CHAPTER EIGHT

(…painful resolve)

Alex's POV

Alex flinched due to reflex. 

“I didn’t mean to scare you”, the young man immediately apologized, adjusting a circular len closer to his eyes “Are you related to any Sherlyn Blake?”

Alex, who was still trying to recover from the shock, examined the man in front of him, from his neatly dressed hair down to his white tracksuits, like one who just completed a workout session. 

“And you are?”, he asked in curiosity.

“Just a new friend of hers,”, the lad went on.

Alex watched his mannerisms closely. Sherlyn was 24 but the person claiming to be friends with her looked way younger. It was too early for her to start making friends, male friends at that, he thought. With jealousy stirring up inside him, he responded,

“And what makes you think we’re related?”

“I just felt to ask. My instincts are usually right most times”

He marveled at his blabs--no doubts he looked nerdy.

“When did you meet?”, he asked, trying to read his intentions and the validity of his claims.

“Couple of days ago—in a park”.

“Well, I’m her husband and we’re having our first child together” Alex replied, feeling a strong sense of possession over Sherlyn. “You might not be lucky next time with your instincts”

“Oh! I was aware of her pregnancy but she never spoke about having a husband. You’re lucky to have such fair lady”, he smiled and turned to leave.

Alex continued his way into the hospital while pondering on the new face. He sensed something off about him but couldn’t place it. He shouldn’t worry about a total stranger, he thought. He had a tangled life to fix.  

Charlotte was fast asleep. It was getting really late. The pack must be searching everywhere for him, he thought. He paced around the hall, anticipating the arrival of any of the medical attendants in the ward where Sherlyn laid. A nurse came out hastily. He ran towards her, 

“Is she awake yet?”, clueless of the right question to ask.

“You’ve to be patient sir”, she replied without sparing a second of her time.

He had two options; either to leave Sherlyn and hope she survives, or stay with her and miss his wedding, which sounded like a good way to avoid the forced marriage anyway. 

Few minutes passed, and no positive news. 

Finally, the doctor came out, 

“Mr. Wills. She’s responding well to treatment. She’s still very weak but you can check on her”

 Alex didn’t wait for any further response before pushing the door open. 

Not until he saw her did he realize how much he loved her. It felt like a fresh flame of emotions had been ignited in his heart. He creeped slowly to the side of the bed. She looked a little different from the last time. Her face was puffed and filled with red blemish with her belly more pronounced. He felt a rush of guilt as she squinted at him. She groaned mildly at an attempt to sit up. 

Charlotte joined them not long, with a nurse holding the baby. 

“He needs to be fed”, Charlotte said to her, while patting her unkempt hair.

She feed the baby with breast milk and returned her gaze on Alex, who stood speechless. 

“Have we met?”, she asked weakly, looking back at Charlotte, 

Alex realizing their unresolved issue in the past, sought for the right words,

“Yes, we’ve.”, he replied, wishing to retract his words. 

She wore a straight face.

“We met years ago…in a bar”, he continued.

None of his words seemed to strike a memory as she retained her expression.

Alex rethought the urge to explain further. She was already in enough distress. 

She looked down at the feeding baby, with tears streaming down her eyes. 

“Why did you come back?”, she asked, without looking up.

Alex eyes widened in surprise. 

“What do you mean?”, he asked, also feigning a memory loss. 

She lifted her gaze back at him, with sorrowful eyes, 

“I remembered everything the moment I delivered the baby. Don’t give me that pretense”, her voice had strengthened. She looked back at Charlotte again,

“And I know you are not my mother. I don’t see the need for all your lies, anyway.”

“We wanted your quick recovery”, Charlotte explained.

“We?. I should have known.”

“I hired her to take care of you. It was needed”, Alex interrupted

“And who requested for your help? You didn’t think of taking me to a safer pack and the alpha…” she paused, when she caught a confused look on Charlotte. 

“Excuse us for a while, Charlotte”, Alex requested, realizing the intensity of their discussion. 

“No. Excuse yourself from my life. I don’t need your services and lies. I can take care of myself.”

Charlotte stepped out of the room after replying, “It was nice working with you”

“Sherlyn, listen. All I did was to make you comfortable. Don’t make me regret my actions. Do you know how much mess I’m in right now?” 

“Oh!. I’m so sorry my prince. I’m the cause of all your misfortunes.”, she mocked. “I’m so enjoying my life right now. Isn’t it great to be a single mother with no family? Not to mention among beautiful humans”, she continued her sarcasm. “And yes, your son would be so proud to have a father that rejected him to please his f…”

“That’s enough Sherlyn”, he shut her up, already feeling exasperated, trying to comprehend what warranted all the attitude. 

“I don’t care what you think of me, but I don’t want you feeding Xavier with your lies about me.”

“Xavier? Who agreed to call him that? What right do you have to name my son without my permission?”

“Our son, you mean. I still remain the father of the child whether you like it, or not, and I’m choosing to take full responsibility”, he was getting pissed.

“No father would behave the way you did, Alex. Every time I think of our journey together, I blame myself for believing your stupid lies! What happened to all the promises of convincing your father about me? And then, you thought it necessary to make love to me the very day your engagement to the princess was announced. What can you say to justify that? And then you hired a cheap matron who felt my recovery can only be hastened up but spilling lies all over my face”

“It wasn’t without your consent and I still love you”, a fact, he couldn’t deny, to his own detriment.

“If this is your definition of love, then sorry, I don’t want it. I’ll find a better man and not some selfish loner like you who think they can use people and get away with it all because of some ridiculous title they carry”

He didn’t understand why he chose to stay, despite the guilt trips.

The baby began to cry. 

“Shh. It’s okay, my dear”, Sherlyn fondled the baby. “I’m here to protect you from people like your father. He doesn’t deserve us”, the baby seemed to be satisfied with her words as he fell quiet again, staring into his mother's eyes. There was no doubt he took after Alex, aside the red hair. 

Alex knew whatever he says would do nothing to appease her. He stood silent. It was already half past nine. He had to go prepare for his wedding. He dares not mention it to her. 

“What more do you want?”, she asked, with clenched teeth

“The doctor said you’ll be discharged tomorrow”, he replied flatly, as though angry with himself for loving a woman this much.

“So?”

“I thought you’ll be needing help, now that that Charlotte isn’t available.” 

“I don’t need your help, Alex. I can take care of myself”

“And by what means do you plan to achieve that? You don’t have a job and you just had a baby”, he stated the obvious. He had footed all the expenses alone.

“There are a million jobs I can apply for. Keep your filthy money”.

He had tolerated her independence long enough to get angry. He assumed it to be the celebrated hormones associated with motherhood. 

The door swung open, but it was neither a doctor nor a nurse. 

Alex was startled.

“Mother?”