I was not expecting anyone to come for me. I know that what I did to them was hurtful and I do not deserve their sympathy. Neither was I expecting Arden to come for me.
How am I going to face Arden? I wondered. How am I going to face him after everything?
I stood rooted to my spot and the guards did not hasten me up to leave. For some reason, they treated me with respect.
"Why are you treating me well? Why are you not treating me as a criminal?" I asked.
"Our Alpha asked that we treat you well because you are an Alpha of a Pack" one of them said.
I was surprised. I did not expect the Lycan King to tell them such.
Could Xavia be the reason he is treating me well? I wondered.
I walked out of the cell and headed outside. I was surprised to see not only Arden but also Kate. I blinked. She was the last person I was expecting to see.
Why is she here? I wondered.
"K-Kate?" I mumbled and she smiled at me but said nothing.
I could not move closer to them. I stood rooted to my spot not knowing what to do.
Was I supposed to move closer to them and say something? Or was I supposed to stay here until they spoke to me?
"Are you not going home?" Kate asked and I sighed. I moved closer to them. Arden walked away not saying a word to me. I stared at him.
He deserves to be angry with me. I deserve to be treated this way.
"The car is parked over there. Let's go" Kate said.
I followed Kate without saying a word to her. I could not bring myself to say a word to her. I have hurt her too. I have treated her badly when all she showed me was nothing but love.
Our drive back to the Ice Pack was awkward. Arden focused on driving while Kate kept staring out the window. I kept staring at them with no word to say.
I had so much to think about but the silence in the car was becoming unbearable and I could do nothing about it.
This is not how we were before. This is not how we acted towards each other before. Arden, Kate, and I used to be best of friends who loved to spend time together. I can still remember how much we love to play in the garden.
Though I have always tried to avoid Kate because I knew she loved me, I had never thought about hurting her.
Where did everything go wrong?
I wasn't like this before. I wasn't cold-hearted and ruthless before, what changed?
Was it because I became the Alpha at an early age? Was it because I had to learn to command authority at a tender age?
Where did things begin to go wrong for me? For us? And for everyone?
The car stopped and I sighed. We are finally here. I stared out of the window to see most of the Pack members, the elders and my mom standing. I guess they were waiting for us, or rather for me.
How am I supposed to face them? I wondered. What am I supposed to tell them?
"You should come outside. They are all waiting for you" Kate said.
I did not notice that she had left the car already and had come to my side. Arden was already out of the car and was standing beside my mother. He seemed to be talking to my mother because she kept nodding her head.
What could he possibly be telling her? I wondered.
"Gilbert, you have to come outside. They are waiting for you"
"I do not think I can face..."
She smiled. "I can't believe you are saying this, Gilbert. I have never seen you feel remorseful before"
I sighed. "I can't believe I can feel like this either. I can't help it"
She held my hand. "It's a good thing that you are. But I know it will not be easy for you. So you can hold my hand if you feel..."
I pulled my hand away from her hand. "Thank you Kate for looking out for me, but I do not deserve your sympathy. I have hurt you too. I have treated you badly too"
She smiled. "Do you think I have forgiven you? I have not. But I can not watch you go through this alone. Do you think it's because I still love you?". She smiled. "No. It's because I have a good heart and I want you to know that there are people out there who love and care for you. You see every one of them out there? They love and care for you. I also do". I sighed and she smiled. She stretched her hand to me. "So, hold my hand and I will walk through this path with you"
I did not say no to her, instead, I held her hand and stepped out of the car. As we walked closer to them, my heart began to beat fast.
Why am I suddenly feeling nervous?
I tightened my grip on Kate's hand and she whimpered a little.
"I am sorry" I muttered, releasing my grip on her but she held my hand almost immediately.
"I know you did not intend to hurt me. You are just nervous" she said tapping my hand slightly. "I am here with you. You are not alone, so you don't have to feel nervous"
I nodded slightly. We stood in front of my mom and the rest and what I expected was for them to yell at me or tell me what my punishment would be but they did not.
"Welcome back Alpha," they said and I blinked.
"It's good to have you back," the elders said, bowing.
"You should get some rest," my mom said.
I stared at them. Why are they not saying anything to me? Why are they not blaming me for causing them pain? Why are they acting like I had only gone on a trio and have just turned? Why are they acting like nothing has happened in the Pack in the last few days?
"I am so so..."
They did not allow me to finish my sentence before they began to leave. I stared at them sadly.
They would not let me apologize. Why?
"Mom?" I cooed and she turned to face me.
She stared at me for a while before walking away.
I groaned slightly. Is this what it means to be ignored by one's loved ones? Is this how Kate felt when I did not reciprocate her feelings towards me? Could this be how Xavia felt when I as her mate ignored her?
I had never thought that a time would come when I would be faced with total rejection.
Someone once told me to change so that there would not be a time when I would need my loved ones and they would not be available to me.
I can not remember who told me that but whosoever said that to me must have seen that a day like this will come.
Kate patted my hand. "I know how you feel right now. But you don't have to worry. They will come around soon"
**
Kate never left me throughout the time I was alone and she was the only one who understood me and stayed with me. Every day, she tells me that they are only disappointed in me, that is the reason they are not speaking to me yet, and that every one of them will come around very soon.
Just like she said, they finally did. I was happy they did and I asked for their forgiveness sincerely. I told them how sorry I was and that I was willing to step down as the Alpha so that Arden could take over. He is in a better position to take over the Pack. I will also leave the Pack to a faraway land where I can think about all the things I have done and work on myself to be a better person.
They said that they would not accept me stepping down but rather they would see it as me going on a journey to learn about the things that will make the Pack better and I will be returning soon. And while I am away, Arden will take good care of the Pack.
I soon began to prepare to leave the Pack.
"I will go with you," Kate said to me and I smiled.
"I do not want you to. So that I can miss you enough to want you back". I said and she stared at me. I am beginning to see her as my new love interest. I am not sure if I am in love with her yet or if I only felt this way because of how good she has been to me. "I will be back soon. I hope you can remain in the Packhouse and keep my mother company. Not as Arden's sister but as the woman I want to try hard to win back"
She smiled. "I will"