CHAPTER 57
This could have been my perfect date with my boyfriend, who happens to be my only best friend in this town. I thought that the place Gelo picked is a safe one. It happens that the alpha is going to be here, ruining my fucking date.
He grinned like he wins a reality television show where the father caught his daughter dating someone he doesn’t want to. Why does he always think he’s winning? Why does he’s always the one with power? Is it because he is the leader of the werewolf pack in this town? Or because he is a man?
Just because he’s a man, it doesn’t mean he can claim everything he wants.
He can never take me away from the family that took care of me. He already killed my brother, Mom, and Dad.
After all, he never became a father to me.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. Galo rushed behind me. He touched and caressed my hand which somehow calmed my system. The man in front of us is the one who ruined lives in this one.
The antagonist of everyone’s story and I don’t need any reminder.
“Is it wrong to fetch me a nice cup of coffee while watching my precious daughter flirting with somebody?”
I clenched my fist so hard I could explode into something. I hate him. I fucking want to hurt him! “I wasn’t flirting. I wasn’t just with anyone. Angelo isn’t just somebody because he has a name and he is my boyfriend!”
When he tried to step forward, I step back. Little hairs around my skin started to pickle. I’m still afraid of him. After all, who am I to face the strongest man in this town?
I decided to pull Gelo outside the coffee shop. He brought our things. Maybe it is better to avoid than to confront. I’ve always been afraid of confrontation, especially when it is the guy who’s making my blood boil. I don’t want to stay in that place with the person who is supposedly my father, yet he’s a person who ruined lives.
A father makes someone’s life better not ruin them.
He followed our marks. His presence entangled me when he starts to let out a breath. Shit! He wasn’t just going to let us leave.
“Where are you going, Catherine? You’re running away just like what you did last time? Still afraid to face me? Afraid of your own father who misses you? The father who had been looking for you for years. A father who’s longing for the love of his very own daughter. Or maybe your mind had been blown away already by your mother.”
I wasn’t afraid! I am mad! I am furious. More than that. Hurting him is the only way that could bring justice to my family. He’s like a target I want to shoot an arrow at. I wonder how his wife fell for someone like him. I wonder if she really loves and wants him or if she just wants to obtain the power that he has. Either way, she’s a fool for marrying a monster.
“I am not scared of you!”
“My dear, Catherine… You only listen to your fucking mother. Your mother who’s whore and a mess. A mother who couldn’t provide anything for you.”
I started to wimp. His words were hurting me. He’s right my real mother couldn’t provide anything for me. He’s right because he’s the one who turned Mom into a mess like that. He’s somehow right but not always. The key difference between them is that Mom never took anything away from me. Mom claimed me and my family. She never separated me from my family. Instead, we created a larger family.
“Just let us go, Mister.” Gelo composed himself, still on the verge of comforting me. He gritted his teeth. I knew how much he hates my biological father as well.
This is a date he prepared for days. A date when we should be reading books and drinking our beverages. And now, the alpha is trying to ruin it for us. Who is he to ruin every single fucking second of my life?
His head tilted from left to right then he grinned. If I was just holding a gun right now, I would’ve blown it straight to his head. “So you think you’re powerful now just because you’re dating my daughter.” The alpha turned to me. I wiped out the remaining tears that scattered through my face. “You are a fool to fall for this guy. He’s nothing. You have a huge status in this pack. You’re strong and a well-respected one. You don’t have to settle for less.”
“In regards, Mister. I did not love Catherine for her power. I love her and I…”
I cut Gelo off. I have to say this. If now now, when? “I love him. And he loves me better than you do. I cannot compare Gelo to you because I don’t love you. And I never did.”
He spit on the ground. His face was plastered with disappointment or maybe anger. I really don’t care. I know in my heart and soul, that’s the thing that he deserves.
“I hate how harsh you are, my sweet little child. If I were the one who raised you, you won’t be growing up like this. You should accept the truth, Catherine. You are my daughter. The day you are born and you breathe your first air, you are destined to have that power. You are destined to lead a pack. Your blood is the same as my blood. Your thoughts are the same as my thoughts. Your good is the same as my good. Your evil is the same as my evil. Your light is as dark as mine.” He stepped forward, closer and closer to us. I gulped hard as if a stone blocked my airway. “You are destined to lead my pack. You are destined to be the people’s leader. Are you sure you’re going to let go of that by falling in love with this boy? By only listening to your mother? I pity you.”
He gave me a devilish smile. His hand crept to my skin, from my hands to my shoulders. I felt cold and devilish. I wanted to let go but I can’t move as if I was frozen in this spot.
I fear him. I fear the things he might do again just to own me I fear I might lose another person because of my pride to fight him. Now that Gelo’s the only one with me, he’s the easiest and closest target. I fear if I let go of this crucifying interaction, I’ll lose the love of my life.
I have to speak and I was about to let words escape from my mouth. I was about to embrace my fear, to let go of it for a second. But Gelo’s fist smashed through Alpha’s face, so hard, it knocked him back.
Gelo plunged forward. I can’t do anything because it felt like chaos. I covered my mouth as Gelo tried to attack him for the second time. Alpha’s fast. He dodged and pulled a Swiss knife from his pocket to slash it forward. Gelo’s arms bled.
Alpha was about to strike again, straight to Gelo’s throat, but I blocked him. I put myself between them. I couldn’t let this man hurt my boy. It couldn’t happen that another person will protect me again, then I’ll lose that person. It can’t happen anymore.
“Don’t hurt her!” Gelo screamed. His face reflects how painful the cut on his arm was.
Alpha stopped and slowly chuckled. The chuckle grew bigger and more evil. “Boy, how pity of you to think you can just beat me. I spent more years training and fighting than the years you lived in this world. Your strength is just a pinch of my skin. You’re too far from it.”
He headed parallel to me. He stared at me, eyes intense, a match kindling inside his heart. His eyes don’t show that he’s missing me anymore. He’s enraged, his eyes could transform red at any moment.
He grinned. So wide, so proud. Then he slaps me. I could feel my head bouncing through the ground. He slapped me in shame. He despises me more than much I despise him. It’s equal now. He lost his patience or may he’s been like this even before. Anyone can dare to hurt anybody, even his own daughter.
I touched my cheeks, which were burning in pain from his slap. I don’t know what with his palm that it hurts like this. This man never tried to be my father. He never wanted to be one. He used it as a game. He used his sperms to produce an heir, to produce someone who could lead his pack. When he loses, he can’t accept it. He’ll ruin everything afterward.
“You dared to do this thing to me. You ruined what you are. You’re not my daughter! You chose your fucking mom over me. You chose how weak humans are over how powerful you could be. And you… Deserve to die like everyone else.”
Before I could receive another slap from him, Gelo pulled my hands and we ran away. For now, this is a better option. Even if it’s two versus one, we are not prepared for this day. For now, he’s the man and he got the power.
But it wouldn’t stay that way forever. Sometimes, the stronger human is a woman…