The Alpha's Cinderella

Chapter 61

Damon

I stared into the crackling flames of the bonfire, my mind still clouded with frustration at myself for how I had acted earlier. I knew I shouldn't have lashed out like that, but the unwanted jealousy always seemed to rear its head whenever Serena was around another wolf, especially Alexei. It was a struggle I hadn't fully come to terms with yet. I always lose myself whenever I saw my wife talking to him.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice my Dad approaching until he stood beside me.

"Mind if I join you?"

His eyes reflected understanding and I scoohed sideways to make room for him. In his hands, he held a mug of beer, offering it to me in a silent gesture of companionship. I accepted the mug, taking a sip as the warmth of the beverage eased some of the tension within me.

“You know, your mom and I had a rule when we argued. We vowed not to let our misunderstandings last. We figured out how to be humble and fix things, making sure we didn't let a day go by without making up." He then looked at me with warmth. “You and Serena should do that too.”

As the words sank in, I felt immensely grateful. I appreciated the simplicity and sincerity of his advice, and a sense of warmth enveloped us in the glow of the bonfire. It was the first time I felt the love of a father that Romin denied me of, a memory that would surely etched in my mind until my last breath.

Then, it was my time to ask him a question. "Dad, how did you manage to stay alive all these years after what your twin brother did to you?"

Dad's smile softened, and he looked at me with love. "It was because of you, Damon," he said. "The hope that we would be reunited kept me going all these years. And now that we're together, I'm ready to meet your mom in the afterlife anytime."

“Psh, don’t say that, Dad! We still have a lot of time to spend toge—”

“"Intruders! We are under attack!"

Our moment was abruptly interrupted by a sudden shout, tearing through the peaceful atmosphere. My eyes widened as we both stood up to assess the situation. Alertness rippled through the crowd as a group of hired killers barged into the gathering, causing chaos and destruction. Some of them carried torches that set fire to our tents. Shouts and panic erupted in our once peaceful camp. After a few minutes, the group responsible for the chaos stepped forward.

"So, the tales are true. You really are a spitting image of the Blood Rose Alpha," the leader exclaimed.

Dad seemed surprised. "How did you find our camp?"

"Oh, it’s easy. One of your men led us here without a sweat," the leader answered. As he jerked his head to the side, a familiar man, Argus, stepped forward.

"Argus, how could you betray us? We are your family!" Dad's voice cut through the silence, filled with a mix of disappointment and anger.

Argus avoided eye contact, his guilt plain for everyone to see. "I'm sorry, boss. It's just... I'm tired of living like this. I want a better life, and Alpha Romin promised me that under his protection, I could have it."

My jaw clenched, struggling to contain the frustration boiling within me. "A better life promised by Romin? Huh! Dream on! He will never honor his promise to you." I shot at Argus, my voice a mix of anger and disbelief.

“He will! I know he would, he promised me!” Argus shot back.

The leader of the hired killers tossed him a bag of gold. "You did your part. Here's your reward.”

As Argus reached for the bag, a fleeting satisfaction flickered in his eyes. But in a cruel twist, the leader's facade crumbled, and he stabbed Argus in the back, reclaiming the gold pouch. Horror swept throughout as the traitor’s lifeless body fell to the ground.

Growls and snarls filled the night air afterward, and the primal instincts within us guided every move. The first fight erupted when one of the hired rogues lunged at one of our men. The clash echoed through the ground. The metallic scent of blood soon filled the air.

My dad, still grappling with the earlier betrayal, fought with a fierce determination. His every move was a testament to the years he'd spent as a warrior. His fighting skill echoed through the battleground.

In the midst of the chaos, I found myself facing an opponent who matched my strength. We lunged at each other, our movements guided by the instincts pulsing through our veins. Tasting his blood brought me a sense of euphoria.

In a moment of arrogance, I failed to see a wolf lunging at me. It was too late for me to react, and I braced myself for the impact. Just in time, I saw my father putting his own body between me and the attacker, taking a serious wound to his side. His sacrifice shook me to my core, a stark reminder of the dangers we faced in the midst of the intense fight.

While I cradled my father in his lap, Ryan killed the rogue who had stabbed him. Panic surged within me as I saw my father's bloodied side.

“Hang on, Dad. I will call the doctor!” I scanned the chaotic surroundings, desperately looking for someone who could treat Dad’s wounds. But there was none, as everybody was busy fighting the attackers.

Seeing my Dad’s situation, his men let out a fierce and terrifying growl. They launched a bloodlust against the attackers, wanting to avenge what happened to their leader. Ryan targeted the leader of the assassins. After making a powerful move, Ryan successfully decapitated him while the rest hunted down his minions.

Everything fell silent after that, only the sounds of us catching our breath and the crackling of the fire remained. We had won the surprise attack, but celebration was elusive, knowing that my Dad was badly injured. The rest of his men encircled us, a somber atmosphere settling over the group.

Dad turned to Ryan, “Take care of my…son,” he stated in between labored breaths, earning a silent nod of agreement from Ryan. Tears started falling as I watched his life slowly taken away. Dad touched my cheeks with his bloody hand.

“Gather yourself together, Dad. You will live to see your grandchild. You will survive!” The last word struggled to get out of my throat. I didn’t know if my optimism would help at the moment, but I wasn’t ready to lose my Dad tonight. We still have a lot of years to make up with. It was just unfair!

“Listen t-to me, s-son. I want you to live y-your li-fe in peace and ha-ppiness. With Serena and y-your little pup…”

“I can’t, Dad! How can I do that if you are planning to leave me? Please, Dad! Don’t go! I need you! I can’t survive this life without you.”

He smiled at me before coughing blood. I bit my lower lip, for I knew his time was running out. My body shuddered as the realization hit me.

“Yes, you can.” The side of his eyes glistened as a tear escaped from it. “Promise me…P-promise me that you’ll live your life to the fullest together with the wolves that matter to you the most…”

Instead of responding, I just nodded in agreement. We may have known each other for a short while but I felt his fatherly love for me. I couldn’t let him down in his final request.

Moments later, he looked to the side as if someone had arrived. His face lightened. “Carissa…” he whispered.

“Are you here to bring me to the Elysian Fields, my love?” He raised his trembling hands in the air as if he was talking to someone who wasn’t really there. “I am ready…”

The scene broke me. It looked like Mom was taking him to paradise. Finally, my old man would be with his beloved mate for all eternity.

“I have to go…son. You’re the best t-thing that happened to me and your mom…I l-love you…”

“I love you,” I answered back, my voice breaking with every spoken word. The rest of the Wild Fangs created muffled cries. And then, he shut his eyes.

“No!!!!! No!!!!!!”

The anguish erupted within me as I screamed the word "Dad" over and over. The air was thick with sorrow, the weight of the moment heavy on all our hearts. Just like that, I lost my Dad completely. The reality of him never coming back weighed heavily on me.

In the middle of my grief, I heard Ashford’s voice.

“Damon! I need you to come with me. It’s about Serena!”

My mind went blank hearing my wife’s name. I slowly let go of my Dad’s body, and with tears still lingering in my eyes, I asked him.

“What happened to my Serena?”

Ashford’s face was drained of color, and in a trembling voice, he exclaimed. “Serena’s life is in danger. Your wife is bleeding!”

My world crumbled beneath my feet. I rushed to follow Ashford as he led me to where Serena was.

Dear goddess, how many deaths should I need to watch tonight?