Chapter 13 - Mari
1380 Words
I slipped inside my family home, having been excused by my Alpha, after a brief explanation through mindlink. I knew I had household chores to complete that I would never be excused from, grief or no grief at the loss of my fated mate. My father expected chores to be completed. Not that I would ever share with him what I had lost today. He cold never know my fated mate had been here. I would hold that close. Grieve my loss alone. Like I deal with everything else. But first, I would allow myself a short while to cry. Allow the pain to flood from my body.
I walked through the hallway, planning to slip straight up the stairs to my bedroom, and collapse onto my bed to sob my heart out. Hope to cry my pain away. I could not believe that my fated mate had gone. The one the moon goddess had chosen for me had been snatched so cruelly away from me before we had even had a chance to talk. I knew who he was, but didn’t know him. He was a mystery to me, like a fated mate should be. A mystery waiting to be discovered. Yet, Rafe would forever remain that mystery, for my chance to discover all there is to know about my mate was gone. It was like I had been aware where he was, but did not get the chance to meet him properly. That was agonising. And hearing Beta Hudson's words only made me question if I had spoken up, would things have been different? I will hold that doubt... that guilt in my heart forever...
I cannot help but think it would have been better never knowing him. He was a warrior, they are trained to fight. They put their lives on the line for their pack almost every day. Him dying and me never knowing could have been for the best, as awful as that sounds. Losing something you did not know you had would not have hurt so much. I would have continued on through my life clinging to that same hope that somewhere, out there was a fated mate for me that I would one day meet and he would come and sweep me off my feet… save me from my cruel life… my hell… the abuse… oblivious to the fact he had already gone. But that hope would have given me something to live for... Now I wasn't sure I had anything.
As my footsteps sounded along the hallway while I edged toward the staircase, I heard a throat clearing from the lounge. “I didn’t think it would be long until you were back.” My Father’s tone was icy cold. Why would he know I would be back? Because he was aware Alpha Carter was leaving?
I was aware he had been present when Rafe had died. The warrior who had rushed to Alpha Carter to notify him had stated my Dad had offered to deal with it all, so Alpha Carter did not need to be disturbed, so I knew he was aware of that occuring, but did he know the pack guests now planned to leave? And, if not why would my Dad assume I would be returning home?
“Alpha Carter and his men are preparing to leave. Alpha Aaron did not have the paperwork completed correctly so the arrangement is currently paused.” I began to explain, earning a grunt from my father like he truly did not care. Yet I continued regardless. “And they have lost one of their men.” I added for good measure, despite knowing he was fully aware of that.
“Just one of their men?” He questioned, as I lowered myself to sit upon the bottom step of our stairs. Was he implying that more than one man had died while visiting? Alpha Carter had seemed irate about the death of one, I could only imagine his fury at more than that…
“I believe so. Only one was mentioned.” I said quickly, my mind quickly running away with itself, wondering if I should mindlink Alpha Aaron to check if there had been more than one death reported. I wanted to make Alpha Carter aware there could have been another death, but had no way to contact the man myself as he was not of my pack so I shared no direct mindlink to him, and did not have a contact number.
My Dad was suddenly up on his feet, a snarl slipping from his lips. “I know there was only one death you imbecile. I f*****g dealt with it, while you all sat around having afternoon tea and f*****g up a business arrangement.” He snapped, as he stepped from the lounge doorway. “What I asked was, so he was just simply one of their men, was he?”
“A warrior or guard I believe.” I explained, unsure where this conversation was going. While I may have been present as Alpha Carter learned of the death, I did not remain with him as he rushed off to deal with it, due to my own grief. I had been so lost in my own pain at learning of the loss of this new man I held all my hopes upon, that I did not follow Alpha Carter as my father perhaps would expect, as his assigned assistant for the day; so therefore did not see him dealing with the aftermath. All I knew was I had been dismissed, and had been told they were planing to leave, which had been the plan before learning of the death anyway...
But my lack of detail was evidently not enough, and I regretted my decision, as immediately my Dad was in front of me, a strong scent of alcohol lingering over him.
Drinking had become his thing since he lost my mother, according to family and friends. Something he once did for pleasure he now appeared to do for necessity. Something he required simply to get through a day. And that had only worsened over recent years. I hated that stale stench of alcohol that hung over him.
“So, he was nothing but a warrior, huh?” Dad leaned right into my face, that stench of whisky stronger now as he all but breathed it into my face. His eyes searching mine for an answer. His gaze was intense. Angry. What was I meant to say? I had no intention of admitting to him who the man was. This was why I had only notified my Alpha of the fact he was my mate, made him aware so he would allow me chance to leave with him. I had no formal requirements to tell my father. For I knew he would have stopped it in anyway that he could.
He saw me as his puppet. A slave. A plaything. Nobody else seemed to realise it. Dad swore that nobody would believe me if I spoke out about him either. And with the respect and high regard most held for him within pack, I had always feared he was right. But, now I was getting older, my fated mate would have been the one way I could be guaranteed a way out. And today my dreams had been dashed…
I swallowed heavily, leaning backward, my back up against the hardness of the staircase, just to get a little distance from my father. His stare was darkening by the moment. A mist of anger descending over him. And that was never a good thing…
“Are you going to give me a f*****g answer then?” He snapped, his fist impacting the step, close to my head, making me jump and shriek all at the same time. An evil laugh slipped from my Dad’s lips, like he gained pleasure from hearing me scared.
“I don’t know.” I stuttered, not knowing what he wanted from me.
“Oh, you don’t know. Hmmm, you sure of that?” He demanded. “You might want to think carefully on that answer, Mari.” His words held a threatening tone to them, and in that moment, I knew that he knew…
- Writer
