Fall to Winter

Chapter three

     It takes a moment for me to really understand what is happening. At first I am instinctively happy to be in his firm grasp but then I find myself dumbstruck. What type of cruel fate does he plan for me? To keep me around while knowing he is in love with somebody else is horrendous. 

     Every fibre in my being rejects the very though although that does not stop me from pushing back. “Hold on! You...you cannot do this to me! I will not allow this, I am not here to be your little play thing. Your SIDE PIECE!” 

     Whipping myself around I grind my teeth together, a small pain in my heart as I stare at the ground. ‘There is more to this than myself. I have Keiko.’ I can feel my nails digging into my palms before I attempt to storm off. 

     “Where do you think you’re going? I am not done with yo—“ his words cut off as Marissa slams her hand to the other Alphas chest, her eyes shooting daggers. 

     “You are finished, now you better back the f**k off before we have a problem, boy.” She spat out before following behind me. 

     I could not look back to see what kind of look he wore. Anymore of this and I really might fall apart. All of this is incredibly draining, especially for it all to be in the same day. 

     Marissa places a soothing hand on my back while we walk down the wide hallway, a few people keeping their distance had their gaze locked on me. I can feel the holes boring into my body but I did not look. 

     Is this selfish of me? He wants the both of us, hell I know next to nothing about this guy. Keiko is too precious to risk having him around, not when he’s practically a stranger. 

     Just as I can feel my mind freeing itself from that tunnel vision, I hear his luscious voice in the distance. 

      “Just you wait, you will be mine.” 

      That is it. I will be his? Who does he think I am?

       I can feel the confidence flooding back into me, my back straightening and I hold my head high. This bastard wants to get into my head? This entire situation is all by chance and I refuse to let a guy like that weasel his way in. 

     “I think I’ll be taking the rest of the day off, thank you for your help Marissa. I need to be with Keiko.” I told her before parting ways, I can see the hesitance in her eyes so I give a reassuring smile. “I’ll be alright, promise.” 

      I wave over my shoulder, rounding a corner as I head towards my locker. Quickly plucking a few items out, securing my winter coat properly. 

     I will not be surviving that f****d up mess to die in an icy hell, thank you very much. 

     Dangerous solidified liquid now being my only obstacle to the vehicle. Building up my courage to step outside took a minute before finally leaving the safety of the building. 

     Almost instantly my fingertips begin to scream in pain, I. Hate. Winter. 

     Thankfully the journey to the car is an all around success, being able to hop in quickly before starting it up. Blasting the heater to warm up, taking off the useless gloves once the temperature rose to a comfortable place. 

      Once certain that this medal can is ready to roll, I buckle in and start my cautious drive out of the parking lot. “How do people like this..?” I muttered anxiously under my breath. 

      A few songs and advertisements later I finally arrive back at the daycare. The thought of Jackson attempting to infiltrate my mind instantly got squashed down. 

      “My princess will fix this.” I murmur, suiting up once more before making my way to the entrance. 

      It isn’t something I get to do often but I plan on staying at the daycare with Keiko for awhile. It is encouraged that parents stop by to play with their children, especially the parents who are often busy. 

     Not even two seconds of me entering the building I can hear a commotion which is really unusual considering most staff understand how to deescalate things quickly. 

     I brush and shimmy as much snow off of my body as I can before removing my jacket. 

     While heading towards Keikos classroom I can hear the commotion getting louder, whatever was happening might be in her classroom. Worry flooding me as I rush towards her classroom, a few other alerted staff start rushing down the hall as well. 

     Out of the four people rushing down the corridor I manage to be the first one there, slamming the door open in a panic. 

     That’s when I see it, that woman from earlier yelling at my little girl. Holding her by her shirt, practically spitting in her face they were so close. The other children were all cowering in the corner. 

      My body moved before I even had time to think about it, my small fist slamming into the bitches face before ripping my daughter from her grasp. 

     Keiko was holding a small, determined, and indifferent face but the second she was in the safety of her mother's arms she completely melted. Her sobs filling the room. Her tiny hands clutching at my shirt, I turn to look at the woman with bewildered eyes. 

      “Y-You just got me! You f*****g scum, how dare you show such disrespect! That little s**t should not even be allowed in this prestigious building!” The woman yelled, her hand on her cheek while bringing herself to her feet. 

      “Enough! How could you do this in front of the children?! What was your point to this?!” Another woman from the back growled, stepping forward. 

      It was the headmaster to this little institution, she clearly was not impressed with such behaviour. “Raising your voice, manhandling a child in front of her peers, what else did you do while left alone with them? You know what, grab your things and get to my office. You, you, and you. Got tend to those children.” She pointed to a few staff members and gestures to the terrified toddlers in the corner. 

       With a deep grimace, the headmaster followed behind that other woman. Reprimanding her, quickly starting on paperwork as well as a complaint. Such handling with a child, of course she would be blacklisting this wretch as fast as possible. 

      I on the other hand knelt on the ground, rocking my entire body while holding her trembling little body to my chest. The terrified sobs shaking me to my core. “I’m here now, I’ll never let her near you again. Mama promises.” I whisper, brushing her hair back as I try to soothe her.

     “M-M-Mama, scary! So mean!” Her voice trembled and broke as she spoke, her eyes wide and that’s when I saw it. 

      The left side of her face was beginning to bruise. My blood ran cold as I carefully cradled her slightly chubby cheeks. “I understand, Ms. Valentine will hold onto you baby. Mama will be back in a minute.” I soothed, kissing her forehead before handing her to a staff member I knew and trusted before turning on my heels. 

      My fists tighten as I walk down the hallway, this has been one hell of a day. Of course at this moment I could not remember any of it before now. 

      The only thing on my mind being the fact that some witch dared to strike my precious angel. 

      Reaching out my hand I swung the door open to find myself in the most twisted situation. The musky scent floods my nose, the oh so familiar, murky green eyes locking onto mine.

      “Stalker!” Is the first word able to actually escape my lips while also releasing a breath I had not realized I was holding. 

      The headmaster cleared her throat as she looked at me with a c****d brow. “Do you know the Winters?” She asked after a moment of awkward silence. 

      Yes, it is him. The 6’9” Jackson stands only an arm length away, one reach and I could touch that chiseled body of his. 

      “What? Why are you here?” The deep voice bearing a slightly higher pitch with his confusion. “RJ?”

      “Jackson...Winters..?” I am completely dumbstruck but that when I notice it, subtle similarities between the two. They’re related. 

      “I…fucking HATE Winter!”