CHAPTER FIVE – Moving?

Selene’s POV

“What is my father doing here?” I asked Alpha Jasper.

There was a stinging aching in my chest that was slowly being replaced by rage. I wanted that man gone. I didn’t want him here. He made his choice when he left my mom and me 15 years ago. I didn’t want him here. I didn’t need him.

“You recognized him?” Alpha Jasper inquired, astonished.

Of course, I did.

“I have his eyes,” I muttered, wiping the tears from my face. “And my mom always showed me pictures of him. She wanted me to remember him.”

She loved him so much. She loved him even after everything he did to her. He was her fated partner, who lied to her. He vowed to mark her, but he never did. He harmed her so severely, and I would never forgive him for it.

I stared back at the flames.

“I will miss you, Mom,” I muttered gently. “I hope that you are not in pain anymore.”

My voice cracked and I stopped to take a big breath.

“I love you,” I continued gently. “Please watch over me.”

I still couldn't realize that my mom was gone. She was the most significant person in my life. She was the one who loved me the most. She was the one who always took care of me. I didn’t know what I would do without her. I didn’t know how to move on.

“I am so sorry, Selene,” Alex whispered gently as she wrapped her arms around me. “I will always be here for you. I will always be your friend. You know that, right?”

I nodded, keeping my eyes on the dwindling flame.

My mom’s body was entirely gone.

My mom was gone. She was gone and she would never come back.

My heart split into a million small pieces. I wanted to yell and weep. I wanted my mom to come to hug me. I wanted my mom to call me her little Flower and to tell me that everything would be well.

I wept and laid my head on Alex’s shoulder.

“Seli,” I heard a man’s voice.

I looked up and saw my father standing a few steps away. A woman with an unpleasant grimace on her face was next to him.

Anger swelled inside me, and I felt the want to hit him.

“My name is Selene,” I murmured as I turned away from him.

“Alexandra, could you give us some privacy, please?” Luna Maren asked my friend gently.

“Of course,” Alex said before I could explain that I wanted her to stay here.

She kissed my cheek and let me go. I watched as she moved toward her parents. Her mom drew her into a hug and it made me want to weep. I wanted my mom to hug me.

But that wasn’t feasible anymore. She was gone.

“I am sorry for your loss, Selene,” my father replied, making me gaze back at him.

The rage resurfaced. I wanted to smack that false misery off his face.

“Why are you here?” I asked, stiffening my hands. “You made your choice 15 years ago. My mom wouldn't want you here. I don’t want you here.”

My dad groaned and stared at the woman next to him. He grasped her hand in his and squeezed it.

Who was she?

“Your mom called me before she died, honey,” my father continued. “She wanted me to take care of you after her death.”

My eyes widened and my heart raced. What the hell was he talking about?

“I don’t need you to take care of me,” I murmured, trying to stop my voice from quivering. “You haven’t been taking care of me for the last 15 years. Why start now?”

What did that even mean? How would he take care of me? Would he send me money? I didn’t want it. I had two jobs. I would manage somehow. I would sell my house, pay off the loan, and find a smaller location to live in. I already had a plan. I didn’t need him.

“I know that you are angry, Seli, but…” my father continued, but I interrupted him.

“It’s Selene,” I responded sharply. “It’s not Seli or honey. It’s Selene.”

“Your father is trying to be nice,” the woman who was standing next to him stated. “You could be a little bit more polite.”

My eyes expanded. I could have sworn that I heard Luna Maren snarl faintly.

I wasn’t rude. I just didn’t want that man to call me by any nickname.

“It’s okay, Mira,” my father murmured, keeping his eyes on me. “Selene has every right to be angry.”

I took a long breath and exhaled it gently.

I realized that I wasn’t even upset at him. He didn’t deserve my fury. I was simply really sad. I was in pain and all I wanted to do was go back home and cuddle into my mom’s bed. I wanted to breathe in her comforting aroma while it was still there. I wanted to pretend that she was holding me. I wanted to tear my eyes out and let the anguish wash over me.

I had to keep it together for the previous few days and I was so weary of it. I wanted to let go. I wanted to break down.

“You are 17 years old, Selene,” my father replied. “You are having some financial trouble. Mira and I are here to help.”

I gazed at the woman. I truly doubted that she wanted to assist me. The expression on her face informed me that she would rather watch me burn next to my mother than aid me.

“Who is she?” I questioned, gazing back at my father.

He took a big breath and stared at the woman next to him.

“She is my chosen mate,” he murmured, making my heart halt.

She was his chosen mate?! He abandoned my mom and me and took this woman as his chosen mate?!

“I know that everything is a shock right now, Selene, but you will have time to get used to it,” my father remarked, looking back at me. “When you move to our pack, you will…”

“What?!” I interrupted him.

Move to their pack?! Was he serious?! I wasn’t leaving my pack! I wasn’t moving anywhere! I wasn’t going anywhere with him!

My father took a big breath and gazed at Alpha Jasper.

“We are taking you home with us, Selene,” my father remarked. “You can’t stay here anymore. I know I screwed up 15 years ago, but I am here now, and I will take care of you.”

My heart wasn’t pounding anymore.

He wanted me to go with him?

No.

No crazy way.

I wasn’t going to go with him. I was going to find a method to stay with my pack.

I didn’t need him. I didn’t need anyone.

I was going to be okay on my own.