Alpha Aidan's Rejection Chapter 80

TARA

　　I didn't expect to be hit with so many memories as soon as Aidan drove us past Attica Pack's borders, those from the events surrounding my departure, and more from way before then, but I was.

　　Attica pack had changed-in a really good way-, but with the anxiousness and the bad memories this place brought up, I would have turned around and headed back where I came from if Aidan wasn't with me.

　　He must have noticed my dampened mood, seeing as he rushed in and out of the large penthouse after showing Nadia to her room. Not even the jaw-dropping gorgeousness of Aidan's condo could get me to relax.

　　As soon as he got back, Aidan took my hands in his, automatically calming me down, and he led me to a sofa. His eyes held the most understanding and patience, something I was so grateful for. Aidan didn't know that this was more than just facing my parents after the tragic event years ago, but also some dark traumatic experiences of mine that I barely thought of anymore because it was way easier like that, but that didn't affect the way he handled me still.

　　"Can you tell me how you're feeling?" He asked, tracing the back of my palm in small circles, and sending a zing of calmness over me like a psychic.

　　I swallowed. "I know this is a good idea, b…but I'm scared of the outcome," I admitted because that honestly summed it up. The admission brought tears to my eyes, but I blinked them back, willing myself to get past this. "I just need a moment to pull myself together, and I will go find her," I added, to which Aidan simply nodded.

　　"Can you shoot me a text around twenty to thirty minutes ahead of when you want to leave? I'll come back for you."

　　The offer warmed my heart, knowing that Aidan was with me through thick and thin, but if I truly wanted to face this, especially my father, I needed to do it alone, so I shook my head once.

　　"It's okay, Aidan. Thank you for wanting to come with me, but I think I should do this on my own."

　　Lines appeared on his forehead in a frown.

　　"Are you sure you don't want me there? Just for moral support?"

　　I shook my head, offering him a smile, and hoping that it conveyed the rest of my feelings that words couldn't describe.

　　Aidan nodded. "Okay. Call me if you need anything, Tara, okay? Anything."

　　After a little while of helping me get our bags in the right rooms, and making sure I got a list of places where I could reach him, Aidan left me and Nadia in his penthouse.

　　I tried to take a nap, but even the soft materials of Aidan's king-sized bed, and equally luxurious pillows could not get me to lose myself to sleep. I tossed, turned, and huffed, finally giving up on anything productive after about an hour.

　　Nadia was crashing already, but I hoped that she would be up within the next few hours, and we could handle why we were here. I needed to know my fate.

　　So I spent the time waiting for her by taking a hot bath to loosen the tension in my neck and limbs, then I took my time in hiding the circles behind my eyes, and picking out a decent outfit. I spent more time fussing over the unnecessary details like the non-existent lints on my dress, instead of what I would do when I saw my parents after all these while.

　　When Nadia finally showed up at the room to my door with an expectant smile on her face at five PM, most likely enjoying the escape from her normal environment to something entirely new and different, I breathed out a strained sigh. I just hoped my daughter also wasn't in to be disappointed.

　　"Are you ready to go see the people we talked about?" I asked quietly, and Nadia nodded, her smile still in place.

　　I quickly got her ready, and we were off in the direction of the familiar building I once called home.

　　'What would I first say to my mother?' I thought to myself.

　　'What would my father say to Nadia now that she was more than just a fetus in my stomach?'

　　These and many more ran through my mind as buildings zoomed past us in a blur on the way to the other side of Attica pack. At some point, I began to wonder if it was such a good idea to refuse Aidan's presence in this.

　　When my former home came into view, I was surprised that the old house didn't seem as dreadful as I once thought it to be.

　　It just looked…void. Cold.

　　A chilling sensation ran down my back.

　　Was that because my Mom was gone?

　　Saying a prayer to the Moon goddess, and running my hand down my dress repeatedly, I held on to Nadia's hand for support, and we approached the house.

　　I knocked, but was greeted with silence, each passing second sending my heart into another round of spirals. Nadia was looking up at me with wide ignorant eyes, and I smiled at her, patting her hair affectionately.

　　'If they still don't accept you, know that it's not because you're not loved, because you are."

　　The line sounded in my head, and it was like I was speaking to myself more than to my kid.

　　With a slightly clenched fist that was going to knock again, the door was unexpectedly pulled open, and my breath hitched in my throat.

　　Frail, having spots of graying hair at the temples of a receding hairline, and a shadow of the scary man I had thought of for the last nine years plus, my dad looked…unrecognizable.

　　"Dad," I breathed, hit by so many emotions, none that I could particularly lay a finger on, and I watched and waited for his reaction.

　　He looked like he had seen a ghost as his gaze filtered down to Nadia clutching my side, and back to me, but other than that, I got nothing.

　　Before I could open my mouth to speak, a weak gasp echoed from behind my father's frame, and on blinking, she appeared beside him, taking me back to that day when they both barged into my room as I confessed my situation to Kayla.

　　"Mom," I whispered, tears fast filling my eyes, and she made a choked sound of disbelief before stretching her arms out to me.