Haunted By The Past

Chapter 1

"Ding ding!” Alpha Dominique's phone vibrated as he received a text from his mate, Anabel: "Can we meet at Uptown Beach? I wish to discuss something very important with you. I'll be waiting for you there," Dominique was puzzled as numerous thoughts plagued his mind.

"Why would Anabel ask us to meet at the beach, though? I mean, she could have just texted me instead. This is so odd. Now I have to forfeit all my appointments for her.” Groaning, Dominique tossed off from the bed and motioned to the bathroom for a quick bath. And in a few minutes, he was out, already dressed up, and drove straight to the beach seeking Anabel. For 20 minutes, he scanned the whole place searching for Anabel, but no sign of her approaching anywhere.

“This is the part I hate the most. Where the f**k is she? I thought she asked us to meet here. Why take forever to show up? I don't have the whole day for this bullshit,” Dominique frowned, constantly glancing at his wristwatch. He called her phone repeatedly, but it wasn't reachable. This got him more pissed off and prompted him to vacate the beach for other appointments. But then, his instincts hinted him to halt a bit, which he did. And behold, he caught a glimpse of someone motioning towards his direction, looking so radiant and beautiful like a goddess.

"You have to do this? You do realize I had to forfeit some appointments just to be here? If you can't keep to time, stop giving appointments,” Dominique warned.

"I apologize. I thought you'd…

"Save it already! Why are we here?” Dominique cuts in immediately. He

wasn't interested in her explanation. He just wanna know why she called him. For a prolonged silence, Anabel was stunned. Dominique has entirely changed. This wasn't the man she loved. His actions are beginning to scare her.

"I'm pregnant.” She unleashed the bombshell that nearly made Dominique pee on his panties.

"You kidding right? That's not possible.” Dominique's eyes widened in astonishment.

"Here's the test result from the hospital. I presume this is enough for you to believe me now,” Anabel responded with confidence, placing a document in Dominique's palm. Trembling like a hen drenched by the rain, Dominique was lost in profound thought. It took him a few minutes to finally regain himself, popping the question, “And who's responsible for the pregnancy?”

"Like seriously? Now you're beginning to sound like a broken record, Dominique. Quit playing. Of course, you are. You are the first man I ever loved. We need to start planning how to raise this child. I'm far too young to become a single mom,”

"We? You just cracked me up. Well, I don't wish to start a family now. I've got other business to take care of. You know what's gonna happen?

First thing tomorrow morning, you'd receive money from me. I think that should be enough to her rid of that pregnancy,” Dominique clearly stated with no remorse as he outrightly denied the pregnancy, leaving Anabel In total shambles. Her world was gradually shattering in front of her.

"You're so despicable! I pray you rot in hell. You don't deserve to be found among men,” Anabel hissed and walked out on Dominique with tears dropping from her eyes.

"Please, don't go. Let's talk this out,” Dominique pleaded, but she shunned him. And when she was completely out of sight, he mocked her. "Yes! Finally, I found a way to get rid of her,” he exclaimed in excitement. He never loved her and was only playing along to keep her hopes alive after losing her parents. He considers her a misfit to become his wife, let alone the mother of his unborn child.

***************

7 months into the pregnancy and Dominique hasn't called or texted Anabel to inquire about the pregnancy he asked her to abort. He never bothered to find out if she died in the process or suffered any complications. It just occurred to her that he was only interested in her body and never loved her. Countless times she tried reaching out to Dominique over the phone and not for once, did he respond or return her calls.

"This is so embarrassing. I can't believe he took advantage of me.

Good thing I didn't terminate the baby. What if I had died in the process?” Anabel muttered with the deepest concern and cursed the day she met him. She prayed for his downfall and wished they don't cross each other's path anymore. Being her first time having a baby, everything seems strange to her. Her immune system and body were gradually developing into a woman, and the thought of raising a baby alone scares her. She knew the significance of having both parents when hers were still alive, and she was never gonna allow her child to suffer the pain of not growing up with a father.

"I've got to relocate to Kansas City. This place is bad news. It reminds so much of Dominique. I can't allow my child to live in the same city with that bastard.” Anabel decided to relocate to another city. First, she sold her father's home to raise funds. With less than a month left to deliver her child, Anabel relocated to Kansas City to start a new life, burying her past behind her.

***************

The rays of dawn flickered into Anabel's room as she rubbed her bleary eyes and gestured to the window, mulling over the atmosphere. “I hope Kansas City favors me. Dominique will never find me or this child," She muttered succinctly and reminisced the memories shared with Dominique.

She never thought a moment like this will emerge.

The pregnancy seemed heavier and restricted her movement. Less than a month after she arrived in Kansas City, she was rushed into the labor room and birthed triplet boys. What might appear to be good news to everyone doesn't seem to fascinate her a bit.

"I wasn't expecting this,” she bemoaned after seeing her sons for the first time. This was the moment she needed Dominique the most. Anabel named her kids, James, Julian, and Jones.