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Chapter 6

Aria.

"Aria, please open the door sweetheart," Dad's concerned voice requested.

"Please, my baby. Open the door," I could understand my mom's voice that she was on the edge of crying.

I had kept myself locked for almost the whole day. The first few hours mom and dad didn't bother me as I had asked but after that their concern kicked in. It had been more than an hour since they are trying to get me out of my room.

The tears hadn't stopped since, but they surely lessened.

The ache in my cheat was what increased time by time.

I could hear my parent's continuous questions asking me what happened and why I have locked myself. But what will I tell them?

That I found out my mate kissing another she-wolf? And my bully is who turned out to be my mate? They didn't even know that Hunter and my relationship has turned into something like this. I myself couldn't understand what was the reason behind his change them how would I have explained it to my parents?

"Aria, please open the door," Dad requested again, "Tell us what happened? We'll fix it,

We promise."

If only you could fix it, dad! I wish you could!

The invisible wounds Hunter had given me over the years could never be fixed. Never.

"Please, sweetheart. Open the door, talk to us," Mom pleaded.

I knew I was hurting them, my silence was hurting them. I didn't feel good locking myself here knowing that my parents are getting worried. But I wasn't in the state to answer their questions whereas thousands of questions were rising in my own mind.

But despite my agony and the pain burning like an untamable fire within my body, I was aware that I wasn't doing right by hurting my parents whether it was unintentional. They did nothing wrong, besides they had the right to know every single detail of their daughter's life.

I glanced at the corner and saw it was late, the night had crept up without letting me realize it.

I knew I didn't have the courage to tell my mom and dad everything, they have a good friendship with Hunter's parents and his parents were good people. At the very least I could mention, they've never hurt anyone despite having the power to such a powerful pack. I didn't want to mention any event or anything between me and Hunter that might hamper their friendship.

I'd already let Hunter ruin my peace, but I didn't want to let him be the reason for something bad such as arising arguments between my and his families. Though there were rare chances that Hunter's parents would be proud of their son's deeds or support him in any way still I didn't want to take any risks.

But for now,  I need to get out of the house. My first shift was coming closer and the burn on my skin was just a sign of it.

I wiped my tears, intaking a deep breath I got off the bed. My head was aching due to crying all day long. I had to force my body to take the next few steps I had taken to unlock the door.

I clasped the metal doorknob and twisted it, the opening sound of the door must've got mom and dad's attention since their requests stopped and silence engulfed the atmosphere.

I opened the door and their faces came into my view.

Oh no!

Mom's eyes were glistening in tears and dad didn't look any different.

The last thing I wanted was to make my parents cry.

"Aria," Mom pulled me in a hug, I could feel her worry and the slight shaking of her hands. She held me tightly to her as if I would vanish in a blink.

"What happened sweetheart? Who hurt you? Tell us," Mom moved to cup my face in her hands wiping over the tear stains. I tried hard not to break down.

I could not tell them the truth. Not now.

"Just tell us once, Aria. I'll solve it," Dad walked closer and stroked my hair, "Nobody will dare to say anything to you, I'll take care of it. Just tell me."

I knew my dad had power many members on the pack, even so despite being the beta he held equal power as the Alpha and if he gets to know the truth, I knew he would forget every rule and commit something that might create conflicts in the pack.

I had to cope with my problem by myself. Yes, the curse was for me and I had to bear it myself.

"Mom, dad.....I am okay," I sighed, swallowing the so that threatened to get out.

"No, you are not. You don't need to lie to us," Mom assured, "We can fix it, did your mate say something to you?"

That's the thing, mom...The only time he said something to me was when he insults me.

"Mom, I'm telling you that I'm okay," I spoke this time I could hold myself better than before.

"How could you be okay? You have been crying the whole day, you want to believe that you kept yourself locked in your room for any particular reason?" Dad began, his tone was soft but I could sense the anger too and it was not directed at me.

I knew my parents, I knew what they might be thinking. The farthest they could think was that my mate said something hurtful to me or rejected me. Werewolves getting rejected by their mates for another pretty she-wolf wasn't uncommon.

"There are some things I can't tell you now," I stammered, putting every drop of strength as I uttered the next words, "I need to fight my battles on my own."

"But, why? Why are you saying such things all of a sudden?" Mom's voice got impatient, I could partially feel the trembling behind her words and the apprehension she tried to hide, "You are our daughter, and we are here for you for any circumstances. You don't need to bear anything or fear anyone."

"You both trust me, right?" I questioned taking mom and dad's had in mines.

"Yes but..." Dad began but I cut him off.

"Then don't ask me any more questions about it, I'll tell you both once I'm ready," I said, keeping my words collected as much as I could, "Trust me, I won't hide anything from you. I just need some time, for myself."

A short-lasting hush fell between the three of us, Mom and dad seemed to exchange looks although the concern on their faces hadn't faded an inch.

"Okay, we won't push you for anything you are not ready to disclose yet," Mom was the one who broke the silence.

I managed to force a small smile, and pull her in a hug, "Thank you for understanding,"

"But you've to promise us something," Dad spoke and made me look at him after I had broken the hug.

"What is it?"

"You'll inform us if anything gets too much for you to handle or cope with and let us deal with it," Dad caressed my cheeks.

"Yes, I promise," I let out and a smile stretched upon his lips. He leaned down kissed my forehead, his arms went around, and pull me for a warm embrace.

"Aria," Mom's soft voice came into my hearing.

"Yes, mom," I answered glancing back slightly to look at her.

" There isn't much time left for your shift, you know that right?"

"Yes, I'm aware of it," I nodded and pulled away from dad.

"You don't need to worry about it, the first shift feels painful at the beginning but it doesn't last long," Dad assured and caressed my cheek.

"I'm not scared dad," I smiled, "I'm your daughter, remember?"

A soft chuckle slipped past his lips so did mom's and he petted my head, "Yes, I do,"

It made me feel somehow better that at least I could make them smile after worrying them so much over something they still didn't know. But, I wasn't going to hide it from them for long. I was expecting Hunter to reject me very soon and that would be the end.

An end I could put in our story.

"Are you excited to meet your wolf?" Mom questioned, a smile had formed on her lips.

"Yeah, I am," I replied, forcing myself to put on one last smile before I was going to head out towards the forest.

I hated the fact that the first news my wolf was going to hear was that our mate was our tormentor. But it was true.

It was a curse I had nothing to do with but to accept. Someone had said the truth--The truth hurts. In fact, It kills you inside without even letting your screams reach out, without letting the pain creep out. It leaves the cracks everywhere that you can't mend and it slowly kills you inside until you can't feel yourself anymore.

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