Chapter 20
Aurora
Cloaked in fear, I could hear my father’s pulse beating in his ears as sweat began to tickle down his forehead despite the air-conditioned room.
Horror embalmed his eyes when his phone beeped the second time, indicating a message he received from the Alpha King.
He tried to stay as still as possible to avoid drawing attention, but his teeth began to chatter in fear.
I restrained myself from walking up to him to see the content of his message as his fear started to spread to me, like a communicable disease.
What could the Alpha King ask that put my father in this situation?
My father could withstand tough things without blinking. The wound on his chest was evidence…but this strange message triggered his fear, making it resurface and getting the best of him.
What does the King want?
Despite racking my brain to search for extreme conditions to ask, I couldn’t find any that could trigger one’s fear factor.
Maybe he wanted my father’s pack.
It was no secret that my father could lay down his life for his pack, but this wasn’t enough reason to make him tremble in fear.
Whatever the message was, I knew it was of no good.
His eyes shut in pain as he swallowed the bile rising in his throat when the third message popped in.
My Dad’s notification sound was his best song, but I watched how it rapidly became his nightmare.
Despite knowing how he would love to ignore that message, he wouldn’t dare if he didn’t want to be on the Alpha King’s bad side.
His phone beeping again without him replying meant trouble.
Resigning to fate, his shaky hands brought the phone to his face, but no matter how much he tried, his face wouldn’t open the phone.
One reason I hated phones with face locks.
It was funny how his mood ruined his face and his phone wouldn’t recognize him.
He typed the pin, reading the message with tears hanging in his eyes.
One wrong move and it would spill all over his face.
“Dad, is everything okay?” I asked, before mentally scolding myself.
I was foolish to ask him if everything was okay after seeing his reactions.
He clenched his jaws, blinking severally. “Everything is not okay.”
Fear gripped my heart at my father’s confessions.
At that moment, I knew the message was unimaginably cruel and extreme.
If it was my father’s pack he wanted, he could get it. My father was a hardworking man and building another pack wasn’t an issue for him, even if it would take years.
“What-”
The rest of my words were buried in my throat when the door opened to reveal my Mum.
“Darling, are you feeling pain anywhere?” she asked, rushing to sit on the edge of the bed where he lay.
Confusion washed over her face as she locked her gaze on me.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be in your room having fun?” she tried to pull a smile on her worried face.
“She already knows.” My father’s weak voice stopped her. “Save the pretense.”
“And now it has gotten worse!” He lamented, heaving a deep sigh.
My mother’s face creased in worry as her hand met his firm jaw, stroking it tenderly.
“What happened?” She asked before turning to me, “Your father and I want a private discussion. Please, go to your room.”
What? No!
“Let her stay. This concerns her.” He stopped me from standing, before giving me a pity look.
“Dad, are you okay?” I found myself asking again as my curiosity started to eat me.
I couldn’t wait to know the reason for my father’s reaction.
“We shouldn’t have gone with your idea,” he started. His head shook slowly in pity.
The pride I felt crashed, leaving me lightheaded.
I thought I said something brilliant, why did my Dad make me feel stupid?
That was it. I was never going to interfere in anyone’s business, be it the pack’s affair or personal affair.
Whatever eating the person up could go ahead!
“What are you talking about?” My mum asked with arched brows.
“Somehow, she found out that the pack was under severe attack and came to confront me about it. She offered her piece of advice but it turned out to be a boomerang.” He turned to look at me with a pitiful look still plastered on his face.
“I warned you that the Alpha King’s conditions were extreme. We could have just stuck to the original plan of running away like a coward. At least, that doesn’t involve anyone being taken away forcefully,” he said, emphasizing the last sentence. His gaze avoided my mother’s ones that were filled with questions.
Wait what?
What does he mean by anyone being forcefully taken away?
Who did the Alpha King want to take away forcefully?
“What do you mean by the last sentence?” My mother shot him a look, adjusting her sitting position.
Tensed air gushed out of my father’s mouth as he released it slowly. The feeling of dread crept up from the depths of his stomach as he stared at me. I could hear his loud heartbeat as they were in an irregular pattern.
Were the words too heavy for him?
Was the message that horrifying?
“In exchange for helping me, he wants our daughter as his property,” he revealed before shutting his eyes in pain.
My heart stopped beating as it froze and my stomach turned icy.
My head went blank for some seconds as I stared at my Dad for clarification.
Maybe I wasn’t hearing correctly.
He placed the phone before my eyes and my mother widened when I read the message in bold letters.
He was so specific that he mentioned my name and surname.
I was certain that he wasn’t mistaken. He meant the text.
“I don’t know what to do, Rory. It’s either he gets you as his property or he watches us crumble without lifting a finger of assistance.” His voice shook.
“No! He won’t take my daughter! I won’t let that monster take Aurora away from me.” My mother broke down in tears, screaming at the top of her voice, refusing to be consoled.
Without warning, she grabbed me, hugging me tight to her chest as if trying to protect me from the invisible Alpha King.
“After years of not bonding with her, he wants to take her away from me? Anything but my daughter.” More tears flowed from her eyes as she helplessly sat on the floor.
My heart ached as I stared at my parents’ countenance.
Though my father wasn’t crying, I could sense his heart bleeding.
And for the first time in my life, I knew what it felt like to be loved.
I understood the feeling of not wanting to let the person you cherish most leave.
“Pack your bags, Aurora. Go with your mother to her pack.” My father instructed, keeping his phone aside. “He is not getting my daughter.”
I fled to my room at once, burying my head in my pillow, allowing all the tears in my eyes to soak it.
How did my advice turn back on me?
Why was my happiness always short-lived?
What did I do to deserve this kind of life, Moon goddess?!
I couldn’t even think as my head ached from my sobs.
I didn’t know which option was best.
Become the Alpha King’s property forever or flee to my mother’s pack?
The latter meant the death of my people and perhaps my father. He was still badly injured and he won’t make it alive.
Only a few would survive if we took the option.
But I would save myself.
I didn’t need to become a cruel King’s property.
Confusion swept through me as I thought hard.
The hope of everyone was resting on me.
The enemies were getting closer to the pack house as minutes went by.
Time was running out with each thought. I needed to act fast or I would regret it.
The clock was ticking. The choice was mine to make.
Ticktock ticktock.