Chapter 131

Enzo:

I walked down to the dining room to frown when I saw that Alaria got up the second I walked inside the room.

Her eyes refused to meet mine, and I had to force myself to look way as I leaned in and kissed the crown of my son’s head. Ashton smiled and looked up at me with cheerful, calm eyes.

“Mama says that I can’t go to school today, daddy. She says that it is too dangerous.” Ashton said, and I nodded.

“Well, what do we do when mom says something to us?” I asked, smiling at him. He looked at the door for a moment before pulling me closer to him. knew that everyone would hear what he says, but I doubt that he understood that concept.

“She is very sad, papa.” He said, and I closed my eyes only to process the new name that he called me.

“No daddy this time?” I asked, and he shook his head, making me chuckle. I kissed his cheek one more time before pulling a rose out of the vase that was on the countertop. My eyes met Yasmin’s, and she nodded, silently letting me know that she would watch over Ashton as she got up from her chair to sit beside my son.

I walked toward the back garden, she normally either went to the library or the garden, and considering that we didn’t have a library in this house just yet, I figured that the garden would be the place for her to be.

“You don’t need to follow me wherever I go.” She said, not even bothering to turn to look at me. I didn’t say a word for a moment, but I walked toward her and put the rose behind her ear as I normally did when we were married before things grew as messed up as they did.

“I know that I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I understand your anger and I respect your decisions.” I whispered, putting a hand on her waist gently. I turned her to face me and she put her finger on the rose, running her finger over i rit.

I tucked her hair behind her ear and put my finger under her chin, forcing her eyes on mine, even if for a moment. “I know that I was wrong in everything that I did. I broke you in a way that I know that would have had another woman grab my face and break it in return, you didn’t do that and for that I am grateful. I know that I don’t even deserve your gentleness with me nor do I deserve the kindness that you keep showing me…

“Enzo, you saying that now is not going to change the reality of things, nor is it going to erase the past that the two of us have been through, I have been forced to endure, and the present that I am forced to have my child in.” She said, stopping me. I looked away from her for a moment before nodding in agreement.

“Things got to where they are now because I was stupid and still ant. I was fooled into believing a lie that wasn’t going to be true,” I said, taking a deep breath. “When I was told of our arranged marriage at the time, I told them that I didn’t want it.”

“What?” She asked, frowning in confusion. I looked away from her for a moment before putting a hand on her waist, turning her around for the two of us to walk. She followed close beside me, and I removed my hand, crossing it over my chest as I was forced to relive the memory.

Flashback:

“We have found you a suitable woman to be your bride. The marriage between you is not only going to bring peace, but with her being an Alpha blood, it Is going to make our family line stronger. Mom said, and I frowned, closing the book that I was reading.

“Excuse me?” I asked, trying to process what I just heard. Katherine, my mate, was the first thing that popped into my head as I looked at my mother who didn’t even bother hesitating for a moment. The two of us had a plan to meet up later tonight and after last night, the promise that I made to her, one that would be bounding our love and relationship/I couldn’t imagine betraying her like this.

“Her name is Alaria…”

“I did not ask for her name, mother.” I said, stopping her. “I am not going to marry a woman of your choosing, one that I don’t even know.”

“That is not your choice to make, and I will not have my son marrying a waitress who he met at a restaurant simply because you claim that she is your mate.” She said, making my heart drop to my stomach. “You have yet to mark her and neither has she done you, and that is going to mean the end of your relationship. You are not going to see her again and I will be sure that you do not…”

“And if I am to mark her?” I asked, challenging her.

“Then you are to lose everything that we have given to you. And that includes your title a: Alpha and your pack.” She said, forcing me to fight my wolf from letting out a low growl. Her eyes glowed, understanding my anger, and mine did too. “I have allowed you many things, and I have been patient, long patient, with you, but this is the final straw. If you wish to go rogue, then you can be with her; however, if you are to think of your pack, your own future, and everything that you have trained for, then you are to be here for tonight’s dinner. She is going to be coming”

“I have plans with Katherine tonight. I am not going to leave the woman…

“Then you are to break up with her within the next hour.” She said, stopping me. “The choice is yours, and I hope that you aren’t foolish enough to make the wrong decision.”

End of Flashback…

“It was the first time that I felt like my hands were tied, and I couldn’t even voice it out. You had no fault in this, and I knew that you were just as forced.” I said, watching as Alaria looked away from me.

“Why didn’t you tell me, Enzo?” She asked, and I scoffed.

“What would I have told you?” I asked, “it was something that I was forced to bury in my memory, deep inside, and the wound was one that didn’t heal easily. At some point, I knew that I was going to be forced to let go, but the more I wanted to, the harder it became.”

“And when she came, when she told me about Alonso, I swear, Alaria, I didn’t want this to happen.” I said, and she took a deep breath as she fought back her tears. “But at the same time, it was all lever wanted. I know that it might not be a reason, but I want you to understand that I went from being happy with the woman to her being kicked out of my life overight. And when I first married you, no matter how hard I tried, that wound was one that I couldn’t heal.”

“Until the day the two of us fought and despite the argument, the accident…”

“I remember getting that call that night.” She said, stopping me.”

“I was scared.”

“And despite the fight, me hurting your feelings, you still stayed beside me, helped me, tended to me, and even went as far as not to eat until I was asleep because you knew that I couldn’t” I said, taking her hand in mine. “While yes, I don’t deserve a single chance from you, I will ask for it. Because I swear, know that not a single sout in this world is going to be able to take the place that you have settled in. And though I might not deserve it, at least you know what truly happened. Maybe if things had been different, they wouldn’t have been the way they were. And though it doesn’t justify me, I hope that you can take the moment to understand me. Because believe me, Alaria, you are the family that I want. And I am willing to fight until the end of time to make that dream, a dream that you once had and the one that i do now become a reality. That is my vow to you, neonata…”