Mommy, I Want A New Alpha Daddy

Don't Forget

AZALEA'S POV

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There are no in-between lives, nor is there a little path to follow. It's a storm in the middle of the ocean where the waves continuously try to push the boat over, and I'm dangling on the edge, my hands bleeding from the raw friction against the steel as I fight for my life.

"You really dislike me this much?" Corbin's laugh dies down into a stoic one, the joy slowly fading from his eyes, the shimmering blues becoming dull as the storm clouds over his orbs.

I never disliked him, but I didn't like him either.

"I don't dislike you," The words come out strained and shaky, and even I think I'm lying. "It was the Academy, I was a dick." He huffs, shaking his head regretfully. "You weren't," In all honesty, all I saw was a competitive, young man who wanted to please his father, just like everyone else in the Alpha Academy, but what made him stand out wasn't his dark raven hair, but the way he chose me to compete against.

"I was," Corbin retorts, snorting. "No," I drag out, sarcastically shaking my head with furrowed brows. Snorting, he raises a brow at me, "You were the person to compete against, and I wasn't going to loose." The determination takes me right back to the combat field, under the gaze of dozens of us, yet we stand here alone, on my childhood home's front steps, sharing a memory of the days where I was...well, me.

"Because I was a girl?" I scoff, rolling my eyes. I've asked my parents why I was the only child, and what my father told me still sends chills down my spine.

'Dad, why did you never try for a boy?' I ask as I sit with the acceptance letter to the International Alpha Academy in front of me, folding the edges of the delicate paper as I stare at my father from across the table. Mom pours dad more coffee, scoffing lightly as a small, proud smile curves her lips upward. Dad only smiles, humming lightly like a bird outside the window as you pull yourself out of a deep sleep. "Because I knew." He breathes, eyes meeting mine over his laptop screen. "When you were born, I saw it in your eyes." A fire sparks in his own like he still remembers the day like it was yesterday. "I saw the fierce look, the determination and the will power any Alpha has, and I knew then that I didn't need a son, because I had a daughter with an Alpha heart."

A shiver erupts all over my skin as a soft smile tugs at my own lips at the memory.

"Goddess no, because you were the best," My eyes widen at the honesty dancing in his eyes right beside the light that reflects in his orbs like the sun reflecting on the water surface. A monstrous snort rips from me as I stare at Corbin wide-eyed. "I might have looked the best, but what you didn't see was how hard I tried." I didn't have fun with the rest of the boys. I didn't party or do wild cliff jumping.

I sat in the library, or sparred on my own with a dummy to work on my techniques. I didn't live my life, and I sure as hell didn't let anyone beat me thanks to my mother's wise words.

'Azalea,' Mom enters my room as I pack the last of my clothes. She sits down on my bed, crossing one knee over the other. The light catches in the diamond earring. 'I'm almost done,' I beam. 'I have to tell you something,' Mother sighs, her voice heavy and solemn, the total opposite of her poised and proper exterior. I falter, sitting down in front of her, 'Is everything okay?' --Is dad okay, is what I wanted to ask. 'Everything is fine, sweet-pea.' Her smile is tight, but her eyes shine brightly. My mother's gray-blue hues hold hope in them. 'Then what is it?' I smile softly as the weight rolls off my shoulders. 'Let me tell you a little secret,' the wicked gleam in her eyes intrigues me, but what has me hooked is how she straightens herself, as if she's about to prepare me for battle. 'Men are stronger, some faster, but what really brings them down is their ego.' Her eyes widen in alarm, 'I don't bruise your father's ego because I'm his partner and mate, but you, my sweet dear, you will have to storm that academy fiercely and work thrice as hard to even level with their tricks, schemes and strengths. Men do not like to see women on top, but you, my sweet-pea, will shine brighter than a full moon, only if you work for it. And you have to. You have to be the best, because you'll be the only woman there. You'll be the only thing that stands in the way of you inheriting this pack, do you understand?'

She's why I got it right.

"Don't do that." Corbin snaps me out of my past, luring me back to my messy present and even messier future. His eyes are narrowed on me, the look of displeased burned into his features. "Don't do what?" I hug myself as a cool breeze kisses my skin. "Don't undermine how talented you are, Azelea. You might have worked for it, but you also had great talent." His eyes shine with purity.

No one, not even Elion has ever said something like that to me. He never acknowledged how great I was. I mentally scoff. I doubt he even knows what I did for his pack.

"My dad taught me most of what I know." I admit with a bitter taste as the longing pushes up against the walls I've kept up the entire day. "Most?" Corbin quirks a brow, and I suddenly find myself wondering why I'm telling him these things in the first place.

We aren't friends, but would rivals help each other out?

"A story for another day." I shrug, "You should go," As if the Goddess herself heard me, she sends my mom to interrupt. "Azelea, who's your friend?" Mom's tired voice is like nails scraping against stone, burning my ears as I inwardly flinch. I turn to her, and immediately notice the hallow look in her gaze while she plasters a fake smile on, wanting to look kind and welcoming, but is the total opposite of it. I've seen that look in the mirror a million times over, and I've worn it like it's signed after my name too.

"Mom, this is Corbin. A friend from the Academy." I don't miss the look Corbin sends my way at the word friend, nor do I miss the weird sense that washes over me. Corbin isn't a friend, but more like an acquaintance. "It's nice to meet you, Corbin. I'm Octavia." My mother nods sternly, and I can see how tired she is. Hell, even Corbin can see it. "Of course, Luna Octavia. My condolences for your loss." His smile is firm, his eyes filled with pity, and a surge of anger bubbles beneath my skin.

"I should help her, I'll probably see you around." My smile is tight as I find the perfect excuse for him to leave, and if he won't, then I would have no problem escorting him out too.

"Of course," Corbin lightly bows his head, walking down the steps. I push open the door when he calls my name, "Azalea," My name is a soft whisper, something delicate on his tongue. Facing him, his eyes are round, filled with kindness, "Don't forget who you are." A simple reminder, a reminder that smacks me at the back of the head as he walks away.

'Don't forget who you are,' Was written on a sticky note on the note board above my desk, something I stared at for seconds to even minutes when I sat on that uncomfortable wooden chair, contemplating if I was good enough for the International Alpha Academy.

Before I could ask him about it, he's gone. A stretch of land is before me, but there's no hint of Corbin or his shadow.

"What was that about?" Mom asks, snatching my attention from the open field. I turn, following her inside as I try to scramble for an excuse, "Nothing." I sigh, shaking my head, and luckily for me, she's too tired to fish for more information.

"Where's Lyra?" Mom asks, surveying the lounging room for a tiny body. Through all her hardships and heartbreaks, my mother still has something holding her together, a little me, a replica of my being. "In the first bedroom I could find without letting Corbin sniff through the house for something to use." I don't know why I said that, but I don't want her to think that he's my friend.

"Isn't he your friend?" She asks on que.

I don't know what Corbin is, but I wouldn't call him a friend.

"I didn't want to be rude, but no. He is not my friend," I sigh, my chest deflating as air is pushed out from my lungs. I slip my feet out of the blister-forming heels, and when my bare feet touches the cool marble floor, instant relief floods through my bloodstream like drinking icy water after a long day in the sun.

"He's very nice looking though." Mom's attempt at a normal conversation sucks, but I smile and roll my eyes to interact with her.

We both plop down on the couch, each one across from the other, and we slouch. Our gazes meet, and for one single moment, there is peace. There's no dead dad, no cheating ex-mate, but there isn't light either. It's a comfortable, suffering silence that we both fall into, until she breaks it by asking, "Did you suspect it?" And I know that she's referring to Elion and Bexley.

I shake my head, too tired and too emotionally drained to speak any longer. "Do you want to talk about it?" Another shake of my head, because I know.

I know that she feels the hallowness creeping in like a monster that's about to attack.

She's doing the motherly thing by checking up on me, but even if the Goddess herself brought back my father to us now, I still wouldn't have the energy to talk about Elion.