Father And Daughter

AYSU

“Your dear daughter?” Aysu didn’t hold back her sneer when she could finally react to the presence of the man who was basically a stranger to her at that point. “How can you call me that? How am I your daughter if you hide so many parts of yourself from me?”

“Would you have accepted those ugly parts if I had told you about them?” he retorted, his hands disappearing into his pockets.

“Are you admitting that you are a killer?”

Her father shrugged. “I can’t deny who I am forever.”

His response churned her soul. It burnt her heart as well, she had to place a hand on her chest to calm the feeling that was about to crush her.

After seconds passed, Aysu managed to tame that feeling. Then, she asked, “So why?” He raised his brows in question. “ I am accepting the truth that you are a killer. But I wish to know why you are one.”

“Does a wolf need a reason to crave blood?” was her father’s question, his eyes now hardening way more than usual. “I kill because it is a desire carved deep in my soul.”

His response angered her so much that she pulled her hands into fists and cried, “You take the lives of honest wolves, Beta Richard!”

“Wow.” He took a step closer. “It seems am now no longer your father. I guess I am just Beta Richard to you.”

“I-”

“I don’t care how this makes you feel, Aysu. I didn’t come here to receive your thoughts on what I do in my free time. I came here to congratulate you and-”

“You can’t go scot-free, Dad,” Aysu said after she managed to stop her racing mind which was threatening to burst out wicked words that it wished to lash her father with.

Her father smiled with smugness. “Really? Says who? Ximun O’Hara? That wolf thinks he yields power but he is nothing but a pup that has no choice but to dance to the tunes of those that hold the true power.”

“The Alpha King is the one with the utmost power.” Aysu stood her ground, she would defend her mate in whatever situation. “I don’t care who you are banking on, but as long as you are the culprit that has ripped out the souls of the wolves of Night Crimson Pack for years, you will pay with your soul and more.”

“Aysu.” Beta Richard reached for his clean shaved chin and gave it a rub while his feet moved a few inches closer. “You have this all wrong.” Their eyes locked with great intensity. As her father dared her to stand down, Aysu maintained her stance and refused to budge. “Alpha Ximun can do nothing to me, neither can you.”

This time, Aysu’s smile turned smug and she crossed her arms. “Well, Beta Richard, we shall see about that.”

Her father sighed hard. “I guess we will.”

“I have one more question,” Aysu stopped him before he could take a step away from that strange place.

“I don’t intend to kill you.”

Aysu’s lips smeared with disgust. “Of course, you can’t kill me. I am the Queen. Whoever does as much as hold a knife to my neck will never enjoy freedom even after they die.”

“I am glad you are learning something here. You were so convinced before that you would never survive here.”

Aysu ignored his statement. “Why did you kill those people? Why did you kill only the ones in this pack? Why did you spare those in the Tarmish Pack? Is Gideon aware of this side of you?”

Beta Richard narrowed his eyes. “That’s more than one question, Aysu.”

“Now that I think of it, I have way more.”

His hands gestured mid-air. “Well, I have a lot of free time. I think I can answer them all.”

“Good.”

“Hmm.” Beta Richard folded his arms and at the same time, Aysu dissolved her folded arms. “As I said, I kill because I desire it. But I have a reputation in our pack. I can’t possibly taint that by killing the wolves of Tarmish Pack. That would be shooting myself in the leg.”

“That makes no sense. Irrespective of where they come from, you killed wolves. The moment you took those lives, your reputation sank deeper and deeper and the shot in the leg you were trying to avoid happened either way.”

“Are you here to lecture me on morals?

“I didn’t even know you were here,” Aysu retorted.

“You know what, I am done here. I was hoping to have a proper discussion with my daughter but I can tell that won’t work.”

“You have changed the dynamic of our relationship, Beta Richard.” It saddened Aysu to say that. “Things can never be the same. If we ever meet again, all I’ll be thinking about is the amount of blood you have shed.”

“In that case, I have no business here.” He began to retreat his steps towards the vastness of trees that were located beyond that land of dirty statues. “I hope to see you at the mating ball. I think that day will be fun.”

His statement made Aysu frown. “What do you mean by that?”

A disturbing smile pulled his lips. “You will find out tomorrow evening.”

“Huh…” Aysu nodded as though she understood his coded message and till he walked out of that space, she kept her eyes on him until the realisation that what was left of the man she grew up with was now fully gone hit her.

That thought threw her mind into a strong turmoil and the only way she knew to ease that feeling was to find Ximun and stay in his arms for a long time. So, she did just that. Her feet walked to the door and left that place which she was definitely coming back to.

Ω

It was surprisingly easy for Aysu to find their new room. And as she pushed the door open, Ximun’s presence greeted her. He was perched on the edge of their large bed, his head ducked even after she started to walk towards him.

His hair could not allow Aysu to see much of what w as going on with his face, so she assumed that he was deep in thought.

“You are back, Ximun,” her gentle voice attempted to pull him out of his thoughts without startling him so much.

“Aysu.” His croaky voice acknowledged her and he lifted his head. “Where were you?”

Her fingers pointed in a random direction. “I took a walk to clear my head.”

Ximun didn’t react much to her answer. He just held his arms out and said, “Come here, my Queen.”

Aysu moved closer at a faster rate and soon, she was seated on his lap. “Are you doing fine?” she asked when she saw the extreme tiredness in his eyes.

“I am.” His response was laced with a loud sigh. “I spoke to the security unit. The suspect is truly-

“My father.” Aysu made sure to pretend that she wasn’t hurt by her response. “I know. He is the killer.”

“Aysu, I know it is hard to…” Ximun paused his words and his eyes that had been averting hers finally focused on her. “You know?”

“Well,” her head tilted to the left, “we saw the man that walked into the kitchen. That was definitely my father.”

“Oh.” Ximun held her right hand. “He will be punished when caught, Aysu.”

She could tell where he was going with his statement. So, with a slight smile, she said, “I will be fine, Ximun. My father has committed a crime, it is only right that he is punished.”

“That’s not the only issue.”

“It’s not?”

“Once word gets out to the public, all eyes will inevitably stay glued on you because you are his daughter.”

“They will also ask questions. They will wonder if I am truly suited to be the Luna Queen.” Aysu added to his statement. “I didn’t think about that.”

“Aysu, look at me.” His fingers found her chin and that touch directed her head towards him. “Those talks might be inevitable but that doesn’t mean that they’ll be able to hurt you. I am here for you, to protect you and to love you with all that I have. So, no matter what they say, I can assure you that you will be fine. You won’t even get to hear their words, no matter how vicious they are.”

Ximun’s words warmed her heart so much that a coy smile was on her lips. “That is assuring,” she quietly said.

“I am glad,” he replied, his free hand patting her head in a way she and Alora loved.

“How is Magnetino?”

“The funeral committee is taking care of him. We can meet him once they are done.”

Aysu nodded and at the same time, she wondered if the bizarre thing that happened with Mayana’s body would happen again if she was able to contact Magnetino’s body in some way.

“Aysu, about earlier-”

“I am sorry I was too stern with my words,” Aysu stopped him before he could say anything more. “I uh… was too blinded by my emotions. Certainly,” she managed to get his hand in her palm, “being the Alpha King is not easy. Decisions might conflict and things could go wrong beyond your control, so I should have been more understanding.”

“Oh.”

Something about his response said that he didn’t expect that reply.

“I am sorry, Ximun.”

A smile formed on his lips. “I am also sorry that I was not able to protect Magnetino.”

The truth she perceived in his apology made Aysu smile as well. And since that moment was a nice one, she said nothing more. The side of her head leaned against Ximun’s forehead and as he pulled her closer with the grip he had around her waist, they both remained that way in silence, each soul cherishing that very memory.