The Alphas Daughter

You see dad…

I took James’ advice and I stay, Elliotts been glued to me for the past hour, poor kid. Thinks he’s going on an amazing adventure but instead he gets greeted by his very angry uncle. Honestly if I never lay eyes on my moron bother again I wouldn’t care.

I’m back in my bedroom. Everything is exactly the same as the day I left. I don’t even think the bedding has been changed. I can’t imagine living here now. The pack life isn’t for me anymore. I love Goddings town, i love the people, the smell, and it was the town I became a mother in! I dont think Romy would agree, since we’ve been back in wolf territory she’s been dying to run. I do plan to let her stretch her legs, but I think first I need to go and see my father, I’m just changing my clothes to walk down to the infirmary when there’s a knock on my door, if it’s Mark coming to apologise, he can piss right off I think to myself, but when I open the door Beth, Marks wife is stood there.

“Riley, can I come in?” She asked

“Sure” I say flatly.

As lovely as Beth is we’ve never been pally, I think that’s more down to Mark. I just couldn’t imagine anyone who enjoys my brothers company would be my cup of tea.

She steps in my room and as she sets her eyes on Elliott her face lights up

“Riley, he’s gorgeous” she exclaims

And she walks straight over to Elliott and says “hello gorgeous boy, I’m your aunty Beth, I’m sorry that silly uncle made you cry, he’s very sorry too”

El didn’t look to sure and looked at me for reassurance, I nodded at him. Beth was safe, and I think he knew that.

Beth looks at me and asks “Riley, why didn’t you tell us”

“You didn’t see Marks reaction, if you had you would know why I didn’t” I say bluntly.

“I feel sad I’ve missed two years of his life” she says. This shocks me.

“Why?” I ask curiously

“Look at him Ri, he’s gorgeous, and he’s my first nephew” she states proudly.

It never crossed my mind that Beth would want to be Els aunty. I thought she would be right by Marks side agreeing with all of his historical ways. Maybe I was wrong about her.

I look back over to where my son and Beth are playing and I realise he’s climbed onto her lap and they are reading a book. He’s not normally shy, but he’s never this forthcoming. Unless it’s Zak or Sally. Beth obviously has that maternal streak. I’m shocked that her and Mark haven’t got a whole football team already, they’ve been married close to 3 years. But still no kids.

“Beth, do you think you could watch Elliott whilst I visit dad? Maybe just wait in the infirmary for me. Im not sure if it would be a good thing introducing El to dad just yet, I want to see the state he is in first” I explain.

Her eyes light up

“I would love nothing more than to baby sit my nephew” she squeals giving Elliott a light peck on the head. He grins at her, looks like it’s love at first sight for those too I giggle to myself.

We all walk down to the infirmary, Elliot holding mine and Beth’s hands. He oblivious to the current situation that we are in. Saying goodbye to my father for possibly the last time.

As we go through the infirmary doors I see James standing guard, he’s in a tight black jumper and black skinny jeans. He looks bloody gorgeous. Our eyes meet, I quickly look away and start talking to Elliott.

“Baby, aunty Beth is going to watch you for a second, and then when mummy comes to get you, you will go through those doors- I point towards James who’s staring, and then you will meet mummy’s daddy. He’s poorly at the moment so doctors are taking good care of him” I explain.

“Does he have boo-boo” Elliott asks.

“Yes darling, he has lots, some that the doctors cannot fix”

“Is he crying” Elliott asks intrigued.

“No, I don’t think so” I say.

And with that I pick my boy up and give him a squeeze, I hand him over to Beth who cuddles him tight.

“I’ll be back soon” I say and Elliott waves at me.

I walk towards James standing at the door and he gives me a small smile. I don’t repay it. I just walk past him, like he’s not there.

As I step into the ICU I can see my father. He has tubes and wires from every limb. His eyes are closed and he’s in a coma, machines are the only thing keeping him alive now.

I walk to his bedside and I take his hand in mine.

“Dad, it’s me, it’s Riley” I say

“Dad, please forgive me for leaving, but I had too. I was pregnant dad, and I knew you and Mark wouldn’t understand”.

“You have a grandson, his name is Elliott, named after Grandpa” I explain.

I look towards the door and I see James staring at me through the glass, his eyes filled with sorrow

“He’s amazing in every way dad, and I know you will adore him, he loves animals just like you, and he does this thing with his foot when he gets angry like you do too” I sit talking for a little while and then I decide it’s time for El to meet his Grandpa.

I head to the door and it slides open, i beckon Elliott to come with me and he gladly bolts to the entrance and grabs my hand. I crouch down and I explain that grandpa is sleeping but he can still hear us, so we have to tell him Elliott’s favourite story, the one about the penguins at the zoo.

Elliott is delighted he can replay this story-he loves it. We once went to the zoo and the penguins were fighting over fish. He laughed and laughed. It was the best sound.

As I guided Elliott to my dads bed I realised James had followed us in. Elliott walked straight up to my dad

“Hello Grandpa, I’m Elliott”

My heart broke. I should have come back sooner!

I sat Elliott at the end of my fathers bed and he explained his story about the penguins and told him all about Zak and Sally, about his orange bedroom with his tiger quilt cover, and how he hates spiders, for a two year old his vocabulary and imagination were insane! He was so clever.

I told Elliott that he needed to go back to aunty Beth outside and I would be there soon.

As Elliott left I expected James to follow them, but he didn’t, he stood behind me, watching me.

“So you see dad. That’s why I left, I was a scared 18 year old. I could cope with Mark being disappointed but not you, I hope I make you proud dad” I heard my voice break and I tried to compose myself, that’s when I saw a tiny smile come to my dads face and one lone tear fall down his cheek, and then the straight line appeared on the monitor. He was gone.

I didn’t know it but I was screaming, asking my dad not to leave me. Asking him to come back. The doctors came over and confirmed he was gone. It wasn’t until I felt warm hands on me that I realised James was pulling me away.

I was numb. I should have come home sooner, I should never of left. Elliott should of loved his Grandpa like I loved mine. I’ve stolen that from them.

James guided me to a chair by the waiting room. I told him not to let Elliott see me like this. He sat me down and bought me water, he wrapped his strong arms around my shoulders and let me cry. As soon as I was ready, I got up and left, went to my son, I didn’t utter a word to James. I didn’t want to. I just walked away.