Alethea
It’s true that when you’re going through tough times, that’s when you realize who truly cares for you.
I never thought I’d be standing here, shouting “Mom! Dad!” and screaming like a banshee, but I’m in absolute awe of what Selena just did.
Without even breaking the kiss with my dad, Selena extends her hand toward the man coming towards me to harm me.
Instantly, a block of ice forms around him, freezing him in place.
I gasp, my eyes wide in disbelief. “Oh my goddess!” I scream, unable to process what I’m seeing.
There’s so much I don’t understand, so many questions that need answers.
Selena smirks into the kiss, clearly enjoying the moment. I had no idea she could be so mischievous.
She’s always been the calm, collected type, handling everything with precision and grace.
This side of her, this playful dominance, is new and surprising.
But as the kiss drags on, my irritation starts to bubble up.
They’re acting like no one else is around, lost in their mate bond.
I know it’s powerful, but for fuck’s sake, they should realize I’m still here!
“Can you two just stop it and let’s get out of here before another wolf lunges at us?” I say, my irritation growing as they finally pull apart and both turn to look at me at the same time.
Their stares make me squirm, and I can’t help but snap, “What? Do I have something on my face?”
Selena smiles softly and rests her head against my dad’s chest again, completely unbothered. I roll my eyes. ‘Here we go again.’
Rising to my feet, I start walking away from them, unable to handle their PDA any longer.
“Ally, wait,” my father calls out, making me pause. I stand there, unsure how to feel about seeing him again after everything.
He had always sat back, watching as I was bullied and battered, my self-esteem eroding day by day.
Sally, the woman I once thought was my mother, was just as abusive, favoring Cheryl and Alecia over me.
I used to think it was because I didn’t have a wolf, but it was because I wasn’t her daughter. And all the while, my father just stood by, doing nothing.
My heart tightens in my chest as I dash into the bush desperate to put as much distance between us. I can’t be near him. I just need to get away.
“Ally!” My father’s voice rings out, filled with worry as he runs after me. But I didn’t stop.
I know it’s reckless to go this far, especially with everything that just happened.
Suddenly, I halt in my tracks. My legs refuse to move, and the overwhelming weight of emotions presses down on me.
Tears threaten to spill, but I fight them back. I won’t let him see me cry. I’m not the weak Alethea he remembers from the Blood Moon Pack. I’ve grown stronger or at least, I want to believe that.
But my body betrays me, shaking as I take a deep, shuddering breath. I can’t hold it in any longer.
I let out a loud, anguished groan, and the dam broke. My body was wracked with sobs, and I cried, letting out all the pain I’d kept bottled up for so long.
In an instant, my father reaches me, wrapping me in a strong embrace and holding me steady.
But I can’t bring myself to return the gesture. My hands remain limp at my sides, unwilling to hold him back the way he expects.
I take a deep breath, fighting the mix of anger and sadness bubbling inside me.
Turning slowly, I meet his gaze. “Why now, Dad? Why are you calling out to me now, after all this time?”
He looks pained, his eyes filled with regret. “Ally, I know I failed you. I should’ve done more. I should’ve protected you, but-”
“But you didn’t!” I cut him off, my voice trembling. “You stood by while I was treated like I didn’t matter like I wasn’t even part of the family. You let her… you let them walk all over me.”
My throat tightens, and I blink rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay. “I needed you, Dad, and you weren’t there.”
He steps toward me, his voice low and filled with guilt. “I was weak, Ally. I let fear control me… I’m so sorry.”
He apologized but it didn’t erase the years of pain. I cross my arms, looking away. “Sorry isn’t enough. Not after everything.”
I want to push him away, to scream at him for all the hurt he allowed. But instead, I stayed there, sobbing into his chest.
Years ago, I would’ve been over the moon if he had held me like this if he had shown even a fraction of the care he’s showing now.
But now, it feels so insignificant.
Maybe I remind him too much of his mate he can never get to be with. Maybe that’s why he kept his distance, even when I needed him the most.
And that is what hurt me the most. Knowing that my mere existence might have been a painful reminder for him, and instead of facing it, he left me to suffer alone.
“I should go meet Selena,” I say, pulling myself away from my father’s embrace. His arms fall to his sides, and he just stands there, watching as I jog back toward Selena.
Selena sees me approaching and opens her arms, I rush into her arms.
“It’s okay, Ally,” she whispers soothingly. “It’s okay to be angry, but he’s your father, and he has his reasons for what he did.”
I lift my head to meet her gaze. “I know, but now’s not the time to dwell on that. We need to get out of here.”
Selena nods in agreement, and we walk together in silence toward the car park.
As we approach the car, I glance back and notice the block of ice Selena used to freeze the wolf is now cracked.
My father stands nearby, staring at the wolf with a suspicious expression as if trying to piece something together.
“Drake, come on, let’s go!” Selena calls out to him.
I turn to her, raising an eyebrow. “Why are you calling him over? Do you want to continue your little escapade from earlier?” I ask with a snort, unable to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.
Selena’s face flushes, and she stares at me through the rearview mirror as I settle into the back seat. Her cheeks are painted with a deep blush, and I can’t help but smirk at the sight.
“Yes, Ally, how does that make you feel?” she teases, with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Drake and I have some unfinished business.”
“Yuck! I don’t want to hear anything about my parents’ private moments!” I exclaim, covering my ears dramatically.
Selena lets out a charming laugh, throwing her head back in delight. I’m in awe-I haven’t seen her laugh like this, genuinely and freely, in a long time. My father’s presence must have triggered this rare moment of joy.
I wonder if this is how I look when I’m around Asher, even though I know he has Maya. The thought makes my heart tighten in my chest, knowing we will never be with our fated mates. It’s a bitter reality, one I struggle to accept.
Suddenly, the sound of the car door opening pulls me from my thoughts. My father slides into the front seat.
My demeanor shifts instantly, and I feel Selena’s eyes on me through the rearview mirror with a pleading gaze, silently begging me to cooperate and give my father a chance.
But I can’t. The hurt runs too deep, and I wish he could understand that.
My father’s calm voice breaks the tense silence as if discussing the weather. “That was one of the warriors from Blood Moon,” he says, referencing the frozen wolf. “He works directly with our pack’s Alpha.”
The color drains from my face as fear and confusion flood my mind. Why were they sent to me? What could they possibly want?