Chapter 78 - The Part Where I Made A Firm Decision.

>>Adam

I stared at the Dryad in disbelief with my butt flat on the ground and leaves stuck in my hair. Did she really just throw me out?

Did I say anything wrong?

I stood up and gaped at the Oak tree. Is she angry because I said I was sorry? I was sorry though… I can’t believe I made such a huge mistake.

While still staring at the Oak tree I thought about it. She returned my feelings didn’t she? Or was it just a drunken mistake?

I never got the confirmation.

My gaze dropped to the ground. But what does it even matter? She’s not my destined partner. I don’t even know if I’ll ever find my mate though. Who would even want to come to this shabby pack?

I sighed and walked out of the forest to the pack. I still had work to do. Things to prepare. Winter was coming and I needed to make up for so much.

***

Many weeks passed by and I had completely immersed myself in work. As time passed the pack members started treating me like normal. I came to a realization that almost all the people living here were in a constant state of paranoia. That’s why their attitudes were so extreme.

It was suffocating at times but well, I was used to it. I lived with it all my life after all. Who cares about mental health? For me, it doesn’t even exist.

Although I was drowning myself in work and making sure that the pack was safe Esra was constantly on my mind.

She was the one who threw me out but maybe I should go and visit her.

So during the extreme winter where everyone lays low and chances of rogues attacking are pretty much zero too I decided to visit her one early morning.

When I entered the forest I felt calm and cozy since the enchanted forest was warm and pleasant all year around. I knew it was too early so I decided to make my way to the tree palace.

As quietly as possibly I went to her room and noticed her asleep. Not wanting to disturb her, I just sat down on the chair across the room.

It wasn’t long before she woke and noticed me.

“Adam!” She exclaimed in excitement.

“Hey.” I waved at her.

She was happy to see me and stood up immediately to give me a hug, “I thought you wouldn’t come back.”

“I did too, you practically threw me out and it made me think you didn’t want me but-” I stood up, “I realized I loved you too much to stay away.” She was constantly on my mind no matter what I did.

Perhaps it was because she was too calming to be around. The only person who made me feel normal.

I came to realize how much I needed her when I no longer visited the forest for months.

“What about the pack? Did you find any solution?”

“...”

“Adam?”

“No.” I replied, “Not yet.” Obviously not. I’m still thinking what to do. All the solutions require a hefty amount of money which I don’t have.

“I see.” She looked at me,“So, this is the only time you came back without any visible injuries.”

“Hmm.” I thought about it and noticed she was right. It was probably because after that one big mess. I was working alone for a long time. The pack members were more careful too now and dad seemed a bit suspiciously quiet as well. I was worried about that too.

It felt like he was up to something but I had no idea what?

“Are you okay?” I nodded, “How long will you stay then?”

“I’ve been thinking.” I started, “How about I just stay here and never go back?” My words were genuine. I wanted to stay and live here, with her and our child. I don’t ever want to meet my mate either. I just want to stay here. Far away from all those suffocating things.

“What are you talking about?’ She giggled, “You don’t care about your people?”

“...” I didn’t answer for a few moments, “Guess, I have to go back huh?” Esra can not understand the struggle of having constantly paranoid people around you. The thing is I can’t even blame them. We all grew up in such a miserable environment.

I should be there for them. Right?

“Well, I guess…”

I got out of her embrace and walked to the terrace. I liked this place. It was spacious and airy. I could feel the gentle breeze and relax a bit.

***

Just like that I started visiting the forest when I could. I made sure I went there when I could without any problems.

I was constantly stressed about the rogues coming back when the weather started getting warmer because I certainly did not want to repeat the incident that had already happened.

Even after months had passed I wasn’t allowed to meet Chloe or Nathan.

Their parents treated me with constant contempt and it was getting to my mind.

Kei on the other hand was also acting suspiciously and fought with Suliha a lot. I tried approaching him but he didn’t even talk with me. I was pushed out so harshly I didn’t have the courage to back. I was afraid that the friendship we had would break if I made a mistake so I stayed away.

After a few fights, Suliha and Kei took separate jobs and came back home even more rarely.

There was something very wrong with Suliha, he was losing weight and I noticed the dark circles he was getting with no signs of improving but he too wouldn’t tell me anything.

So many things changed and I wondered if that was my fault too? The thought was eating me up. Am I always in the wrong?

I knew the answer and it was eating me up alive.

As time passed It started getting really stressful for me. The little emotional support I had in my pack was no longer there. Moreover I had noticed that dad had a few meetings with some very suspicious men.

I tried asking him about it but he just shut me out rudely. That wasn’t unexpected but for some reason because everyone was shutting me out and ignoring me. I felt hurt.

***

“Esra?” I was laying on the ground at the end of the forest where the river began, “Sometimes I can’t understand why I fell for you?” Because she wasn’t my mate.

She sat right beside me, “Because I’m pretty?” She joked and I smiled.

I looked up at her, her pregnancy was pretty much at the end. Having a child of my own scared me very much but the thought was exciting too. Although the thing I was worried about the most was meeting my real mate. Part of me knew that might never happen since I never leave the pack except when I’m coming to the forest but the other part knew my mate was out there and it constantly stressed me out.

I placed my ear on her stomach trying to listen to the baby.

I had thought about it over and over and over again and I came to a decision. I was going to leave the pack and stay here.

“Esra. I have some work at home.” I stood up and began to leave. I had already started preparing for my departure. I had packed many of my things and soon I was going to leave everything behind.

They were better off without me, right? And maybe if I really leave, dad might actually take up some responsibility.

Because I was so focused on this one thing I forgot about all my other responsibilities, or should I say, I chose to push them way back because I felt this was more important.

***

The day was here, I placed most of my things in the forest and I was ready to leave. Dad was having a meeting with some strange man, I guess his negotiations weren’t going so well since they’ve had a lot of meetings but got nowhere.

This was the perfect opportunity to leave.

I was making my way towards the forest when the most unexpected thing happened. Something I feared so much that I froze when my eyes landed on the female wolf when she emerged from the forest. She paused as her eyes landed on me too.

My mate.

She shifted to her human form and ran to me, hugging me tightly, she slid her arms around my waist and locked them there.

“My love.” The woman said, “My destined partner.” Her voice was full of love , “Won’t you take me back home with you?” She kissed me and I flinched but didn’t step away. The kiss felt so magical and powerful it blew my mind and I knew the reason why. This was the power of the mate bond.

She noticed something wrong since I didn’t kiss her back. She broke the kiss and asked , “I heard you have a lover.”

“How do you know that?” I was surprised.

“There’s a rumour about it, but well,” She traced my shoulder with her index finger, “It doesn’t matter, I’m your mate by destiny and fate, there is nothing that can separate us.” She grinned.

How many people know about this? A rumour? Why am I only hearing about it now?

I looked at her again and then took off my jacket and wrapped it around her.

“If you’re going to shift in a foreign place, carry some clothes with you.”

She seemed touched by the gesture and it was hard for me too. As I stood next to her it was as if all the feelings I knew before were fading away. That scared me, so I pushed her apart and began to walk towards the forest again when she grabbed my hand.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m leaving.”

“You can’t leave. You’re mine.”

“I-” I tried, “Let me go. I-I,” It was then I was realizing the power of mate bond, “I reject you.” I said the words and she stared back at me wide-eyed. Her grip on my hand loosened, “I’m sorry. I- I have a place I have to be.”

“So you’re telling me you’re never going to come back?” She was angry, “You’re rejecting me because of another woman? I’m your destined partner!!” She yelled, “You’re even leaving your pack behind forever?”

“I-” I was going to answer but thought that it wasn’t worth it so I turned around to leave but as soon as I did I froze in my path.

Nathan and Chloe stood there hand in hand and stared at me in shock. It looked like one of them got the other in secret and came here, to meet me.

“Adam…” Nathan whispered my name.

“Adam you’re leaving us?” Chloe spoke, “Why??” They both came up to me.

I hadn’t seen Nathan and Chloe in so much time I completely forgot how much they meant to me. How much the other kids meant to me or did I throw those thoughts and feelings in the depths so I could make a decision? I already knew the answer but pretended I didn’t.

“Are you leaving us just like you left Zen, Beth and Lily alone?” Chloe’s eyes brimmed with tears while for the first time Nathan stood there quietly, “Are you really bad like people say?”

“Chloe…” I got near them but they backed away.

“Adam…” Nathan stared at me with eyes so fully open it was terrifying, “Do you really not care about us? Mom said you didn’t… Is it true?” He stared at me with unblinking eyes, “Are you really going away forever?”

“...”

“What does that mean!!!?” Another voice reached me that sent a shiver down my spine and my heartbeat began to accelerate. It was the voice of a man I really didn’t want to hear from.

I slowly turned my head and looked at my father as he stomped his way to me.

“Dad…” I stood up and turned to him as he approached me. He grabbed my arm and yanked me towards him.

“You plan on leaving? Who the fuck do think you are!!” He yelled so loudly my ears ringed, “Leave??! You have a responsibility you little bitch!!”

I pushed him away, “No! That’s yours! I’ve been burdened with what was supposed to be yours for years! I didn’t even get to enjoy anything properly in life because of you!!” I yelled back, for the first time ever, I screamed back at him. I had talked back at times but I never screamed or lost my composer.

I wonder what was wrong with me today?

Was it because nothing was going my way when I really wanted it to? But well, nothing has ever gone my way in my life. Wonder why I’m surprised?

“You!” Dad slapped my face, “Dare talk back to me!” I pursed my lips, “You should have died instead of your mother!!” He hit my head very hard, “I should have killed you!”

I don’t know if it was his words that made me lose it or was it that I could no longer take the abuse that I silently had for years. When he was about to hit me again I grabbed his right wrist and almost crushed it.

“Enough!!” I glared at him, “I’ve had enough!!” He was surprised at my outburst and counter, “Have you cared for me? I’ve always tried to be good, did things instead of you because I felt guilty because you always blamed me but you don’t have to treat me so badly. Do you really think I wanted mom to die?”

He stared back at me with dead eyes, “Well son,” His voice was hoarse as he took something out of his pocket with his left hand, “It doesn’t change the fact she died because of you.” He took out a switch blade and got the knife out and was about to stab me but I grabbed his hand in time.

He resisted and yanked his hands out of my grip then head butted. It sent my world spinning for a second but I regained composure fast. He switched the blade in his hands and tried slashing me but I dodged it.

I have to get the knife away from him!

That was my only purpose when I hit his leg, made him fall and snatched the switchblade from his hand.

I thought it would maybe calm him down a little bit but it only got him more furious. He came charging at me, “I hated you since that day!” He spat the words as he charged at me, “I hate you so much.”

His words hit me like a bullet.

Hate me?

Words could not describe what he has in a few words. I knew he didn’t like me but to hate his own son… I felt like something inside me broke.

He grabbed a stone from the ground and aimed for my head as he came within my perimeters.

I tried blocking the hand with the stone but he used the other hand to claw my eye out. His claws scratched my left eye so badly it blinded me from there permanently and the blood drops from it entered the other, temporarily blinding me from both.I fell down but supported myself on my knees.

The pain penetrated in my nerves and it hurt like hell. I held my bleeding side with one hand when he tried to jump on me again.

To defend myself, I blindly slashed the balde with full force at him.

For a moment I wasn’t sure if I had hit him or not but his movements stopped, then I heard him groan and then something spilling down.

I opened my right eye and let it adjust only to see him standing there with his hand on his neck while blood gushed out of it.

I stared at him in horror, momentarily forgetting about my own pain.

Oh no…

I stood up and raised my hands to go near him.

“Dad…” I looked at my hands as they began to tremble. I looked at the blade in my hands and realized it was me who had done it. It dropped out of my hands and I looked back at dad in horror.

His anguished expressions turned into a nasty grin, “Now you’ll never escape.” He dropped to the ground.. Feeling weak, he stopped applying pressure on his deep wound and let himself bleed to death.