Her Best Friend’s Alpha Father

Chapter 7 Unwanted Reunion

The house felt different after Elara's return from the hospital. Too quiet, and too watchful. Nothing like what she was used to.

Elara sat stiffly on the couch, more like an unwelcomed visitor, her fingers clenched tightly around the edges of the gown she was wearing.

What annoyed her the more was the scent of some herbs which lingered longer than necessary in the house; one of her mother's many ways of "cleansing negativity," but it did nothing at all to help in calming the storm already building up inside her.

It was barely an hour since she got discharged from the hospital, but she was already regretting ever coming home.

"You should at least try and lie down," Liora, her mother told her from across the room, as she was busy arranging things with unnecessary precision, in preparation to welcome the barely formed pup in her stomach.

"The doctor stated that you need rest."

"I'm doing just fine like this, Mom," Elara replied softly, already tired of arguing. But her body still felt very weak, her wolf unsettled, urging her to say the truth.

Unconsciously, her hand moved to her stomach protectively. She was pregnant. It still felt so unreal to her. She had spent greater part of the day, trying to come in terms with the fact that she's with a child.

Then, suddenly, the doorbell rang, making Elara's heart to skip a beat. Liora, her mother, glanced toward the door, as she already knew who it was. "That must be him. He arrived early."

Elara became frozen on hearing that.

No. No, no, no.

That can't be happening to her. "I invited him over," Liora added, as if it was supposed to be like that. To her, it felt like the most natural thing to do. Of course, you did without considering my feelings. Elara swallowed hard, trying her best to stay hydrated, as her throat was almost dried up.

Selene sat quietly by her side, shifting only when necessary occasionally. Her eyes flickered, and landed on Elara's face, which was filled with silent concern.

"I will get it immediately," Selene said gently, already standing up. Elara didn't respond, as she preferred staying silent, to process alot happening in her head already. Her chest felt too tight, a d her wolf unease within her, but she still went ahead with the act.

Moments later, the door finally opened, and guess what ..

"Where is she?"

That was Jax.

His voice came out very sharp, and urgent. It was too possessive for someone found riding his best friend a few days ago. That alone made Elara's stomach to twitch, but she had no control of whatever that was happening.

He was hardly in when his footsteps were heard approaching hurriedly toward the direction of Elara. Within seconds, he appeared, his eyes immediately locked with hers.

"Elara."

In seconds, he crossed the room, and before she could process what was happening, his hands were already on her shoulders. He gripped her firmly, like an over protective lover.

"Why didn't you say something to me?" He demanded, his voice mixed with anger, and the hunger to be around her round the clock.

"I just found out about the baby," Elara managed to say quietly to him, forcing her voice to remain steady, a d not crack.

Jax ran a frustrated hand through his rough hair, pacing briefly in the room, before finally turning to face her again.

"You're carrying my pup," he said, as if that was his way of processing the new development himself. Then, his gaze became serious. "It's my pup, Elara."

As he said that, her stomach churned noisily, because to her, it felt wrong. Everything about her new plan, felt wrong, so she went ahead with it, nodding to his question.

"Yes."

The word tasted bitter in her mouth, but she had no choice. As she was still sitting there, Jax exhaled sharply, then, before she could process what was happening, he suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.

That made Elara to become stiff on the spot. Every muscle in her body locked up because of that.

"I'm going to do anything possible to fix this," he murmured against her hair. "I swear to you, I will stand by you, a d make everything right."

While he was hugging her, her hands hovered awkwardly by her sides, as she couldn't bring herself to hugging him back.

Instead, she forced herself to stay put while the hug lasted. "I will take responsibility," Jax continued, pulling back back just enough to glance at his face. "From now onwards, you and the pup, are all mine. I won't give anyone the chance to disrespect you ever again."

Mine? The word sounded awkwardly to her, more like a warning of things yet to come. This wasn't love, and from the beginning, it was clearly never love.

Elara only forced a small, but very weak smile. "Thank you," she muttered, her voice still in a whisper.

Selene was was still in the room, only watched them, unable to say anything. She was more helpless than Elara, as she wished she could do anything to stop her friend from getting tired to Jax.

She needed no one to tell her that Elara didn't want the mating bond ceremony to be carried out between her and Jax.

"Have you taken time to speak to your parents?" Liora asked, stepping into the living room.

Jax strengthened up immediately on hearing her voice, as his posture changed to a respectful one.

"Yes, ma'am," he answered. "They're aware. My mother... she's not happy at the turn of event, but she understands well."

At this point, Elara resisted the urge to laugh, even with no strength in her. Of course, she would not be happy. And that person is Kira, not his mother as he lied.

"And, what about the mating bond?" Liora pressed on.

Jax didn't hesitate before giving his answer, more like he had been waiting for the opportunity all his life. "I will do it," he replied firmly. "And, as soon as possible."

Elara's breath hitched. "This is too fast. How am I going to cope with everything that's happening, especially with the rate it's moving? Or could this be my last chance to finally open up?" She thought within her.