Chapter 6 - Persuade
1217 Words
Melissa’s POV.
After storming out of Liam’s office, I went straight to my room and locked the door. But only moments later, a series of knocks echoed from the other side.
I didn’t move to open it. I didn’t want to see anyone. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Honestly, I just wanted to stay inside this room until the pain that was tearing my heart apart finally subsided.
“Melissa, open the door,” I heard Amber’s voice call out.
I squeezed my eyes shut as I sat on the edge of my bed, my shoulders slumped in exhaustion. I didn’t have the strength to talk to her.
“Lisa, please…” she begged from outside. “I’m sorry.”
I inhaled sharply when she called me by that nickname. Ever since I became the Luna of the pack, everyone had treated me according to my title. They no longer spoke to me casually or freely like they used to.
Biting my lower lip, I hesitated. But in the end, I got up and opened the door. Amber’s face greeted me, filled with concern and desperation.
“Lisa…” she called pleadingly. “I’m really sorry.”
I merely stared at her as she reached for my shoulders and turned me to face her.
“I wouldn’t have kept the pregnancy a secret from you if Alpha Liam hadn’t repeatedly told me to,” she explained. “You know me. I never wanted to hurt you.”
But she had hurt me anyway by doing this to me…
I returned to my bed, and she followed. I sat down again, staring blankly into space while she remained standing beside me.
“Why, out of everyone, did Liam turn to you to take care of Vicky?” I asked after a long silence.
It was one of the questions I wanted to be answered, though deep down, I already knew the answer.
“Liam needed someone he could trust who wouldn’t reveal Vicky’s pregnancy, and you are the best choice…” I concluded. “Am I right?”
She lowered her head and nodded. “Alpha knew I wouldn’t talk. That no matter what happened, I would keep anything disadvantageous to you a secret.”
Silence enveloped us once again. My mind was still plagued by countless thoughts that refused to give me a moment of peace.
After a while, I noticed Amber clear her throat as though gathering the courage to say something.
“Lisa…” she began. “You need an heir, and so does the pack. So why not let Vicky help you and Liam have one?”
I turned to her in disbelief. Why did everyone want me to simply accept this? To agree without question? They hadn’t even asked for my opinion, when I was the first and rightful person who should have known.
“No,” I answered firmly.
“Lisa, think about it—”
With tears in my eyes, I shook my head. “It’s not fair!” I nearly shouted, causing her to step back in surprise.
“What isn’t fair?” she asked.
“Can’t you hear yourself, Amber?” I hissed in frustration. “It’s not fair to Vicky, to me, and especially not to that child. When that baby is born, then what? Will I be the mother, or will Vicky? What kind of life are we giving that child? What if they grow up confused, not knowing who they’re supposed to call their mother?”
No one would win in that situation. No one would truly be happy. Someone would get hurt, and perhaps that pain would last a lifetime.
“That child isn’t an object you can use to fill what’s lacking in our lives,” I added.
“But having an heir for the pack is the most important thing, isn’t it?” she insisted.
I continued shaking my head. It was easy for other people to tell someone what to do. But if they were in my position… Could they really do it?
I looked away from her and stood, walking toward the still-open door.
“Can you leave for now?” I spoke in a weary voice. “I’ll talk to Liam about this once I’ve sorted out my thoughts.”
She looked like she wanted to protest, but in the end, she simply nodded. “Okay. I understand.”
She turned to leave. I turned away as well, no longer watching her, but I sensed her stop at the doorway. And before she finally walked out, she spoke softly.
“Alpha loves you.”
I closed my eyes and clenched my fist. Then, after several moments, I heard the door shut.
Absent-mindedly, I gazed at the setting sun outside the window, and I couldn’t help but ask myself— if Liam truly loved me, then why was he pushing me away from the life that was supposed to belong to the two of us?
***
Liam’s POV.
When Amber returned to the office, I immediately stood up from my seat, noticing the sadness on her face.
“What did she say?” I asked.
She heaved a sigh and shook her head. “She wants to be alone for now, Alpha.”
Worry instantly filled me. “Did she refuse to talk?”
“Not exactly, Alpha,” Amber answered. “But she said she’ll talk to you once she has sorted out her thoughts.”
I lowered my head. I didn’t know whether I should feel relieved because she didn’t completely push me away, or hurt because she didn’t want to see me right now.
“Thank you,” I said. “I’ll handle her.”
Without wasting another second, I walked toward Melissa’s room. I stopped in front of the door when I arrived. I raised my hand to knock, but in the end, I let it fall back to my side. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Instead, I closed my eyes and tried to reach her through the mental link connected by our bond.
“Melissa, please talk to me.”
I could feel our connection. She was there. I could feel her. But suddenly, the connection closed.
My eyes snapped open. It felt like a wall had been erected between us. She wouldn’t let me in. She had rejected the mental link. She really didn’t want to talk to me.
I froze in place and stared at the closed door. Perhaps this was the consequence I had to face for keeping things from her.
“Melissa…” I murmured softly. “Please.”
I leaned against the wall beside the door. For the first time, I felt helpless. I was the Alpha of the pack, the one everyone relied on. But right now, standing outside my own mate’s room, I didn’t know what to do because no amount of power could force Melissa to forgive me.
I didn’t know how long I remained there until I heard footsteps approaching.
“Alpha Liam.”
I glanced up and found Warren standing there. His gaze momentarily fell on the closed door before turning toward me.
“Don’t worry too much, Alpha,” he said, patting my shoulder. “I’ll speak to her tomorrow.”
- Writer
