Alpha Aidan's Rejection Chapter 88

TARA

　　I figured that it was only a matter of time before I revisited all of my past since I arrived at Attica Pack, Kayla included, but I just didn't imagine in a thousand years that all these while later, she would still have the upper hand, successfully claiming Aidan, just as he had expressed after she revealed her true colors to me.

　　Kayla's smile remained intact, and all I could think about was how well I truly knew her. Looking at it with some clarity now, I could see the striking resemblance between her and the teenage girl from yesterday, telling me that I'd been in the dark about everything for more time than I even knew.

　　It wasn't a pleasant thought, but I wasn't about to let Kayla walk over me anymore. She lost that privilege a long time ago, so instead, I squared my shoulders and stared at her dead in the eyes.

　　"You can cut the act, Kayla, okay? Whatever it is that you thought you had to prove, you did it. Congratulations. But if you think I'm going to exchange words with you, then you're mistaken, and I have a cab waiting on me, so I can't stay to hear whatever it is you have to brag about."

　　I moved to get Nadia into the car, but Kayla's voice stopped me again.

　　"Don't be like that, Tara." My skin itches on hearing her vile mouth say my name, but I didn't react. "It's just…" She inhaled a sharp breath, and as darkness settled in her eyes over the next few seconds, I knew that she had let go of her pretentious mask. I braced myself for her words.

　　"If you had been sensible enough to heed my warning and stay in your lane, most of these wouldn't have happened. Aidan has never been yours, is not yours, and will never be, so it'll be in your best interest to let go from now."

　　I remained silent, choosing not to give Kayla what she wanted. A reaction.

　　Her eyes briefly dropped to Nadia who was still shielded behind me, and a protective growl rattled my ribcage.

　　When her eyes came back to mine, she ignored the warning in them and spoke. "Such a cute little doll you have. It'll be a shame if something were to happen because her mother was ignorant enough to put her in danger."

　　This time, my resolve snapped and I took a step into Kayla's personal space.

　　"Remember that it was almost a decade ago, Kayla." The menace was evident in my tone because this demon did not just threaten my child. "I'm not as naive as I was back then, and I promise you, I'll ruin you and your perfect little world if you so much as breathe in her direction."

　　Kayla smiled, a recognition flashing in her eyes, and she shifted on one foot before she responded. "We'll see."

　　I didn't wait to hear anything else from Kayla, and I quickly nudged Nadia inside the waiting cab. Just before I closed the door, she said. "Aidan sends his regards, sweetheart."

　　I slammed the door shut, closing my eyes to push back the emotions. I can't believe how stupid and clueless I'd been.

　　She really had Aidan all these while, and I'd been nothing but a pawn in their games.

　　Again, my thoughts got the best of me, but a few minutes into the ride, Nadia's voice cut through the turmoil going on in my head.

　　"Who was that, Mommy?"

　　I turned to her, hoping that she couldn't see through me to see just how broken I was by everything that was happening. Keeping my voice leveled, I replied.

　　"Just someone I knew from when I was younger and living with grandma and grandpa. Why…why do you ask."

　　My hand involuntarily found her cheek, stroking it gently.

　　"Is she your friend?"

　　"No, not really. We stopped being friends before I had you and I haven't seen her since then."

　　Nadia's lips scrunched up in contemplation, and I almost found it funny. She sometimes did things out of the ordinary…things that kids her age didn't normally do.

　　"Good. I didn't like her," Nadia shrugged.

　　My eyebrows shot up, but I hid my surprise as I asked. "No? Why?"

　　"She stuck her tongue out at me," Nadia said, frowning, and the small smile disappeared from my face.

　　Kayla did stoop to levels lower than hell. The urge to curse her out or belittle her for her childish act was there, but I needed to set an example for my kid, so I continued to stroke her cheek.

　　"Well, don't take it to heart. It says more about her character than anything about you, okay?"

　　Nadia nodded, and I went back to staring straight ahead with a sigh on my lips.

　　Every time my eyelids dropped, his face would flash in front of my face, and so would all the lies and deceit.

　　It felt so unreal, and I was still having a hard time believing that this was the reality of things because I never felt more alive than when Aidan had me in his arms, kissing me softly, running traces on my skin affectionately, and he accepted me with all my scars.

　　Was that a lie to him too?

　　I knew that avoiding the situation wasn't the best way to deal with things, but if I was being honest with myself, I feared hearing the truth from Aidan's mouth because that would be what would truly destroy me, so I was going to avoid him and focus on keeping my daughter safe.

　　The rest of the journey was a blur, I moved and acted more on autopilot than on my own manipulation, and so were the next couple of days. It affected the quality of my sleep, feeding, my work, but I was really grateful for Riley and Jenna's support, and the event even affected my relationship with my daughter too.

　　I forced myself to show up to the diner days later with the mindset of putting everything behind me, even if I feared that the ordeal with Aidan was going to have a severe toll on me, but I was going to try harder.

　　Jenna was in the diner today, helping me with changing the seating arrangements and the cookie section, and she hadn't stopped taunting me since she came in. She had been a constant presence since we came back from Attica Pack and I gave a sketchy explanation as to why we left without any notice, and without Aidan.

　　"You look dapper today, Tara. Are we expecting someone?"

　　"You've been mocking me for the past three hours, Jenna,"

　　I said, laughing. "I look everything but dapper."

　　"Fine! You look less… dead?" It sounded more like a question, and it held no hate. "At least you've taken care of yourself, and your collarbone is not as obvious as before."

　　"Jenna!" I balked in embarrassment, and she threw her hands up in surrender.

　　"I'm kidding, Tara. I just mean that I'm happy to see you returning to life. I know something happened between you and Alpha Aidan, and I can tell that you've not wanted to revisit it, but I've seen the way he is with you, not to mention Nadia. You don't get to see something like that every day, so if it's possible to fix things, then do it."

　　My throat suddenly became dry and tight, and I swallowed to push the invincible lump back down, even if it was impossible to do so.

　　Aidan had only succeeded in deceiving me and those around me into thinking he cared for us when he didn't. He couldn't possibly care when he hid his teenage daughter from me.

　　"It's not that easy," I managed to say, my voice shaky, twisted with the wrenching pain I'd been trying to bottle up for days.

　　Jenna's face softened, and she went quiet for a moment, letting me know that my hurt rubbed off on her too.

　　"Then you can talk to me about it. Now, tomorrow, anytime. I'll listen without judgment," she finally said, and I nodded, sniffing.

　　"I know. Thanks, Jenna. But for now, let's just get these tables around," I said, pointing to the task we had started.

　　The front door of the diner opened, ushering in a new customer, and Jenna rose before I could force myself to. "I'll take care of it," she said, but I froze as a familiar presence wrapped itself around me, telling me what I already suspected.

　　I turned around sharply, and the room stilled, including the air in it as I took in the view of the person who had joined us in the room.

　　He was here.

　　Aidan.

　　Goddess! This was so wrong, and so unfair the way my body already craved him.

　　I wasn't blinded by his handsomeness this time, even if he still beat all the men I'd come across in my life I'm his own way, but I also wasn't blinded by the rage I expected to feel once I eventually saw Aidan. In fact, the atmosphere just got a tad cleaner with his presence, making it somehow easier to draw breath.

　　What got me to mostly react upon seeing Aidan was the distraught look that was etched on his face, even reflecting in his stature and dressing.

　　His hair was overgrown, his stubble too, lips dry and cacky, and he looked…pale.

　　If I didn't know what I knew now, Aidan could have fooled me.

　　He could have really fooled me.