Alpha Of Darkness And The Half-Breed Healer

GAEL’S POV

I inhaled deeply for the umpteenth time. I have been glued to the clinic building, staring at it like I expect some miracle to jump out. I still can’t believe that I ruined a good thing all by myself. I was considering how hard it was to give in to my feelings. I should have calmed down. Nia must hate me right now, wherever she is. At least I am rest assured that she got out of here safely.

I had razed the greenhouse to the ground. All of Nia’s hard work over the months of being the healer, my anger, brought them all to waste. Not only did I accuse her of something she didn’t do. I cheated on her again. I was the one who mocked our relationship. Nia has never shown any sign that she was going to disappoint me. How did I not see that? I miss her every day. Before I learned the truth, any reminder of her only made me angry, and with a few fucks here and there coupled with limitless alcohol consumption. I get over it all.

But now, the pain is so evident that I can feel myself fading away each passing day. Meeting with a fantastic soul like that of Nia is an opportunity that I will never be able to get again. Maybe it has been ordained that I would die alone. Nia was my second chance mate after tossing my actual mate to the side for a flimsy reason. I am a complete mess. I guess I do need therapy. My parent’s past haunts me like it is mine.

All day long, I have thought of the best way to get back at Gemma, but then I realized that she would have to deal with what she did, and that feels like the best punishment to give to someone. It is why I asked that she and her lover be freed only on the condition that Gemma never step foot in the pack house ever again and the lover gets banned from the pack for the next five years.

At least I learned the truth before I became entangled in a marriage with her. Many of the other packs would have heard, and that would bring the Sunset pack a terrible name. I can still deal with the rumors of a failed relationship, not an actual marriage. It was one of the reasons my parents stuck to each other and ended up dying to prevent rumors from spreading about them.

I thought I would be able to escape the same mistake as them. But it turns out that I am my parent’s child. My mistake comes in a different version. I threw my head to the back, letting the morning sun burn my face. I want to start afresh and discover a new me. I have had a lot of thinking to do. Even though I know it would be hard. But I will try to live right as expected. It is the least I can do for the good people of the pack who have been putting up with me over time. In light of that decision, I will apologize to everyone at the pack council meeting today.

That is something that I rarely do, but my ego shouldn’t get in the way of making a public apology. If I can handle the one behind closed doors, I can do this too! The news will spread in no time. Sometimes, I feel like technology is just a burden to the members of the Sunset pack. They spread news faster than the internet will ever do. Chuckling to myself, I kicked at the floor.

“What is so funny?” Ezra asked next to me.

I groaned loudly. “How did you find me?”

“What? I only came to remind you that the meeting is about to start. You shouldn’t be late.” 

I snorted, knowing that wasn’t the entire truth. I don’t know what it has been with Ezra for the past few days. He almost worries that I might do something stupid, so he tries to monitor me closely. As funny as it might sound, it is getting to me.

“There is no need for you to be this alert,” I mumbled, walking towards the main house.

He blinked like he was unaware of what I was saying. “What do you mean?”

“I am not going to attempt suicide. I am not my father.” I stared blankly.

Ezra coughed simultaneously, getting a grip on himself. He glared at me. “Why would you say something like that?”

“Because it is the truth. The former Beta must have told you about the times my father tried to end it when he got overwhelmed with depression. I won’t be doing that; I feel like that is a cowardly act on his part. We might have some hereditary major depression. I would register to see a therapist. You can back off now. I think I was much better when you didn’t try to meddle every time.” I sneered.

He paused in his tracks. “Uncle didn’t explain it like that to me. Have you ever felt suicidal?”

“Not that. I often feel dead inside, and I don’t want to put up an excuse. But it was one of the reasons I began gathering concubines, to feel alive. But I must admit, I felt the most alive with Nia. Now that she is no longer here, I will have to seek another way out without going back to my old ways.” I admitted and kept walking. He joined in, too.

“Was that why you found it hard to believe that Nia was a real deal?”

“It felt surreal; I hardly thought loudly about it. But it lingered at the back of my mind. It must be why I wanted to marry Nia on time, to get the thoughts to die. The truth is, I need to get help and ensure that I am sane enough to give love and worthy enough to accept it.”

“Sounds like a hard task,” Ezra admitted.

“Will take long, but I might be ready,” I stated, opening the door to the meeting hall. All of them had a skeptical look on their faces as they rose to greet me. I must have been a total terror towards them in the last few months for them to be this alert. “Please take your seats.” I urged.

“Is there a reason you called for an impromptu meeting, Alpha Gael?” Omega Harold asked in a stern voice.

Yeah, I deserve that. Nodding my head, I folded my hands to the back. “Yes, I came to apologize to you all.” The surprise was evident on their faces as they exchanged different looks. “I know it sounds strange, but I apologize for my awful attitude. I have no excuse for being irresponsible. But I hope you will understand my situation and not take it out on me. I promise to be more reasonable from now on. Thank you all for putting the pack first and taking a stand. I hope we will keep working together to improve the pack.”

They shared a knowing look and began to clap, including Ezra. Omega Harold cleared his throat, “Alpha Gael, it wouldn’t be right for us not to acknowledge that we knew how much hurt you were going through. Love would have us losing our minds. All the same, it is a delight to have you back. Also, thank you for forgiving Gemma. Elder Ezekiel would have lost his mind if his daughter was locked up.”

I nodded slowly. “It’s the least I can do. I caused the misunderstanding. And-” I said with a wince as I felt a sharp pain strike through my chest.

“Are you alright?” Ezra asked, leaping from his chair.

“Y… yeah, I guess…” I didn’t get to finish my sentence when it struck again, and this time, my legs gave way to the ground. Ezra seems to have flown next to me. I raised a hand to say something and let out a painful yell when the pain hit too hard this time.

Before I could take the help rendered to pull me up, my body went limp, and darkness swallowed me whole. ****************************** AUTHOR’S POV

Gemma bowed her head slowly, looking like a little child caught stealing candy. Her brain cell seems to have finally gotten a grip on the situation surrounding her. Even though it has been two days since her release from the dungeon, she can’t step out of the house because of the snide remarks many people keep passing on about her. She didn’t think it would be so hard for her to go back to her usual life. But she was being delusional, especially with the big bump she had on her. She glanced to her side and rolled her eyes at Zac sitting beside her.

“Why are you here?” She asked in a low tone.

“Your father called me here. I don’t want to be anywhere near you either if that is what you intend to say.” Zac replied, looking away from her.

Ezekiel walked cautiously towards them and sat down. He had asked for them to speak in the study because he didn’t want his wife to eavesdrop on what he intended to say. Knowing Daniella, she would be totally against it. His eyes lingered on Zac for a while as he thought hard about where to begin.

“Can I ask you a question? Zac and I want an honest answer.” He stated.

Zac gulped hard, “Yes, sir.”

“When you asked your father to help set up a meeting with Gemma through me. You already knew her, then?” Ezekiel asked.

The young man nodded slowly. “Yes, I just thought that was the best way to show Gemma how serious I was with what we shared. But she had other intentions.”

Ezekiel wanted to say something else, but he thought against it. “I don’t have much to say. It is the one favor I am going to render, Gemma. And the only reason is because of the child she is carrying.

Whether you intend to admit to it or not, Gemma, you have become a laughingstock in the entire pack. And no one wants to hang around you. Not after they heard about your attempt on the healer’s life. You have so much guts taking such a risky move. I won’t drag this for too long. So I am going to ask you, Zac. What plans do you have for her? I heard the child is yours.”

Zac looked towards Gemma and scratched the back of his head. “I am due to leave the pack and handle my father’s business. As it stands, I won’t be returning here anytime soon. I love Gemma sincerely, but I can’t seem to understand her affection towards me; it was one of the reasons I chose to keep my distance from her. However, I am ready to take responsibility for both the mother and the child. If she is willing.”

“She is still my daughter, no matter how hard it is for me to admit to that fact. I have no intention of making her responsibility yours. I want to know if you would be owning up to your responsibility as the baby’s father. I have already bought a house in the same city where your father’s business is, and that’s where you will be staying, Gemma. If you decide you don’t want it, I will sell it and have my money back. To save you and the innocent child’s future humiliation, I think it is best you leave and start afresh where you aren’t known. You will settle in no time since it is a human world, and you have always been more of an inactive werewolf. You won’t miss much of the activities. With Zac being close by, you would have someone to check in on you regularly. When you get there, decide what you intend to do to earn. Let me know, and I will take care of it.” Ezekiel said.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Silence settled in the room as both men stared at Gemma, expecting her to say something. After what felt like a long minute, she raised her head with tears in her eyes. “What does Mum have to say about this?” She asked her father.

He didn’t get to respond as Daniella walked into the study herself. She had been searching for her husband and had unintentionally eavesdropped on their conversation. “I support your father, of course. You need to leave the pack, and it would be best if you don’t stay in other neighboring packs. I doubt if you would cope there. So go to somewhere not so familiar to you. Maybe you will get to learn about life differently.”

“Mum.” Gemma whimpered in a shaky tone. “you know I have never lived away from you two. Why would you do this to me?”

Daniella scoffed. “You should have thought about that before you got obsessed with your shallow ambition for someone who felt very confident about living at the packhouse. It would help if you weren’t scared to live by yourself. Thank you for opening my eyes to see that we did try as parents. You were the one who chose to be a tyrant.” She said, fighting back the tears that made their way to her eyes.

Ezekiel motioned for his wife to come to him. He didn’t expect her to agree to his decision because he knew how hard it was for her to leave Gemma alone. “I am counting on you, Zac, to do what is right. She would be due to leave this week. I wish you all the best.” Without sparing his daughter a glance, he took his wife by the hand and left.

“I am sorry,” Zac whispered when they were left alone.

Gemma hissed spitefully, “Of course you are. Isn’t this what you wanted?”

“What do you mean?”

“You have always wanted me to yourself, and now you have me.”

He scoffed before rising to his feet. “You are really out of your mind. What do I look like to you? I am only concerned about you because of my child. You don’t have to be by their side after you give birth. I will handle it. For the sake of your parents and, like your father said, our innocent child. That is the only reason I Intend to put up with you. You lost your chance with me a long time ago. We are never getting back together. I only want my child. It’s best if you start packing now. I am not a fan of sloppiness.” Zac sucked his teeth and walked out.

Gemma felt goosebumps rise as she stared at his receding. The door slammed shut, and she jolted, causing more tears to roll down her face. Gemma didn’t realize her lonely state until this very moment. She gripped the edge of the chair tightly, letting the tears fall freely with regrets pouring in and crippling her.