LUCIEN’S POV
“Angelou!” Came Alpha Grayson’s sharp warning, and Angelou took in deep, shaky breaths, wiping her tears furiously. “Shall we?” Alpha Grayson pointed towards the door, and I moved past them to unlock it.
Although, Alpha Grayson kept up a tough face, I knew he was breaking within. He, just like Angelou, obsessed over Monica. She was beautiful, smart, graceful and above all, she was their daughter—The daughter they both loved with all their hearts.
I led them inside and they walked in.
“Have a seat, please.” I said, directing them to the sofa with my hands. I knew they didn’t care for tea, but it was all out of courtesy.
After brewing the tea, I went to sit on the sofa opposite theirs, serving the tea in little mugs.
“Monica’s dead.” Angelou sniffed, staring at the table absentmindedly, like she still couldn’t believe it. “Monica’s dead.” She repeated, as if saying the words over, and over, would help her accept the truth. “Monica’s dead. Ahh…” She let out softly, putting a hand to her chest and squeezing her fist on it.
“What saddens me is that the media was the first to carry the news over. Not from you, Lucien.” Alpha Grayson said gravely, and I remembered Zayne’s words clearly.
A war. I couldn’t afford it at the moment. The vampires would strike because that would be a weakness for us and an opportunity for them.
“A monster tore out my Monica’s throat, and she lay there dead while a human, a pesky human, survived alone.” Angelou mourned, taking in shaky breaths as tears spiraled down her face.
“Monica bit that human.” I couldn’t stop myself from blurting that out so they’d know that their daughter caused her death herself. “I’m sure you read the papers.”
“How would Monica kidnap a human? For what reason?” Angelou asked, placing her hand on her chest. “My Monica was so happy the last time she spoke to me.” Angelou cried. “She was so nice and so cheerful, she apologized. Who knew that was the last time I’d hear her voice?” Angelou continued.
“Maybe she was happy because she kidnapped the human.” Alpha Grayson admitted with a tight look on his face, showing he wasn’t happy with the truth he was facing.
“Why would she kidnap a human? Ask Lucien! What other monsters live in this human world apart from Werewolves and vampires!? And how would a vampire kill my Monica? Vampires suck throats! They do not tear them out!” Angelou shrieked, staring at Alpha Grayson with eyes made red from too much crying.
“Stop making it worse, Angelou! You know very well that our daughter was impulsive! You know all the things she did to get her way, and you know very well that we made her that way.
“Yes, we made her that way by ignoring all she did to get what she wanted, even if it wasn’t decent, and ended up giving her everything! You know that, so why do you have to make me say it out loud?” He asked, shouting out his pains and frustrations.
“I do know that… I’m aware! But… but a vampire couldn’t have…”
“Lucien told me about a monster he met in the woods not too long ago. A few months, I think. He told me what his royal Soothsayer said. That monster is what we should hold responsible, not Lucien.” Alpha Grayson snapped.
“If it weren’t for him, Monica would still be alive. If he’d just acknowledged her sincere feelings for him, she’d have never come here in the first place.” Then she turned to me. “Alpha Lucien. Why did you do that? Why did you let my Monica die like that? Why didn’t you acknowledge her feelings? Why is it that I can’t ever hear her voice anymore? Why did you take her from me? I miss her. I miss Monica. I… I want to see Monica. I want to talk to my daughter. Why is this happening to me?” Angelou asked, breaking down and for the first time, I regretted killing Monica.
If I hadn’t, then they both wouldn’t be in so much pain.
Alpha Grayson put a hand over Angelou’s shoulders and squeezed hard, trying not to show his feelings.
Angelou cried out, and my heart strings were pulled. If they knew I had killed a wolf to protect a vampire, it would be too much. I would be labeled a traitor. I should have at least let her off with a warning.
I didn’t have to kill her.
“It’s going to be okay. It will be alright.” Alpha Grayson consoled her, then turned to me. “We just had to see you. Angelou didn’t think she could heal if she didn’t bare her mind out to you.”
“Monica loved you. All she wanted was to be with you. Her room was filled with pictures of you. She knew every single thing you were doing. She saw all your achievements in the papers, and… and… the joy in her face, those times she’d imagine meeting you in reality. My Monica… My Monica, she… all she ever wanted was to be seen by you, and you hurt her so much, she became a totally different person…”
“I’m sorry.” I apologized sincerely.
“Everyone loves! Everyone has that person they hold dear in their hearts. Everyone has that someone. You were that someone to her. Maybe a pat on the back, or a smile, you could have done that. And if you didn’t like her, you should have explained to her and untangled her vines of determination slowly for her own good. What am I to do now? I’m going crazy! I can’t do this!” Angelou cried, and I hung my head low.
“Everyone makes mistakes, Angelou. Lucien was only trying to…”
“This mistake cost a life!”
“He was trying to make Monica give up. He didn’t know our daughter didn’t work that way. It wasn’t his fault.” Alpha Grayson said, and the first sign of tears shone in his eyes.
“If Monica hadn’t loved him… I’m… I’m sorry, Alpha Lucien. I’m just… I’m just too sad to think straight. I just…” She was saying but choked hard on her tears.
My heart broke. There were just too many problems I had at the moment.
And I feared my decision wouldn’t be a happy one after all.