ONE NIGHT WITH MY EX'S FATHER

MY MOTHER IS NOT A HARLOT!

MALIA'S POV

From one flashback to another, I was stuck unraveling the most embarrassing memories of my existence for at least a full minute.

The times I fell asleep to Lowe complaining about having to raise me, my mother's ‘greatest mistake'.

The times I intentionally excluded myself from friendly gatherings with Lupita's friends from school because she was too blinded by fun to see that I was being treated differently, almost like a maid.

The time I caught Kurt in bed with Lupita who was supposed to be the one person I could trust with my own life.

The times I had felt like absolutely nothing, like a grain of salt on the cold hard ground which everyone stepped over to get to their different destinations.

Now I was supposed to say yes to Alpha Alaric and take on a new life in the same town I had been bullied for most of my life.

I could already imagine the talks that would follow, the stares I would receive everywhere I would go.

I know I'd always longed for a day when I'd finally be free to be my own person and excel above the bullying, but having THE ALPHA asking for my hand in marriage was never on my bucket list.

It was one thing to say yes to the Alpha and distract myself from the commotion that would follow with his riches, but it was another thing to be sure I really wanted this life no matter how comfortable I felt with him.

A tap. Then another. My attention was drawn back to Alpha Alaric still on his knees before me, and I felt like the entire world in my palms.

He had one hand on my left thigh, as if he'd known I'd zoned out completely.

I shut my eyes for a second.

“I'm sorry, I…” I began.

“It's alright. I'm sorry for springing this on you all of a sudden, but I want you to know I'm serious about this” he said, his eyes boring into my soul.

“I need some time, Alpha…to think about this. It's a bit sudden, you said it yourself. I'm sorry” I responded, choosing my words carefully as I watched his expression dampen.

He sighed, getting back up on his feet.

“I respect that, Malia. Whenever you're ready, I'll always be here for you” he replied, his rich baritone voice giving me slight goosebumps.

“Just remember I'm not getting any younger” he joked.

An unnecessary joke, I might add, especially since he was as fit as his own son, if not even more.

I let out a mild chuckle, more for the uncomfortable fact that I would be returning to Lowe's house, than for the fact that I found his little joke funny.

Two hours later, I was back at Lowe's house. I took a deep breath and walked inside.

I came face to face with Lowe at the entrance which was shocking especially since he was set to return the following week.

“Welcome, uncle” I muttered.

He barely acknowledged me with a head nod and we walked down the hallway together.

The entire house was a hot mess with clothes in different parts of the house and ash from burnt items that had stained the floors.

I tried to take my mind off the fact that Lupita had burnt my stuff earlier and I tried to calm myself down by imagining that she had not burnt anything else that belonged to me.

Every room in the house was turned upside down with piles of clothes, paper, littered everywhere.

With every judgy look Lowe gave me at the entrance of every room, I felt lucky that I had come home after him.

Lupita however, was not home. I got to work, trying to clean up the mess from room to room in the small house as Lowe disappeared to the back of the house.

I heaved a sigh laced with devastation and got on my knees, picking up things that were on the floor.

For a moment, I felt at peace with Lupita not being at home.

A sharp growl from Lowe scared me to my bones.

I could tell he was angry and I tried to imagine what must've happened.

Had Lupita burnt something of his too?

I jumped up almost immediately, not knowing what to do.

I scrambled down to the back where he was and his back was turned to me.

“What happened, uncle?” I asked, my voice shaky and barely audible.

He turned sharply and charged at me, his two hands circling my neck.

“Ugh…I…I…ca…can't…breathe…pl…ease…uncle…”.

His strong hands pressed my neck to the extent that I was sure they had left some marks.

I was at a risk of passing out as seconds passed.

He let go of my neck and I fell to the floor coughing.

Tears clung to my eyes and I felt betrayed. I had never imagined despite the insults, that Lowe would ever want to take my life.

I was speechless, staring at him for a full minute after regaining myself.

I still didn't know what was going on. And then Lowe stepped aside from the wall he had been looking at when I came, and my jaw was nearly on the floor.

In what I assumed to be ashes from the burnt items, a large inscription was written on the wall that read:

MY MOTHER IS NOT A HARLOT.

Lupita had struck again.

I knew Lowe was never going to believe that I had not done this. Why would he anyway? It was me, the cursed relative.

It still didn't explain the attempted murder he'd just tried.

I was going to apologize for the inscription and clean up immediately, when my eyes rested on the urn on the ground whose contents had been spilled.

His wife's urn which had been around since I was a child.

The ashes were his wife's ashes.

Shit!

I would've never imagined that Lupita would hate me enough to disrespect and disregard her own mother's ashes just so she could frame me and get rid of me. I was doomed.

Lowe barged inside without a word and returned with a bag containing most of my clothes which he threw on the ground close to me.

In a voice stricken with grief and anger, he warned me.

“I never want to set my eyes on you again, or I'll actually kill you”.

It was dark outside and I knew this was the last straw.

Lowe would never welcome me back to his house, and even if I managed to buy some time for myself, Lupita had proved that she would not rest until I was out of her life and I didn't want to wait to find out what extent she would go to again.

I turned on my phone to check the time after I had gathered the rest of my things into the bag, and it was almost midnight.

If this experience wasn't enough to make up my mind, nothing else would.

My mind was finally made up.

As much as I needed to be away from the bullying, I needed security that was wrapped with genuine care.

I needed to damn the consequences and be with someone who actually cared for me.

I called Alpha Alaric's number and he answered immediately.

“I made a mistake coming back here. I thought…I would find the reassurance that I've hoped for for several years” I began.

“I'm sorry to hear that, Malia. What do you want to do now?” He asked.

“Yes”.

“Yes to…?” He asked, slightly confused.

“Yes to your question earlier today. I'm ready to be your wife” I said, my voice stricken with determination.

He went silent for a few seconds. Then his voice appeared again.

“Thank you so much, Malia. I love you. I'll be sending a car to pick you up immediately and bring you to my residence” he answered with a hint of accomplished pride and genuine happiness.

I had mixed feelings but one stood out among the rest…the bravery that Alpha Alaric's love had given me.

I was finally going to be far away from this unbearable life.

I couldn't wait to find out what being in love to an Alpha had in store for me.