Athena
The soft Mistral winds blew, making their way here with the waves and disappearing into nothingness every time they came in contact with my skin. I released a low sigh, relief flooding in my veins as if the surreal warmth I could find in these cold breezes was the only thing soothing the emptiness inside me.
When Aaron brought me here, I'd thought, maybe it was just for a mere second, still I'd this assumption that he'd have a lot of things to say but, it turned out that he was yet to overcome his problem to find the right words.
But it seemed more as if his choosing silence for these few moments was not done for the sake of himself but for....me.
Well, I couldn't complain.
I'd rather spend hours looking at the view of the river than go through the conversations that only reminded me of my past and somewhat tried to push me back into the same pitfall.
I wanted to move on. I really did....
But everything in this universe was pushing me back to the same spot all over again.
Why couldn't I just wipe Sebastian Valdez off of my mind? Learn to live and be free of the invisible weight on my chest that stung each time I took a breath.
"Speak up, Aaron," I finally spoke up, my gaze not moving from the scenery of the sky that engulfed a dark blue hue while gradually letting go of the brighter shades, "If you can't speak now, you can never."
The coffee on the table remained untouched, except for the part where I took the favour of the cup to warm my hands. I did not know why I no longer cared about how much time Aaron was going to take to put his reasons on the table and prove the point he was trying to make; All I knew was that this weather was a comfort— Like a companion, though it was ephemeral alike a few fleeting seconds that pass with the blink of an eye, still, I had something that did not force me to dive deep into my thoughts and look at the broken fragments over and over again.
I felt Aaron's gaze roaming over my face and I didn't really bother to pay much attention to read what he wanted to figure out.
I only wanted to hear what he had to say and then that'd be it; Fortunately, it took only a few more seconds of a wait before he finally opened his mouth.
"Tell me something, Athena. If there was someone else at my place, wanting to offer you help or support, would you doubt that individual's intention the same as you are questioning mine?"
A question— Yes a question what I'd expected the least. But it came from him anyways.
"If this question is all you have on your side, something that'd get you a response out of me to which you can put your agreements or get a place to stack the weight of your disagreements only to cover up the relevance, I would better head to my home," I let out, sparing him a glance before I attempted to gather my stuff and leave.
"No, wait," He spoke up, a bit louder, partially losing his patience, "How would I put my point on the table if you are not willing to listen to me at all?"
"I am all ears. I'm willing to listen to you as long as you speak the truth and don't go off the topic, that's the bottom line. But I'm not gonna answer any of your questions that I don't think are important to the situation."
He let out a low sigh of defeat, "I'm not here to beat around the bush, nor am I here to prove you wrong or prove myself right. But ask it yourself, would you doubt if there was someone else at myself? Whether you agree or not, I know— You wouldn't."
"Listen..."
"No, please let me speak," He interrupted, softly, keeping his voice calm and collected contrary to mine, "All I am trying to say is that— There's absolutely nothing wrong if I want to help you. Yes, I know you might not need my help, and you are a strong individual but if I get the satisfaction by making sure that you are safe and sound, then what's wrong with that?"
"I don't get it, Aaron...why would you want to keep me safe?" I was beyond confused, to the point where I couldn't even wrap my head around the things he was saying, "Besides, I don't want the help that comes out of sympathy, I am better on my own."
"And I have already told you, sympathy, is not why I wish to help you," He countered, "There are many reasons behind why I want to help you and keep you safe and sympathy is not one of them."
"Then tell me what are they? Why have you got the sudden urge to be my protector and act like the kindest person on the earth?"
"Trust me, I am not the kindest person on the earth nor do I have the intention to act like one," His tone dropped a few octaves, "I have got a fair share of sins hanging off of my shoulder that I don't even have the wish to repent for. But not everything has to have a specific reason, some urges come on their own and there's no explanation for that."
"You don't have any explanation, you don't have any answers, you are not aware of the reasons why you wish to help me but then again you say it's not sympathy—I can't even get what the fuck are you even saying?! Are you fucking confused? are you trying to play with my mind with these sick word games?!"
I lost it. I completely lost the last string of my patience and he seemed to be on the same boat as mine judging by the way his whole facial expression went from calm to frustrated real quick.
"I am clear about what I want. I know why I'm neglecting my fucking duties and trying to protect you, I know why your safety is my priority, I know why there's nothing important to me other than keeping you out of the hands of Sebastian's enemies who are ready to cross any extent just to get to something close to him and destroy it," He slammed his hand on the table and stood up, causing my eyes to widen ever so slightly, "And I fucking know what would give me relief. Every cell of my body knows it. And right now, all I care about is that I want to see you safe and sound and not pay the price for someone else's deeds just like your child did!"
He didn't even know but, with his last words, he took a dagger in his hand and stabbed right into my heart, deepening each of the wounds I'd been trying to heal. He destroyed the stability that took me all these days to find, perfectly with an effort similar to just a click of fingers, within only a mere second.
A trembling breath left my mouth on its own.
I don't wanna remember it. I don't wanna go through it again.
Tears fought to find their way to my eyes but I refused to let them defeat me.
I can't fall weak. No, I am not going to fall weak.
Realization passed through Aaron's eyes and they softened. Guilt was the first thing to shade his countenance.
"Athena, I...."
"Thanks," Flashing him a smile that took away even the last bit of strength left within me, I stood up gathering my stuff, "Thanks for reminding me that.....my life could get taken away, just like my child's."
"I am sorry. I...I didn't mean to say it."
"Own up to your fucking words, Aaron. Don't act like a bloody coward," I spat, the agony coursing through my veins resulted in nothing but anger, reminding me of the deep-rooted hatred I had promised myself to always keep alive for the one I'd once loved with all of my heart, "Besides it's not like what you said does not have any relevance to the reality— My child was taken away from me because of Sebastian Valdez. They came behind me because I was his mate and he is the one to be held responsible for the accident, if he wasn't been that determined to push me away, today, my child would have been here with me. I wouldn't have to grieve every day and night for the loss that none fix. Everything could have been better but he chose to be a damn coward instead of facing the reality, and my child and I had to pay the price!"
He fell dead silent. Saying nothing but hearing every word I said.
"And it's ironic that the enemies of man who have left no bounds to put me through the absolute worst are most likely to be behind me just because we two have a so-called mate bond between us. But they don't know is that I'm also a victim of the same curse, the same man and his brutal treatments, and I am aware of the fact that they wouldn't even want to know the truth— They'd be happy to put a bullet in the middle of my head and end it quick rather than hearing my sob story," I laughed, cold and bitter, "And you know what? I'd be fucking thrilled to just die in the hands of his enemies rather than live in this world and keep bearing the damages of the past only he is responsible for. He's the killer of my child— And I hope you know the truth that if there's anything or anyone a mother hates the most is the one who harms her child so just think, how much hatred I have stored for the one for the responsible for my child's death."
I hated him. I hated from my core, everything related to him even the sight of him that I never wanted to see again.
"Athena, you need to calm down. Please sit down and drink some wat--" He attempted to speak.
"Ever since I lost my child, I have never calmed down, Aaron and I'd never. So don't even bother," I cut him off, "Besides you are also just a loyal servant of the killer of my child, no matter what you say or how much you try to deny it. You might not be as loyal as a dog but your loyalty still lies with him, so, you are the last person I'd want around me let alone seeking help from. It's my humble request to you— Please stop following me and let me live my life on my own till some enemy of your dear Alpha kills me, or I get enough of it and take my life on my own. Either way, I don't want any interruption or anyone barging into my boundaries. Let me live— It's all I am asking for."
"Listen..."
"No, I don't wanna listen. Look, I totally appreciate your effort to help me, and the favour you did me by not telling Sebastian Valdez about my location, it's more than you could do for me, but you need to get this in your head straight and clear—Nobody can help me. Just nobody. My fate was written the moment I was born in this world and what's written would happen anyways, either one way or another— There's none who can prevent it. Then just stop wasting your time and go back to your world and let me stay in mine."
With that, I turned around and walked away without sparing another glance at him.
At least Aaron's presence has managed to one thing correct--Remind me of the reasons to keep hating Sebastian Valdez till my last breath.