Chapter 8 Another Man Should
After less than an hour on the road, we pulled into the driveway of my house.
The moment the car rolled to a stop, my smile faded.
The memories came rushing back so suddenly it almost felt like I was standing in that exact moment again.
The flashing patrol lights.
The neighbors whispering outside.
My mother's cries.
The officers leading my father away in handcuffs.
I slowly climbed out of the car, my gaze lingering on the front porch. It was the same house I'd grown up in, yet somehow it felt... different now.
Quieter.
Colder.
Almost like the walls themselves were grieving.
Lyla rounded the car and shut the passenger door with a soft thud before looking over at me.
“You okay?”
I forced a tiny smile.
“Yeah... let's go.”
She didn't look convinced.
She simply reached over and intertwined her fingers with mine.
We walked toward the front door together.
The silence inside the house felt even heavier.
Usually, Mom would have music playing while cooking, or the television would be running in the background.
Today...
Nothing.
Just silence.
As soon as I stepped into the living room, my eyes landed on my mother.
She sat quietly on one of the couches, still dressed to go out.
Or perhaps she'd only just returned.
Honestly...
I couldn't tell anymore.
She looked exhausted.
The kind of exhausted that sleep couldn't fix.
“Aveline...”
Her eyes immediately softened the second she saw me.
I hurried over and wrapped my arms around her.
“Hi, Mom.”
She hugged me tighter than usual.
For a brief second...
She felt fragile.
Like if I let go too quickly, she'd shatter.
Lyla walked over and hugged her too.
“Everything's going to be okay, Mrs. Hale,” she said gently. “We're going to get Alpha Damien back.”
Mom smiled sadly.
“Thank you, Lyla.”
She sniffled before wiping beneath her eyes.
I sat beside her.
“Were you heading somewhere?”
She slowly shook her head.
“No... I just got back from seeing your father.”
My heart clenched.
“You visited him?”
She nodded.
“I wanted him to know he isn't alone.”
I lowered my eyes.
“You didn't tell me...”
“You had already left for school.”
I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck.
“Actually... I didn't go.”
Mom slowly turned toward me.
“Aveline...”
Before she could begin another lecture, Lyla quickly jumped in.
“Mrs. Hale, please don't worry. We'll handle her.”
Mom looked between us before sighing.
“I don't know what I'd do without the two of you.”
“You'll never have to find out,” Lyla replied with a reassuring smile.
I leaned forward.
“I'll visit Dad soon too.”
“You should.”
Mom squeezed my hand.
“He kept asking about you.”
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.
“I'll go tomorrow.”
She nodded.
“Okay.”
The room grew quiet again.
I stood up.
“We'll be upstairs.”
Mom managed another small smile.
“Alright.”
Lyla and I headed upstairs, closing my bedroom door behind us.
The second the door clicked shut...
We both collapsed dramatically onto my bed.
“Ohhh...” Lyla groaned dramatically.
“What a freaking day.”
“No kidding.”
I stared at my ceiling.
“I swear my life has become some low-budget drama series.”
She laughed.
“Correction.”
She turned to face me.
“High-budget.”
“Why?”
“Because your ex is trash.”
I burst into laughter.
“And?”
“You met the hottest man alive.”
I laughed harder.
“My father got arrested.”
“Okay, that part wasn't in the script.”
We both laughed until our stomachs hurt.
God...
I needed that.
Lyla eventually rolled onto her side to face me.
Her expression softened.
“Listen to me.”
I looked over.
“You're allowed to cry.”
“I know.”
“You're allowed to be angry.”
“I definitely am.”
“But don't you dare crawl back to Ethan.”
I immediately frowned.
“As if.”
“No.”
She pointed a finger at me.
“I mean it.”
“No begging.”
“No crying in front of him.”
“No asking why.”
“No trying to make him love you again.”
“He lost that privilege.”
I nodded quietly.
“He chose someone else.”
“He chose power,” I corrected.
“Exactly.”
She reached over and squeezed my hand.
“So let him choke on it.”
I couldn't help smiling.
“What belongs to you will always find you.”
She smiled warmly.
“No woman should ever have to convince a man to choose her.”
I looked away.
“You're worth choosing the first time.”
Something inside me eased.
Just a little.
“You're right.”
“I know I am.”
She flipped her hair dramatically.
“I give excellent life advice.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Your ego is ridiculous.”
“It has every reason to be.”
She grinned.
“You know...”
She nudged my shoulder.
“If the Lycan King kissed me again...”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Ethan would become ancient history.”
She gasped loudly before bursting into uncontrollable laughter.
“I KNEW IT!”
She practically bounced on the mattress.
“I freaking knew you liked him!”
“I never said that!”
“You literally just said another kiss from him would erase Ethan from your memory!”
“Oh, shut up.”
I buried my burning face in a pillow.
She laughed so hard she nearly rolled off the bed.
“Aveline Hale!”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don't.”
She poked my shoulder.
“You already kissed!”
I peeked over the pillow.
“That barely counts.”
Her laughter slowly stopped.
“What do you mean it doesn't count?”
“I don't know...”
I shrugged.
“It felt... random.”
“Random?”
“I couldn't even think straight that night.”
I stared absentmindedly toward the ceiling.
“It almost feels like it happened to someone else.”
“So...”
She leaned closer.
“You're saying...”
I sighed.
“It wasn't really...”
I searched for the right words.
“A real kiss.”
She blinked.
“A real kiss?”
“You know...”
I laughed awkwardly.
“One where both people actually know what they're doing.”
“One where you're fully aware.”
“One where you're not overwhelmed by everything happening around you.”
“One where...”
I smiled shyly.
“You actually kiss because you want to.”
Lyla slowly grinned.
“Ohhh...”
“So our girl wants a proper kiss.”
I immediately threw a pillow at her.
“Shut up!”
She caught it while laughing hysterically.
“A real kiss!”
“Oh my God!”
“You're impossible.”
She laughed for another few seconds before something crossed her mind.
Her laughter slowly disappeared.
Then...
A very suspicious smile spread across her face.
“Wait here.”
I frowned.
“What?”
Without answering, she suddenly climbed off the bed and walked toward my closet.
I watched her in confusion.
“What are you looking for?”
She didn't answer.
Instead, I heard hangers sliding across the rail.
A drawer opening.
Another closing.
“Lyla?”
Still nothing.
A few seconds later...
She turned around.
Something white hung from her fingers.
My eyes widened.
“No.”
She casually walked back toward the bed before tossing it onto the mattress between us.
The elegant white lace lingerie.
The one I'd bought months ago...
For my wedding night with Ethan.
I stared at it.
Completely speechless.
Lyla folded her arms.
“If one idiot was too blind to appreciate this...”
She lifted one eyebrow.
“Then maybe another man should.”
