19: Betraying Us
TARA
What the hell? After all this time. After everything he did, Aidan still dared to tell me he deserved a chance with my daughter?
The same one he was so happy to get rid of the moment he heard about her?
Anger like I had never known before threatened to blind me, and I found it so difficult to keep my voice down.
“What happened, Tara?” Aidan asked, and I hated how calm he was taking all of this. “I can’t wrap my head around how it’s possible… how she’s possible, but I need to know,” he said, running a hand through his hair as he referred to Nadia. “I had reason to believe you were dead, and now I realize I have an eight–year–old?”
I scoffed as I took a step back. “Of course, you had reason to believe WE were dead. I mean, why wouldn’t you? You hurt me, Aidan,” I accused, tears blurring my vision. “I trusted you, and you betrayed me in the worst possible ways, and for some magical reason now, you want my daughter? Are you serious right now?”
Aidan didn’t deny any of my accusations. “I want you both, Tara,” he said in defense, and I shook my head. “And I didn’t‘ believe it because…” he paused.
“Because what, Aidan?” I asked, taking another step forward.
2002
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“Because you saw some pictures?”
283 Vouchers
“Not just that,” he said after a deep breath, and I waited for him to explain further, but what did I get? Silence and heavy labored breaths.
A humorless laugh erupted from my chest, and I shook my head. “Really, Aidan? You really think you stand a chance with me and my daughter if you don’t fully open up to me?” My voice was getting louder. “You come here with a pitiful explanation and a sorry–ass apology, and I should just jump? Is that it?”
www.
If there was more to Aidan’s side of the story, I deserved to know. If he didn’t think so, then he didn’t deserve anything from me either. And that meant we were done talking.
The pain from all those years ago hit me afresh, and it took everything in me to hold the tears back from flooding down my face.
Not only did I have to be the one to endure that much pain, but it was still me who carried the guilt of Nadia having to grow up without being part of a completely functional family.
And all he wanted to do was show up with a pretty face and suit, half explanations, and everything was going to be okay?
“She didn’t get to know her grandfather. Or her grandmother,” I sobbed. “She didn’t even get a chance to see my pack, which is where she should have been raised, and that was because I had to run. To survive. Because of you!”
Aidan shook his head. “I understand, and I’m sorry. That’s why I just want to make things right, Tara.”
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19: Betraying Us
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“This is not the way,” I deadpanned, sniffing. “Sorry doesn’t fix the destroyed years, Aidan. I can’t let you into her life if I still have these thoughts of you betraying me again. Betraying us,” I said. “I can’t put my kid’s life in danger. She’s all I’ve got, and I hope you can understand that.”
“Tara,” he called, looking lost and confused, but I cut him off.
My voice was void of emotions.
“I’m going to ask you to leave, Aidan. Again. But this will be the last time. Next time, I will involve the authorities of the pack.”
I hated that I was threatening him, but I had to do what I needed to keep Nadia away from danger.
Aidan was different when we first met. I never imagined that he would hurt an insect, let alone me, who bore his mark.
Maybe I was being delusional and blinded by our bond, but it happened that everything I thought I knew about him was a lie. It turned out that the loving personality everyone saw even until now, was a well–crafted mask.
I couldn’t say I knew what Aidan, the father of my child, was capable of, but if he sent someone after me the first time, who knows what he could bring to our doorstep again now that what he wanted was involved?
Truth be told, a part of me wanted to make things work for my daughter, but not at a risk to her life. I was doing what every mother would. -Keep their child safe-
I spoke on. “You may rule your kingdom, Aidan, but Vermont pack isn’t Attica, and I have the protection of everyone here,
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19 Betraying Us
288 Vouchers
which is something I could never say for you.”
Aidan’s lost and pained expression could sour an entire room, but that wasn’t my problem.
“Leave,” I said, and I took a few steps away from him, crossing my hands over my chest and tearing my eyes away from him.
At a loss for words, Aidan took dragged steps back until I was certain he wasn’t in the diner anymore.
I lifted my head, and it was then that the dam I had been holding back for so long broke into shreds. The tears came in full force, in violent sobs that shook my body to the point where I couldn’t stand upright anymore.
My head buzzed as I cried, my lungs tightened in my chest, my throat hurt, and there was no doubt that a massive headache was going to come after this.
I laid on the floor, sobbing, until I had no tears left in my ducts to shed. My body was spent, but I still managed to pick myself up because life had to go on.
It took me an extra half an hour to finish up in the diner, and I dragged myself out of the door, ready to get home to my daughter and just hold her in my arms to sleep.
Turning around after making sure I had locked the entrance doors this time, the silhouette of someone in the dark caught my eye, and my heart missed a beat.
Even as my blood was slowly turning cold, I found my voice.
“I thought I warned you to stay away, Aidan? It seriously can’t be
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that hard, so why won’t you listen? Leave me the hell alone,” I said, trying to control my voice.
The figure walked out from the shadows and when the street lights shone on him, I realized that it wasn’t Aidan, but Alpha Collin.
He spoke with a sly smile before could.
“So you do know him. I thought I was tripping for a second there. Well, I guess we have a lot to catch up on, sweet Tara,” he said, and I swallowed.
