Chapter 9
1072 Words
Alpha Maddox Teller-
I wake to find myself alone, Lara's side of the bed empty. I climb out of bed and wander to the bathroom. Lara must be downstairs. Emerging from the bathroom a few minutes later, toothbrush in hand, I hear Lara ask, "What happened to your hands?"
Shit.
I didn't want to tell her about what happened last night. I have to admit, kicking the s**t out of Marcus did feel good, but I know Lara is going to want details. f**k, I'm going to have to do some serious explaining after this.
Okay.
"I beat the s**t out of Marcus."
"What?" She shrieks.
"Lara, he was spreading lies and talking s**t about you. Did you just expect me to let it go? He insulted his alpha and alpha female. It's not gonna happen."
She scoffs. "That doesn't mean you needed to beat the s**t out of him. Look, your mom called. We have to be at her house in fifteen minutes. Let's just talk about this after. Okay?"
I sigh. "Fine. Whatever. I'll meet you downstairs."
She exits the room while I go back into the bathroom to shower. Five minutes later, I make my way downstairs to Lara. There is nothing but silence during the car ride to my parents' house. Lara is never like this towards me. And she still hasn't told me about the pregnancy test she took.
My parents' house comes into view. My childhood home has always been my favorite place in the world. Well, other than being inside of Lara. I can't stand that my girl isn't talking to me.
Pulling in the driveway, I squeeze her hand before turning off the ignition. She's still quiet as I lead her to the front door.
Let's get this over with.
* * *
Lara Henderson-
"So, Lara, how did you two meet?" November, Maddox's mother, asks from the end of the table.
Next to her is Maddox's brother, Mayson, and his mate, Natalia. Beside Maddox and I are Maddox's sisters, Jasmine and Jewel. Along with Maddox's father, Reece, who sits at the other end of the table.
I look to Maddox at her question. "Well, he called me to the pack house and found out I was his mate. We've just kind of gone from there," I reply, still looking at Maddox's stiff form.
I know he thinks I'm mad about what he did to Marcus, but I think I'm more worried than anything. I feel as if something else is bothering him.
I snap out of my daze and look back at November when she asks Maddox a question. "What did this sweet little thing do that you called her to the pack house?"
Maddox finally speaks after an uncomfortable second of silence. "I wanted to speak to her about her parents," he says.
What? Why am I just now hearing about this?
"Oh. Well, it sounds lovely. You know, your father and I met almost the same way. It was sudden, but he still charmed me into marrying him and having babies," she laughs softly.
The remainder of the evening goes by smoothly. Though, the thought of Maddox wanting to speak to me about my parents still drifts through my mind. This just makes the situation more confusing.
Around three p.m., Maddox and I leave his parents' house and head home. I try to refrain from asking him all the questions in my head and surprisingly abstain until we arrive.
As soon as the engine is off, I unbuckle my seatbelt and exit the car, not waiting for Maddox to open my door for me.
"Lara!" Maddox yells after me as I open the front door and ascend into the kitchen to grab a water out of the fridge. My stomach feels queasy and bubbly from my erratic nerves.
I spin around as Maddox comes up behind me. "Why did you want to talk about my parents that day?" I ask him.
"Lara." He tries to reach for me, but I shake my head and move away from him, backing myself up against the counter. I want answers, not him touching me.
"Why did you want to talk about my parents?" I repeat.
He sighs and rubs the back of his neck, eyes to the ground. "I had just become alpha when they were murdered. I didn't realize that you were my mate until you showed up at my office. I wanted to talk to you about the investigation."
"Did you know who I was before I came to your office?"
He pales. "Lara, baby, you have to-"
"Did you?" I shout.
"Yes," he grunts. "But, that doesn't change how much I love you or the fact that you're my mate."
"Why did you investigate my mom and dad's murder further? What was so important?"
"I noticed some flaws in the investigation. I've read every detail of their file and some things aren't adding up."
I'm the one to pale now. I feel like my heart is about to pop out of my chest. "You know, don't you?" I croak, fearing his next words.
"Lara," he whispers.
"Don't you?" I ask again.
"Yes, I know that you were there. I know how you were the one to find them. I know that you didn't move from the crime scene until Zara pulled you away and took you to the hospital three hours after you found them. How you stood there next to them until she came home from being at work."
No.
He can't know that.
He can't.
I've never told anyone about what happened except Zara. She was the only who understood. I can still remember the smell of the blood. There was so much blood. It was on the floor, the shower, even the walls. I had come home from school a little after four o'clock and found them in their en-suite bathroom, the shower running still.
"You know," I whisper, shaking my head. "You know. You can't know. No one, other than Zara, knows that. And you know that," I ramble.
I quietly make my way up the stairs and into our bedroom. I stare up at the ceiling as tears cascade down the sides of my face and into my hair. I feel as if my heart has been ripped out of my chest, the pain swallowing me gradually, piece by piece.
I wish I could just disappear.
- Writer
