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77: Still Alive
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๋ฐ์ดํธ:
2025-02-03 20:14:36
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Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 78: Soon, Baby, Soon
TARAConsidering the duration of my pregnancy and Nadiaโs eight and a half years, I hadnโt seen my mother in close to a decade, and I hadnโt heard one word about her or anything relating to Attica pack except Adian.My father too, but from the memory of a loaded shotgun pointed at my head and the fury Iโd seen in his eyes, I doubted if my father still wanted anything to do with me even after all this time.Back then, one of the reasons why Iโd contemplated not keeping my babyโan unthinkable thing to me nowโ was the fact that my mom was constantly sick, and my father was barely making enough to take care of us and her medical needs, talk more of a kid.It started with muscle problems, before morphing into high blood pressure, and eventually, symptoms of something more dreadful. I had no idea how bad things had gottenโฆ if Mom was better, or if she wasโฆI shook the thought off my mind. I believed in the power of the mind, so I didnโt want to conjure up any bad news for my family.The eve
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-04Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 79: Getting Settled
AIDANShouldnโt I have been ecstatic that Nadia and Tara were finally coming to Attica pack, where I most wanted them to be, even if this journey was only temporary?No argumentsโฆI was. I was happy for this development, but dread coiled itself around my neck more than joy, making me question if this was the right time, or if once again, Jace was right, and I had dug a grave for myself that I couldnโt get out of.I hadnโt entirely been honest with myself, and neither have I been one hundred percent honest with Tara. My briefcase stared at me, and so did all the evidence from my attempt to change the hands of fate.Documents for a new diner in Attica pack with keys I had intended to give Tara, documents with Nadiaโs name, admitting her as a pupil in Atticaโs most prestigious institution, a new home for them, and subsequently, for us, and even more incriminating information that I couldnโt dare name.These should have been a thing of joy and pride to share with Tara, but Iโd gone and don
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-05Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 80: Greeted With Silence
TARAI didnโt expect to be hit with so many memories as soon as Aidan drove us past Attica Packโs borders, those from the events surrounding my departure, and more from way before then, but I was.Attica pack had changedโin a really good wayโ, 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 wasnโt 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 Aidanโs 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 didnโt 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 eas
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-06Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 81: Tolerating Our Presence
TARAI couldnโt say if I considered it funny now, or something else. For the last couple of days, Iโd been worried sick about the outcome of us coming back here, but as soon as I laid eyes on my mother, all my worries melted into nothingness.It was like she didnโt believe it was me at first, but immediately I said the word, a shocked sound slipped past her lips, and she threw her arms forward, going in for an embrace. On instinct, I did the same, laughing as the heaviest weight of the moment was lifted off my chest.Wrapping my arms around her neck and burying my face into her clothes, I felt hot tears falling from my eyes, and I didnโt bother stopping them. She was alive. She was well, and I got to see her again. To smell that familiar scent of home, of my mother.โMy baby girl,โ she cried, her smaller body racking with aggressive sobs against mine. โI never thought the goddess would bless me with a day to see you again. This has to be an illusion. Please tell me itโs not a dream,โ
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-06Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 82: Rip The Band-Aid
TARAMy mom had insisted we spend the night with them after already staying over four hours there, which honestly felt like minutes with how much laughter and crying we did, but I politely refused, mostly because Dadโs attitude didnโt yield the whole night.Mom offered to clean my old room and set it up for me and Nadia, claiming that they had barely touched anything since after that night, and even if Nadia was excited about the idea, I didnโt want to be back in the space just yet.I promised that we would show up again tomorrow to take off where we left, even going as far as making plans to spend the day in the kitchen, all three of usโme, Mom, and Nadiaโ before Mom finally agreed to let us leave.My gratefulness to the goddess knew no bounds. It hadnโt even been a complete day, and my heart was already lighter as everything was beginning to fall into place.And more than anything else, I found myself wanting to share the good news first with Aidan, and I was surprised that it didnโ
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-07Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 83: Better Now Than Later
TARAโYou know how Aidan has been here for a very long time making sure that weโre okay, weโre happy, and we have everything we need?โ Nadiaโs eyes brightened as she stared between me and Aidan, nodding. โGood. And how a dad always does these things because thatโs what theyโre supposed to do?โNadiaโs smile faltered, mirroring her confusion now. I quickly went on. โIt happens that Aidan is your dad, just like youโve always wished. He always has been, and heโs here for you now.โ My forehead had gone clammy with the tension of the moment, and I felt my heartbeat thrashing in my ears. โHow do you feel about that, baby?โ I asked when Nadia hadnโt said a word for too long.โHeโฆAidan is my daddy?โ Nadiaโs voice was unrecognizable. Small, and unsure.Aidan answered this time, cautiously. โYes, Nadia, Iโm your daddy.โIโd thought about how this was going to play out in my head, and thought about the many scenarios in all directions that this could take. Only one truly stuck, hence my surprise
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-08Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 84: Apologies
TARAI kept on ignoring the voice in my head that had been echoing on repeat, making me question if I had made a rash decision without properly thinking about it. Nadiaโs eyes were swollen with tears, her face, still wet and puffy from sobbing after we broke the news to her. She had let me into the room now, but I still gave her a few minutes for her occasional shudders to calm down before I started speaking.โCan I talk to you now?โ I asked, watching her sunken frame on the bed and wondering when my baby became this smart. I couldnโt say โshockedโ was an appropriate word to describe how I felt when she uttered those words.Nadia nodded, so I steadied myself with a deep breath before I spoke.โAidan, your daddy, and I, first met each other a very long time ago, and as of then, we werenโt very wise to make the best decisions. Aidan hurt me by pushing me away, but I realized that he only pushed me away because he was scared for us and trying to protect you from a bad man who would have
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-09Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 85: Going To See Aidan
TARAThe next days were better than I could have predicted in years to come, and that meant better in the sense of things with Aidan, and even better with my mother. We frequented my old home as often as we could, spent hours upon hours in my motherโs company, and sometimes, even visited twice on the same day for days in a row.My mom was so happy, confessing to it by herself that she hadnโt been happier in years. When she randomly mentioned one afternoon that she was grateful to have seen these days, and would now peacefully go to meet the Moon Goddess, I rebuked her, telling her that I saw her spending many more years with us after this.I truly did.Nadia wasnโt left out in the merriments. Her grandmother showered her with so much love that she was the one who dragged me sometimes to go see her.And then there was my father. Just as I had suspected on the first day when we came, he was only entertaining us because of Mom. Her seeing us must have brought about a time that had been c
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-09
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Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 110: Feelings For Aidan
TARA The attack from the Stonewolves had become stale news. People freely went about their businesses now, so it was no hassle for me to go restocking Aidanโs kitchen with foodstuff one week after everything happened. I had to admit, it wasnโt easy feeding a man the size and stomach of Aidan, but what was a girl to do when he took care of her and their child with so much dedication? Aidan could as well eat portions meant for me and Nadia combined and doubled, and he still wouldnโt be satisfied. It was why the foodstuffs in his house never lasted more than two weeks without needing a restock. His love for food was what made me conclude that it was why Aidan could not only whip up meals that could pass for a chefโs standards, but could also make actual fancy meals! Back to shopping. I loved the activityโs semblance of serenity, so this was a win win. And since Nadia was with Esme for the Saturday afternoon, it was the perfect way for me to spend it. With the trolley in han
Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 109: Home Safe
TARA Everything Aidan said made sense. They were going to try to reverse the Stonewolvesโ curse, and if anyone would have the resources to do so, it was going to be Aidan, whether in Vermont Pack or Attica. But if that didnโt turn out to be successful, we would have to stick to other means of protection, and that included our wolf sides. I wasnโt much of a shifter. I couldnโt even remember the last time I saw my wolf. After everything that happened all those years ago, I couldnโt help but feel more vulnerable than safe when I wasnโt in control of my physical body. Not after Iโd been stabbed in the back, almost taken out at the hospital where I should have been recovering, and having to spend years trying to heal those wounds. I knew my wolf was capable of protecting me, but I just had to get to trust myself on that again. And I had to do it for Nadia too. If she was going to have a chance at being in tune with her wolf side, she had to actually experience her wolf side. No one was
Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 108: Your Safety
AIDAN As soon as Tara and Nadia were out of sight, I did the first thing that came to mind. Made sure the multiple entrances to the house were well secured from intruders and activated the security alarm system around the house. I was back in my spot before Tara came back out, hoping that this plan I had in my mind worked. Having Stonewolves spring up where they both lived was a chance I wasnโt willing to keep taking. Not after the scared look on Taraโs face whenever they were mentioned, bringing back the trauma of her experience with them that prevented her from being able to close her eyes to sleep for months before now. โHow badly was Jace hurt?โ Tara asked, cutting through my thoughts with the sound of her voice, eyes trained on me from across the kitchen island as she picked on her cuticles, nervous about the welfare of her friend, Jenna, and Jace. I shook my head, voice low as I watched her advance. โHeโs out cold.โ The outline of her neck held in a gasp as she asked with
Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 107: How Bad
TARA โI canโt ask you to come with me, Tara. Not when Nadia is all alone at her training,โ Jenna said, the second we got outside the restaurant, her eyes still brimming red with unshed tears. It had been only months since Aidan and Jace first came into Vermont Pack, but I couldnโt blame Jenna for falling head over heels for Aidanโs beta in such a short time. I mean, the same thing happened with me and Aidan. As much as Jenna seldom talked about the dynamics of her relationship with him, I knew she cared deeply for him, but she still had otherโs interests at heart, even when she was currently breaking with the news about Jace being hurt. โJenna,โ I breathed, scared shitless, and worried to my bones for both my friend and my daughter. โWill you be okay?โ She shook her head once, her eyes full and almost spilling over. โI have to be. Be on the lookout, and avoid them as much as you can, okay? Get Nadia to safety and stay indoors till you hear itโs okay to come out.โ I nodded, pulli
Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 106: We Have To Go
TARA Someone else could have been fooled by Kayla acting as if she knew nothing about the text I received on my day off, but even if I hadnโt suspected her, it was still her number that sent me the message. โWhat text?โ I repeated her last question out loud, chuckling lightly, already irritated at the fact that she was ruining my brunch with Jenna who was still fuming across the table, but trying her hardest to remain quiet, letting me handle my business. Beneath all that calm, I could see that Jenna was charged, ready to act if push came to shove with Kayla. Kayla shrugged at the question, and I shook my head. โWhy are you in Vermont Pack right now, Kayla?โ I asked, trying to look for any logical reasons why she would abandon the comfort of her pack to be where no one wanted her. I genuinely wondered. Was it because of Aidan? Or was it for the fact that she saw me after all these years, and found out that she failed in her plan to keep me and Aidan away or ruin our family. โ
Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 105: What Text?
TARA Jenna and I stood in front of the packโs retreat complex on an already sunny Saturday morning, seeing Nadia off to her first day of football practice, and well, it was quite an interesting morning. Jenna was all smiles, encouraging Nadia to crush all her teammates even if it was just her first practice, and I was an entire other case. Nadia had suddenly picked up the interest the evening after we ran into Aidan here, and I wouldnโt have been as shocked if the new hobby interest was cheerleading or even football with a team of girls, but Nadia had stuck to her desire in playing football with all male kids team. I was not going to stop her from trying out what interested her, but it made me ask myself some questions, as most mothers would, seeing as this wasnโt the first time Nadia was choosing to do something that most young girls at her age wouldnโt be interested in. โCome on,โ Jenna said, pulling me by my arm away from the complex entrance, and out of my thoughts. โWe donโ
Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 104: Men Who Should Be Castrated
TARAAs soon as I crossed the entrance door to Jennaโs living room, her petite frame was the first thing I saw leaning by the door that connected her two rooms, and I halted, freezing like a teenager caught returning from a party she was forbidden from attending, intoxicated on all the wrong things.To make light of the situation, I teased her, saying. โHi, Mom.โThe lights were switched on now, and yeah, she looked everything like the angry mama in the sleepwear, red hair messily piled up on her head, while I looked like the rebellious daughter.Jenna only studied me for a few more seconds before her face scrunched up in disgust, only that I could see through it to know that it was faux, one hand coming to waft an imaginary smell away from her nose.โYou. Reek. Of. Sex!โ โJeez, Jenna,โ I bellowed, eyes wide in horror as I kicked my shoes off, crossing the room to where she stood. โDonโt say those words with Nadia in the next room hearing you,โ I cautioned, and Jenna only waved me aw
Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 103: Not Coming Home
TARAThe otherwise perfect date had been ruined by Kaylaโs appearance, so me and Aidan called it a night early. Not that we couldnโt continue with our evening, pretending to not have noticed her, or choosing to ignore her outrightly, and not that I was worried Kayla would go and find Nadia, but my evening had already been soured with not just the topic of the dangerous Stonewolves wreaking their havoc now, but also with seeing Kaylaโs face in Vermont Pack.I needed to go back to Jennaโs to be with Nadia and put her to bed, and Aidan understood this, as he drove me to her apartment, just fifteen minutes away from his inviting home.โI need to go over some more details with Jace before I call it a night, but call on me when youโre ready to leave, and Iโll come pick you guys up, okay?โ Aidan spoke once we reached Jennaโs, and my mind broke away from the thoughts for a second, snapping back to the present.โThereโs no need for that. Weโll call for a ride, Aidan. Handle your business,โ I a
Alpha Aidan's Rejectionย ย ย 102: Announce Herself
TARAFor the days that came after that, I couldnโt go past a few minutes without thinking about all the unholy things Aidain did to and with my body in his room that night, and neither could I stop my body from shuddering whenever I recalled how dark and heated his voice had gone when he commanded me, owned me, and treated me like his property.By the time we were done, both spent, and many hours after I had put Nadia to bed, the side of Aidan that Iโd come to know and love returned to me, stroking my scars, reassuring me with his words, taking care of my body, and cleaning me up, minutes before I drifted into absolute bliss.This was our new routine, only that we added so many dates to the listโฆand the flowers as well as the shopping supplies.What could I say? A girl was getting spoiled, and she wasnโt complaining.Aidan went through with his promise to get me at least ten other flowers before I could choose a favorite, even going overboard because I truly lost count of how many flo
