Chapter 23 Congratulations?
Chapter 23 Congratulations?
AIDAN
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Since I got back from meeting Tara, I’d remained in one spot. I didn’t think I would have ever used the word “hate” to describe myself, but after today, I didn’t see a more fit word.
The bottle of vodka I brought out as soon as I stepped inside was already half gone. Another empty bottle of something just as strong was beside it, and it had only been hours.
I was already feeling the effects of the alcohol, but it did nothing to chase away the feeling of being the most horrible person to have ever walked the planet.
Her words played over and over in my head, and with each passing second, I realized that Tara would choose to be stuck in a room full of bears rather than with me.
Was there any coming back from the things I put her and our daughter through?
A knock pulled me from my haze, and without confining who it could be at such a late hour, I responded for the person to
come in.
Seconds later, Jace was standing before me with a shocked expression on his face.
“Alpha Aidan. What the hell happened here? Are you okay?”
“I thought I gave you the rest of the day and tomorrow off?” I asked.
Jace looked around before stepping forward to pick up the empty bottle from the table.
“You did, but my room is also just down the hall. I came back not long ago, and I was about to retire for the night when I thought to check up on you. Why the party? Although, this is more of punishment than a party,” He asked, gesturing to the drinks. “You’ll wake up with a head the weight of bricks.”
I shrugged. “Why not? It seems befitting for my crimes.”
The unasked question was written boldly on his face.
Jace chuckled a little, and he took a step forward to pull the glass off my grip just as I was tipping it to my mouth.
“Give that back.”
“Only if you tell me why you’re drinking and I know that it’s worth wasting yourself over.”
A humorless laugh shook my chest. “Trust me, it is.”
Jace tipped an eyebrow, and even through my distorted shape, I could see concern written all over his face.
“I don’t know you to be like this, Alpha,” he began. “Obviously there’s something big going on that has you losing control, and whatever it is, it’s not going to go away with drinking this much. The solution won’t come from that.”
I responded. “I don’t know, man, I don’t see anything else coming from some other option.”
“What’s going on? Care to share?”
I swallowed hard as I considered my next words.
“She has a kid,” I said.
Jace paused, waiting for my next words, and getting none, he shook his head.
“This is about the chick you’ve been stalking?” He even sounded pissed, but my growl was more pissed.
“Watch it, Jace,” my deep angry voice said.
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Chapter 23 Congratulations?
“Woah, I’m sorry,” he said, lifting his hands. “I’m just trying to understand what you’re saying.”
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“She has a kid. She’s eight, and she’s mine.” When he stared at me speechless for longer than I liked, I added, “I have an eight- year–old, Jace. She and her mother have both lived without me, and she wants me as far away from here as possible.
Jace ran a hand through his hair, confused, before shoving the glass he took from me back into my hand.
“Shit.”
He picked the half–filled bottle from the table and took a swig directly from it before speaking again.
“Shit… erm… congratulations?” It sounded more like a question.
A dry laughter broke out from my lips, and if I laughed any harder, tears would follow.
“You could say that. Bottom line, I messed up, and an eternity is not long enough to fix it.”
“I’m so lost,” Jace said. “How did this happen? How were you not aware?”
I broke down as much of what happened to him, and he listened silently. There was no judgment in his expression, but maybe if there was, I would have felt better.
“I mean, I heard she was in an accident, and that she died. Only for me to come here and see her more than alive and well, and with the same child she told me she was carrying that I flatly denied.”
After Kayla ran after Tara that night, she came back in tears, telling me that a car had run Tara over.
I panicked and searched, went as far as asking my father for help, and he finally confirmed her to be dead.
How Tara got pregnant for me was beyond me, but how did she survive? Or was it all lies?
“You have to try, Aidan,” Jace said, cutting through my thoughts. “It’s your blood and family we’re talking about here. You can’t give up.”
“She doesn’t want me,” I said. “Not after the things… not after all the things I’ve done. Her life took a turn because of me, and by extension, whatever she went through after my rejection was all because of me. She bore my mark, and I fucking destroyed her, man.” I shook my head sorrowfully. “She sees me as a threat to herself and her daughter.”
“But you want her, and that should count. Don’t blame her. If it were you who got betrayed like that, you would have had the same fears, if not worse.”
“What do you suggest I do then?” I asked, finally meeting his eyes for the first time since he walked in.
Jace took another swig of the alcohol before he spoke again.
“Maybe give her some time to collect herself, and then try harder.”
“Our time here is running out. The last thing Collin would do is entertain us for a second longer than necessary.”
“You’re right,” Jace said.
Now that I had shared the story with someone else, part of the weight was lifted off me,
It wasn’t enough to view myself differently, but it was enough to give me some hope for salvaging what was my and Tara’s bond.
“What are we going to do then?” Jace asked.
At this point, it was obvious that me and Jace were going to spend more time than planned in Vermont pack, or at least me.
It seemed like I would have to compromise and come to a peaceful compromise with Collin, but as I said before, I was going to die before leaving this pack without settling things with Tara and our daughter.
With that, I spoke. “I’m going to see Collin after the events. I’m not leaving.”
