Alpha Aidan's Rejection Chapter 90

TARA

　　I made sure the doors were properly locked before interlocking my hand with that of Nadia's. We were taking an evening stroll because I needed to get out of my head, and I hoped that being outside would give Nadia something else to transfer her energy to instead of pestering me on when Aidan was going to be back.

　　Not a moment had passed that I didn't think about Aidan's words when he came by the store, no matter how little they were.

　　Was there a chance that this wasn't the end?

　　Was there more to the story than…

　　No!

　　I was getting out of the house so that I could stop my mind from taking a downward spiral, not to give myself an avenue to think more, so I shook all lingering thoughts off my mind.

　　"You ready?" I asked Nadia, and she nodded, tugging my arm to pull me forward.

　　Movement from the pavement of the next building caught my eye, and I turned to see that it was Esme sitting on her balcony with a tray on her lap. She was deep in concentration, and I thought about walking past like we didn't see her for more reasons than one.

　　It was a futile attempt because as soon as we took the next steps, her head snapped up, and a smile lifted her face, so I changed directions and made a quick break to say hi.

　　"Tara," she acknowledged with a smile when we closed the distance between us, and her eyes filtered to Nadia. "You, my princess, are growing so tall, I would not realize that it was you if we were to cross paths somewhere in town."

　　Nadia just giggled politely, not knowing what Esme was talking about, so I used the moment to take her in.

　　A memory struck me of when Nadia mentioned how scary Esme looked sometimes as I took in her misplaced hair which most definitely looked like a wig right now. I stifled my laughter, taking on her slightly wrinkled forehead, drooping cheeks, and hollow eyes which were all a result of her aging.

　　"You're beading?" I pointed to the tray on her lap that contained small blue pearls, just so I could take my mind off the impolite thoughts.

　　Esme studied me with a cocked eyebrow for a second before she spoke. "I would indulge you in the small talk Tara, but I see you trying to mask that pain, so are you going to tell me why you've been miserable ever since you returned from your vacation with Nadia and that young man who so happens to be missing now?"

　　I inhaled sharply at how direct Esme was with her words, but then again, she had always been in some ways.

　　It all returned to my mind's eye. The sight of Kayla reveling in her glory, the teenager calling Aidan Dad, and Aidan not bothering to deny it. The urge to drop to my knees and sob in agony hit me like a speeding train.

　　Sealing it within me was going to eat me alive, so with the hope that it would hurt less worse if I opened up only a little, I spoke.

　　"It's just some things that happened recently. My eyes have been opened to see that he may be what I feared him to be from the beginning."

　　I was speaking in parables, and I was sure Esme wanted to ask about the details, but she didn't.

　　Her features softened as her next question came through.

　　"Is it something so unforgivable? And are you sure you have the full story? You might be missing something."

　　I raised my head up, drawing in a deep breath and wishing it were strength.

　　"I don't know," I answered honestly. I didn't know just how far back Aidan's lie went, and how much I was capable of letting go of.

　　"Well, life is way shorter than you think to live on I don't know's, child. You have to be certain about whether he deserves your compassion or not because that's the first step to truly becoming at peace with yourself. Trust me," she said.

　　I stared at Esme till the meaning of her words settled on me, or at least to the extent that I understood. I didn't know how to respond, so I just nodded. And honestly, I needed that stroll now more than ever, so I bid her farewell.

　　"Thank you, Esme. We'll be back before it gets real dark, just in case you hear movement from out here later."

　　She nodded, pinched Nadia on the cheek, and returned her focus to the task she was engaged in before our arrival.

　　Hand in hand with Nadia, we trotted the sidewalk, with me being deep in thoughts, and Nadia commenting on every detail she could pick up.

　　So much for taking a stroll clear my head about Aidan because shit didn't happen, and when I pulled myself from my subconscious state, taking note of where we were for the first time in close to thirty minutes, I saw that it was where Aidan brought me at the end of our date weeks ago.

　　The Pack's retreat complex.

　　I chuckled internally because Aidan did say he set up the facility for those who just wanted to get away from whatever was happening in their lives, and me and Nadia had found ourselves here. What I did not expect though, was to run face-first into the man I was trying to get away from.

　　Aidan looked surprised to see us, while I just froze as the air left my lungs. Nadia, on the other hand, wrenched herself from my hold, and ran in Aidan's direction, going to embrace him.

　　I gritted my teeth at the scene but did not move to take Nadia's moment from her. I saw Aidan hesitate for a few seconds to embrace Nadia, and then he finally did.

　　"I missed you!" It was Nadia who spoke, and I guess this time, Aidan could not hold back his emotions any longer as a smile crept up his cheeks, lighting his face up while I burned inside. Well, I couldn't hold my emotions either.

　　"Come here, Nadia," I motioned, my tone clipped, effectively masking my unbridled anger, yet leaving no room for arguments.

　　This man lied to us, so he lost the right to be happy when I was dying in hurt.

　　With Nadia back at my side, I didn't need to be in Aidan's presence anymore. I didn't know which hurt more at the moment. The web we found ourselves in now, or me walking away from the man who is supposed to be the love of my life.

　　"Tara, will you please give me a listening ear and let me talk to you?" I shook my head once in response, knowing that if I spoke, I wouldn't be able to hold back the years.

　　Aidan spoke again, seeing my hesitation. "I just want to explain what you saw."

　　I spoke this time, crossing and uncrossing my arms from my chest. "And how am I sure it's not all going to be another one or your tricks?"

　　Aidan squeezed his eyes shut. "I deserve that and more. But I promise you, Tara, I am one hundred percent going to be honest with you. I have papers to show you. Just give me a few minutes, please?" Aidan looked around hurriedly, then spoke again. "There's a children's section that Nadia can stay in while we talk. It's safe. Let me come clean and you can decide if you want me to stay away forever or not, although I selfishly hope not, Tara."

　　Just as he said that, Esme's words replayed in my head, and I drew in a deep breath.

　　"Fine."

　　Before long, Nadia was giggling her lungs away on a swing, while mine felt like they'd been sandwiched between a tire and graveled road.

　　Aidan led us to a bench outside the main Retreat Complex building, and I sat down away from him so I could think with a clear head.

　　Folding my hands across my chest, I approached the hardest thing I'd done since going back to my parents after being disowned, knowing that whatever I got out of this conversation could scar me for the rest of my days. I looked Aidan in his eyes, and I asked.

　　"How long have you been lying to me?"