Howl of Regrets

Helpless, I fall on my knees, tears streaking my face as I watch the pack agents leaving with our belongings in boxes. Our assets are being seized and frozen by the law due to one mistake I made. The world swirls around, making me dizzy. My innocent father, Judge Gate, was arrested for bribery, corruption, and case manipulation. The nightmare is real because of me. Because I told my parents Lester was my mate.

If I hadn't met Lester four months ago at his victory party and gotten pregnant, I wouldn't have told my parents Lester was my mate. And I wouldn't have submitted to the bond if Lester hadn't been my childhood crush, which turned into love when I became a teenager and now has turned into hatred. “Hill,” Mom calls behind me, helping me to my feet. “Get up.”

“Mom…” I tear up. “I'm sorry, Mom. This is all my fau—” “Shh,” Mom interrupts in a firm voice. She faces me, holding my arms. “Don't ever say that, you hear me?”

I try to nod, but my head suddenly feels heavy with guilt. No matter how much she tries to convince me it's not my fault, it won't change the truth their misery started because of me.

“What's so wrong for my baby girl to have a mate?” Her voice thins in sadness. “Hmm?”

“None of this would have happened if Lester had kept to his promise,” I say, sniffing.

Lester strung me along with a false hope he would come for me after telling his father about our fated bond. I believed him because his father is highly feared in society.

“Well…” Mom clasps my hands weakly. “It’s obvious he's not coming. The earlier you stop waiting on him, the better.”

Mom guides me to a white couch and carefully lowers me to it. She sits next to me. “Now, you know he's not coming; it's time…” She gazes up at me, and my heart squeezes at the words she's about to spill. “You let the pregnancy go. This pregnancy is too much. I can't imagine you living the life of a rogue.”

Tears streak her face, and she wipes them away. “You…you can't do this alone. You…you can't raise a child all by yourself in a rogue village.”

Out of guilt for being the reason she's in so much pain, I struggle to nod, holding back my tears. “You’re right, Mom.”

“I'm so sorry it has come to this.” She cradles me, pressing my head to her chest and stroking my back gently. “And you don't have to get worried or scared, because Mom will be with you every step of the way.” Three police officers step into the living room through the open front door.

“May I help you?” Mom asks, forcing calm.

I stand slowly.

The handcuffs dangling from the lithe male officer’s hand make my stomach churn. “You're arrested for being your husband's accomplice,” the officer says, approaching Mom with the cuffs.

“Let me make a call, please,” Mom implores, her voice trembling.

“Mom.” My voice is shaking. With heavy steps, I trudge forward, scared.

“Officer, please,” Mom pleads again. “For the sake of my children, let me make this call.”

Hyperventilating, I ball my hands, extending them. “O…officer, take me instead, please.”

I can't live with the guilt that my parents are spending their lives in prison. My sister will never forgive me, and I won't forgive myself either. I have to be the one imprisoned. I have to.

“Stay out of this.” The female officer among them puts my fisted hands away.

“You have the right to remain silent,” the male officer recites as he reaches for Mom's wrists, cuffing them one at a time. “And anything you say can and will be used against you in court.” “Take me instead—” I cry, extending my hands the second time.

“Hey!” the female officer barks, interrupting me. With her palm flat on my chest, she pushes me backward. “Back off!”

“Sweetie.” Mom turns to me, tears shining in her eyes.

“Mom.” I'm struggling to breathe. My voice drowns in endless tears.

“Get your sister from school. Your aunt will come once she sees the news.”

“Mom.” Her name barely leaves my lips.

“Make sure you get rid of it,” she whispers before the police officers drag her away.

 I stand there, helpless, shattered, until I can't take it anymore.