The Alpha's Cinderella

Chapter 33

Damon

Upon entering my father's quarters, I found myself struggling to contain the whirlwind of emotions that churned within me. He greeted me in a nonchalant manner, almost as though he had anticipated my visit, even offering me a cup of coffee or tea, both of which I promptly declined. There was no room for pleasantries; I had come for answers.

"Alpha," I began, my voice quivering with emotion, "I need an explanation."

The friendly facade my father had initially worn vanished in an instant, replaced by a stern and somewhat menacing expression. He leaned forward in his chair, and his response carried a sharp edge, "Are you commanding me, Damon?"

Gathering all my courage, I locked eyes with him and replied, “I'm not issuing a command, Alpha. I simply need to understand."

“What’s there to not understand?” he scoffed. His eyebrows creased as if marrying Tori was just a simple matter that needed not to intervene. “You simply cannot do your fucking job taking care of her. So, I stepped in to cover for your shortcomings.”

“That’s not the point! Tori is–”

“Oh! Come on, Damon! Are you hearing yourself?’ Alpha Roman's gaze remained unwavering as he continued. "You've always struggled to grasp the significance of our traditions and responsibilities."

His words cut through the air like a sharp blade. "You can't even sense your mate, which leaves you as a solitary bachelor unable to sire an heir, something you seemed quite proud of," he remarked. "This deficiency, in my eyes, makes you appear weak."

I clenched my fists, my frustration growing, but I refused to yield. "I've done my utmost to compensate for it," I argued.

His response was unforgiving. "Your best efforts consistently fall short," he retorted, the words carrying a heavy burden. "You've disappointed me repeatedly. It's as if you cannot comprehend my expectations, always delivering subpar results. In my view, you're a failure, Damon."

His words cut deep, but I pressed on, desperation in my voice. "What about my management of external pack affairs? Or the actions I've taken to maintain our vassals' loyalty to Blood Rose? I can list numerous achievements that I've secured for you, Alpha. Are you still deeming them as failures?"

"How dare you throw these accomplishments in my face!" he yelled. "Are you now boasting about your contributions to this pack, Damon? It will never suffice to make up for what you did to your mother–"

"My mother, of course, you would bring her into this!" I exclaimed, frustrated. "Throughout my life, you've continually reminded me that I caused my mother’s death, when in reality, all she did was give me a chance to live that I never asked for!"

It pained me to realize that, even after all these years, my father continued to blame me for what happened to my mother. In his eyes, I was responsible for her death. He might deny it, but I knew he could not forgive me for taking away the love of his life. He didn't even consider the fact that her passing had affected me as well. I felt utterly alone, as my own father couldn't even love his own son. Life seemed profoundly unfair.

Alpha Roman's gaze softened briefly, but his answer remained unyielding. "Your existence is a constant reminder of what I lost," he admitted, his tone heavy with sorrow. "But you did bring something positive into my life. You led me to Tori."

His admission tore at my heart, and I struggled to hold back the tears. I should have expected this response from him, and yet hearing it face to face delivered a blow I was unprepared for.

With a trembling voice, I dared to ask the question that had haunted me for so long, "Did you ever see me as worthy of becoming the Alpha of Blood Rose someday?"

His response felt like a final blow. "No, Damon," he declared with a cold finality. "I never did. I plan to remarry in hopes of siring a child who can genuinely carry the title of Alpha of this pack."

Unable to bear the weight of his disapproval any longer, I turned and walked out of the room, his words echoing in my mind, a heavy burden on my soul. Those words pierced my heart like a thousand knives. I couldn't bear to stay in that room any longer with him.

Romulus, my spirit wolf, attempted to reach out to me in my mind, but I cut him off. I knew Romulus would try to offer some of his motivational speeches, which I had no interest in hearing at the moment. He meant well, but this was not the time. I wanted to confront the pain of my father's rejection and dwell on it for a while. I wanted to immerse myself in every ounce of it so that the next time I faced it, it wouldn't be as challenging to accept.

So, I walked out of the pack house, needing space to breathe and clear my troubled mind. The silence of the night provided the comfort I needed to get through this.

As I exited, a familiar whistle pierced the night air. My eyes lit up because this was a secret call that my best friend and I had used since childhood. I knew it was Ashford, and I was correct. He emerged from the trees, subtly nodding in greeting.

My loyal friend approached me with urgency in his eyes. I stood there, waiting for news that could either brighten my night or darken it further.

"I found her," he said, and for a brief moment, the weight of my father's disappointment was replaced by a glimmer of hope.