CHAPTER 78. A SIGN
HARA
I walked past the lobby of the hotel and headed for Roland's suite. It's been tense at the palace since Ryder was arrested. The warlords wouldn't even let me come out, I had to lie that I was going to see Hailey. Still, they weren't at ease with me leaving. I wouldn't be surprised if they were tailing me right now.
I just needed to speak with Roland. I'm all shades confused, but I had to be sure he had no hand in this crisis Ryder was facing. I know Ryder too well, there's no way he killed those humans. Someone was setting him up, I just need to be sure that it wasn't Roland.
I got to his suite and was gonna knock but I heard his ecstatic voice talking to someone and I had the urge to eavesdrop.
“Yeah, everything's going according to plan. With Ryder locked up, my pack warriors have a good chance of defeating Ryder's four warlords…“
He waited for the other person in the line to say something and then he chuckled and continued.
“I know the four warlords are strong enough, but they are dispirited right now. Certainly in no good shape for war. It's an easy win, trust me,“ He laughed heartily.
OMG, Roland??! He's behind all these? Oh shit!
I listened more eagerly to hear all he was saying.
“Hara is incredibly naive and stupid. I told you that already. She's too obsessed with me to ever see through my lies. Poor Ryder, after all he sacrificed for her, she's still more than willing to abandon him for me. That's how stupid she is. But hey, don't get me wrong. I love her for her stupidity, I wouldn't want it any other way,“
I was already walking away from the door as I couldn't bear to listen anymore. My tears had no restraint as they cascaded down my cheek.
I stumbled into the street dejectedly, unable to tame my tears. I've been so stupid, I've been a bloody idiot. I hurt the one who truly loved me, and all for what? For Roland lies! God, what have I done? How do I fix this mess? How do I make it up to Ryder for all the pain I caused him?
What should I do?
My steps on the sidewalk slowed as my vision got dizzy. Soon, my knees gave and I was slumping to the ground. I heard someone calling out my name but my eyes were already shut and I lost consciousness.
I woke up to an unfamiliar bed and a strange, exquisitely designed room. I sat up, taking in every inch of the room with my eyes. Where am I?
The scent that lingered in the room jogged up my memories with its familiarity. I could be wrong, but this was the scent that twirls around Tiffany.
Just then, she walked in with a glass of water. She set the water on the nightstand and perched her butt on the edge of the bed.
“Are you alright?“ She asked, her voice laced with genuine concern.
I nodded, “What happened to me?”
“You fainted on the sidewalk. I brought you home with me so you could get enough rest,“
“I'm sorry if I was a hassle. I don't know what happened to me. I felt dizzy all of a sudden. Now that I think of it, I've been feeling dizzy a lot lately. And nauseous too, and my boobs kinda feel sore and I get picky with smells and…“ I was forced to quit my rambling as realization hit me hard. Oh dear, am I…pregnant? My hand went to my stomach and I gave it a little caress. Is it possible that I'm gonna be having a child soon?
“Yes, you are,“ Tiffany affirmed my thoughts with a small smile,
“How do you know that?”
”Ryder told me about it a while back. I was just returning from seeing him at where he's confined,“
“What? I don't understand –“
“Ryder said he heard the heartbeat of the child and it synched with his. I don't know, has to be a werewolf thing,” Tiffany shrugged.
I smiled, and nodded, ”Yes, it's a werewolf thing. He tapped into my mind. Oh dear, he knew about it even before I did,“
”Is it really his child?“ She asked me skeptically,
”Of course, it's his child. I've not been with any man since I came to this pack except Ryder,“
“And your ex?“
”What about him?“ I retorted, hating whatever thought she was harboring. Roland might have shown up and brushed me off my feet with his lies but it'll take more than that to let him have sex with me again. So she better drop those thoughts.
“Nope, never mind,” She stood to her feet, “Take a shower and choose any outfit of your choice from my closet. Then you can come down for dinner, and i'll go drop you off at the palace,“
“Dinner? Was it already evening?” Oh no, the warlords would be worried - sick about me. I have to go. ”Thank you, Tiffany, but I need to leave. The warlords might be searching for me by now,“
”Relax. I already gave them a call. I told them you're with me. So take your time and get ready,“
“Thank you, Tiffany. I know you don't like me, and if you could have it your way, you'll take me out of the picture so you could have Ryder to yourself. That's why I know how hard helping me might have been for you, but you still did it. Thank you so much,“
“Yeah, I still do love Ryder a lot and I always will. But you're wrong, helping you is easy because that's what Ryder wants me to do. I'll do anything for him, including helping the woman he loves. I just hope you realize how much he loves you and quit hurting him like you've been doing lately. He's in a twist because of you, the least you can do is be a woman that's worth it,” She finalized and headed out of the room.
Her words struck a nerve and brought me to tears again. I got in the bathroom and had a quick, warm bath. We had dinner and she drove me back to the palace.
I barely alighted the car before the warlords snagged me away from her and led me inside my room.
I'd barely settled in when an Omega walked in and informed me that the Alpha-King requested my presence.
“What? Why?“ I was shocked and terrified to meet him. After Ryder got arrested, he's been in a hell of a mood. I'm scared of what he might do to me.
”I don't know, Ma'am,“ The Omega said and left. I followed her but I was trembling in fear. I hope he doesn't do any harm to me or my child. I hope he has a little compassion for us. I can't bear to lose this child, I can't bear the pain of losing a child again. That one time was more than enough.
She led me to his study and excused herself while I went in alone. The old man was facing the window, and he was dressed in a black robe.
I stopped halfway into the study with my head bowed, and my fingers curling around each other due to how nervous I was.
“I'll be brief, so listen carefully,” His hoarse voice sent goosebumps down my arms. With his back to me, he continued, ”Many years ago, a wise kind thought of a way to bring a certain pack under his dominance. He needed them to swear allegiance to him and sign the peace treaty. What better way to achieve this than sacrificing a few lives? He caused a massive explosion in the pack and it killed a lot of innocent souls. But in the end, the pack was terrified and signed the treaty. So those souls didn't die for nothing, they died for a good cause. I am that King,“ He turned around, stalking toward me.
His narration unnerved me as it was very similar to how my parents and relatives had died a few years back. In a massive explosion. After their deaths, the peace treaty was signed. It couldn't be the same story, right?
”And you are the daughter of one of the victims. So now, do you understand why you can't be with Ryder? He's the son of the man who murdered your family. Don't you feel any sort of bitterness over their deaths? Why would you wanna be with the son of the man who brought them to their early graves?” He seethed, standing in front of me and staring daggers at me.
“Fuck!“ I ran out of the study, unable to hold back my tears. What the hell? Ryder's Father was the one behind the explosion? What a twist! That tragedy remains the reason I'm left without a wolf. When my parents died, it was too traumatic for me. I was just 10, I didn't know how to handle my pain. I kept channeling the pain to my infant wolf until it killed it. That's why I don't feel mate-bond as strong as others do. That's why I believed Roland when he came around and said he was my mate. I couldn't prove him wrong, cause I lost that part of me. I just accepted him, because I was lonely and needed a companion.
I lost my family, relatives, and my wolf to that tragic incident. And all this time, the culprit was living large and solely unapologetic for it?
Just why did he have to be Ryder's Father? Just why? What do I do now? Can I still be with Ryder after knowing what his Father did to me? Will my parents forgive me for staying with the son of their murderer?
Do I leave tonight? But what's gonna happen to my baby? I don't want him to grow up without a Father, and I don't want to be apart from Ryder anymore. I've been foolish enough, so what? Just what do I do now?
Please Moon goddess, give me a sign. Show me what to do. This whole thing is too hard for me to handle.
I got back into my room but flinched at the sight of Giveon.
”What are you doing here?” I asked him, subtly wiping at my tears.
”I came to see if you needed anything. You weren't in here so I was worried. I'm glad you're alright,” He said with a warm smile.
“I'm fine. I just stepped out for a little fresh air,“ I told him. ”uh, how are you feeling about tomorrow?“
”A bit nervous,” He chuckled, “It's our first combat without Ryder. So…”
”Yeah, I understand,” I nodded, feeling guilty, ”I'm sorry…”
“For what?“
“I'm the reason behind this war and I'm not even worth it,”
“Who says you're not?” He laughed lightly, and I didn't know what else to say, “You know at first, we thought of him as stupid for insisting on keeping you. But now, I can't help but think of him as amazing,“
“Why's that?“ I asked.
“The battlefield was his favorite place but he's never been as passionate about it as he's been with you. He's a whole different person when he's around you,”
“Is that a good thing?“
”The best. We went to see him a while ago, and he told us that no matter what happens tomorrow, we should never let you return to your pack. Do you know what that means?”
“That you lock me up?“
“Nope. It means that we have to keep you here, even if it means putting our lives on the line,“
“What? Why would he say something like that?"
”Geez, that's how much he loves you!“
“Still, asking you to lay down your lives is a bit too much…“
“You don't get the point,“ He shook his head, “We're always ready to wager our lives for him. But he's never asked us to. This is the first time,“
I was overwhelmed with bittersweet emotions. There are just no bounds to how deep Ryder's love runs.
“You're the most important thing in his life right now. I just thought I should let you know that. Have a good night,” He gave a curt bow.
“Thank you for letting me know,“ I smiled at him and he left my room.
Deciding this was enough sign for me, I picked up my cloak and headed out to my balcony. I managed to get down from it and sprinted to the front gate, leaving without being noticed.
There's just something I have to do. For Ryder, for me, and our unborn child.