“Yes, dear,” her father said, smiling down at her. “We had a wonderful time, but it’s time for us to head back.”
Roselie struggled to stand up, feeling a bit wobbly. Alex steadied her with a firm but gentle grip.
“I’m so glad you came,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “It meant so much to me.”
Melissa soon appeared, all dishevelled, with grass sticking out of her hair. "Are you guys leaving already?" she asked, disappointment evident in her voice.
She turned around and waved at Lucas. Who grinned, threw her a flying kiss, and walked away.
Roselie hugged Melissa tightly.
"I will miss you."
Melissa hugged her back just as tightly, whispering, "I'll miss you too, but we'll see each other again soon."
“We’re glad we came,” her mother replied, her eyes warm with love. “It was great seeing you so happy and surrounded by good friends.”
Realising that she would not see her parents again for a long time. Roselie broke down.
Her mother was crying too as she gave her another hug, but this time it was much more intense, and Rosalie had the feeling of being in their last embrace together.
"I'm impressed, son," her dad complimented Alex as they were preparing to leave.
"I am sure that my daughter is in good hands," which made Rosalie whimper in sadness. It was as if he was honestly saying farewell to her. She hugged her father.
She'd never seen him so tormented and vulnerable before, not even during the previous war.
"Be strong, sweetie," he said as he held his daughter's chin. "We should leave now, or Chris will suspect something's up," he said as he released her.
"Okay, Dad," Rosalie replied with a heavy heart, trying to hold back tears. She watched as her father walked away, his shoulders slumping.
Rosalie watched while her family and friends piled into the family car. They had insisted on letting them go out on their own, and Rosalie felt helpless as she watched them go. When Alex wrapped his arms around her waist, she experienced a peculiar mix of agony and rage. She shifted her weight and held him hard.
" I can't bear the thought of losing them," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
"Darling, I'm sorry I didn't inform you about this sooner, but I am aware that Chris has been acting like a jerk. I was hoping to find a solution before it got any worse," Alex apologised.
"I didn't know that things had already deteriorated to this point."
She was at a complete loss for what to say. All she could do was nod, grateful for his honesty.
"His blood shall pay for all of the misery he brought upon you," he said as he ran his fingertips over the crescent-shaped scar on her neck.
It is said that a wolf will go mad if it loses its mate. It's an ancient werewolf proverb. Chris had lost his mind. Rosalie came to that conclusion.
"What happened to the kind, romantic man who was always so careful not to hurt his pack?" She thought.
She felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. Was she the trigger for his madness? But he had already made his decision to marry Grace. He never said anything against the council's choice of mate, even though he didn't agree with it. How did he think Rosalie would agree to stay with him as his mistress?
Despite the sorrow Grace had caused her family, Rosalie felt sorry for her. Chris was cruel to her, and she wasn't happy either. However, Grace had no right to bully anyone, especially her pack, whether justified or not! Alex steered her inside the pack house.
'Did I do something wrong?' She reflected on herself, recalling those familiar faces. Her elegant mother, her overbearing father, her happy-go-lucky brother, and a sisterly friend.
'Was it my fault that I went along with what fate had planned for me? Was war the only way out of this mess?'
She bitterly wished that she had never come into the world. If she hadn't been born, Chris never would have evolved into the obsessive, raging, maniacal wolf that he is today. Her friends and family would not have to suffer as a result of her.
"Stop blaming yourself, Roselie. Chris is responsible for his own actions, not you," Alex said to her, reading her thoughts.
He whispered in her ear, "Without my light, I would have continued to be lost in the darkness." She blinked back treacherous tears, but they still flowed as she held on to him fiercely. "You are the reason I am still alive. I love you," he exclaimed fervently.
"You shouldn't worry about your family. I'll take care of everything."
"But…what if…Chris hurts them ?"
Alex pulled her closer, his voice firm yet gentle. "I won't let that happen. I promise to protect them as if they were my own." Roselie felt a wave of relief wash over her, knowing she had someone by her side who would always be there for her and her family.
He kissed her lips gently.
Despite the fact that she wanted to rip Alex's clothes off and make love to him right then and there, Rosalie was unable to focus as Alex continued to nuzzle her neck. The longing was intense, but the pain of knowing she wouldn't be able to see her family for a long time was too much for her to bear.
She pushed him away gently, tears welling up in her eyes as she whispered, "I can't do this, not now." Alex looked at her with understanding, his hand reaching out to wipe away her tears before pulling her into a comforting embrace without words. Rosalie closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his embrace calm the storm of conflicting emotions within her. Soon, this Alpha female would have the chance to kick some Alpha butt.