweet touch, Karen flung herself at him and hugged him as she cried.
She was a Luna and she was sure her crying would be frowned upon but she could care less about the rules… she was after all human and entitled to act out on her feelings.
“You made my mate cry, old man,” Aiden said in reprimand as he tugged on her sleeve to get her to look at him when she finally released her father.
“That was not my intention,” her father choked out on the words.
“Well, you shall pay for it nonetheless,” Aiden mock bit out. “You’ll have to stay in our home and get to know your daughter.”
“Gladly,” her father smiled.
Karen beamed at both men and then walked with a little bit of peps to her steps towards the palace’s main building. She had a loving mate and husband who cared for her deeply. She had an unborn pup to look forward to meeting. And now, she also had a father to make new memories with.
Life had never been as good.
When one follows one’s heart, it doesn’t always end up in disaster, she reasoned.