Chapter 18
Amara’s POV
After Zachary left, I sat in the quiet, crying my heart out. My mind swirling with the emotions of the confrontation. I didn’t know how much time had passed when I heard the front door open. Ethan was back and he found me sitting on the couch, tears streaming down my face.
“What’s wrong, Amara? Did he hurt you?” Ethan’s voice was filled with concern as he rushed to my side.
“No, he didn’t do anything. It’s just me. I don’t know how to tell you. It’s complicated” I said, wiping my tears. I continued, “I know I have made a mistake of hiding this information from you. I think it’s time that you know, but please don’t get mad at me”
“Okay, now you’re scaring me. Tell me what it is” Ethan urged, his eyes searching mine for answers.
Taking a deep breath, I began to tell him everything. “Zachary is my mate”
Ethan’s eyes widened in shock. I continued with my story “I met him four years ago when we went to party at club Hilton, after I turned 18. He was there. Our wolves recognised each other as mates. But he was not willing to accept me. He humiliated me, rejected me and told me he had a chosen mate”
Ethan burst with anger “What the hell. How dare he reject you. Is he stupid or something? I will kill that bastard”
I took his hand in mine. “Please calm down”
Something flashes in his eyes. He continues, “Right, I remember him. It was Zachary who brought you back to us when you were unconscious. Why didn’t you tell me all this time? Why suffer alone?”
“I didn’t want to trouble everyone with my personal issues. I was a teenager and I thought hiding it was the right thing to do at that time. But now I realize it was a mistake. I should have confided in my friends and family” I confessed, feeling the weight of my secret lifting slightly.
“Okay, so you guys met again after four years now, when he came to our pack requesting for doctors. Why did you agree to come here? Are you mad?” He huffed.
“I didn’t know it was Zachary, when dad mentioned him as Alpha Gray. I already promised dad that I would help the patients here. How can I back off after that?” I explained my point of view.
“Wait, you didn’t know his full name? How did he reject you then? The bond will break when he rejects you with his and your full name, and later you have to accept his rejection. Otherwise it will not work” He questions.
I sigh with realisation, “Nothing like that happened on that night. He just told me he doesn’t want me and he has a chosen mate, that’s all there was. That is why I still feel the connection, the bond was never broken”
He nodded. “Right. So, Zachary doesn’t want you right? Then why is he acting all possessive and bothered now?” Ethan asked, trying to make sense of it all.
“I have no idea” I admitted. “He says he realizes now what a great mistake he made. He thought he was protecting me or something, by rejecting me. He also said over the years, he regretted it. He wants me back now and has apologized many times”
“What’s up with his chosen mate. Is he mated already?” Ethan asks. Eva is rolling her eyes in my thoughts.
“Her name is Michelle. I haven’t seen her around. One thing is clear he is not mated to anyone, yet” I confirmed.
“But today what he did was very wrong. He shouldn’t have lift his hands on you. I clearly told him to back off and stay out of my life” I tell him with hesitation.Ethan sighed, processing everything. “I met him on my way back. That moron apologised for hitting me. You don’t have to worry about that”
“He apologised? Wow, that’s new. Good for him” I felt little relieve hearing that.
Then he continued, “So, do you really mean it? You don’t want to give him a chance? If you don’t want him in your life, then you can reject him properly and be done with him”
I couldn’t answer him. The truth was, I didn’t know what I wanted anymore. The hurt and betrayal still stung, but a part of me was conflicted by Zachary’s remorse and the bond we still shared.
Seeing my hesitation, Ethan just nodded. “Alright, let’s talk about that some other time. I’m starving let’s have dinner and then we can call it a night”
We ate in relative silence, the weight of the conversation lingering in the air. After dinner, we both went to our rooms.
As I lay in bed, I couldn’t shake the turmoil within me. How was I supposed to navigate this complicated mess of emotions? I couldn’t shake the memory of Zachary being sad and tears rolling down his cheeks. Why is it bothering me? Do I care about him? Do I still love him?
Next morning...
As I arrived for breakfast table, Ethan was already there, with a concerned look on his face. “Morning, Amara. You okay?” he asked gently.
I forced a smile. “Yeah, just a lot on my mind lately. Let’s get the day started, shall we?”
He nodded in response. We had breakfast and left for the hospital. Upon reaching we dove into our usual routine, checking on patients and going over Dr. Smith’s notes.
But even as I worked, I couldn’t shake off the lingering thoughts about Zachary. Last night’s confrontation with Zachary played on a loop in my mind. Despite everything, I knew I had to focus on my work at the hospital. I couldn’t let my personal issues interfere with my responsibilities.
During lunch, Ethan and I sat in the hospital cafeteria. Ethan saw me playing with my food with a fork. “Amara, about last night... I know you told me everything, but I just want to make sure you’re really okay” Ethan said, his eyes full of concern.
“I’m trying, Ethan. It’s just...complicated. I don’t know what to feel anymore. I told Zachary not to bother me anymore. I might have said it in a harsh way” I admitted.
“Do you still have feelings for him?” he asked cautiously.
I sighed, staring down at my food. “I don’t know. Maybe a part of me does, but I’m not sure if I can ever forgive him. It’s hard to let go of the past. But Eva thinks his apology was sincere and we should give him another chance”
Ethan nodded. “Well, whatever you decide, just know that I’m here for you. Always and forever”
His support meant the world to me and I nodded, grateful for his presence in my life. We stayed in the hospital till late night and went to home together.
This has become our norm for around 3 days. There was no sign of Zachary or anyone from the pack house either. I thought maybe the talk I had with Zachary made him hostile or something.
“You pushed him away. You told him to stay away from us. What are you expecting now?” Eva huffed.
Her words hit me like an arrow. There was commotion outside Dr.Smith’s room. I started running towards it. Suddenly I heard Ethan mind linking me, “Come quickly to Dr.Smith’s room. He has regained his consciousness”
I ran like a wind and once I entered his room, I saw Ethan sitting beside a pale looking Dr.Smith.
“Hello Amara, it’s nice to finally meet you in person” he says with a sweet smile.
I approached his bed. “How do you know it’s me?” I asked shocking.
“Since a month you were coming here, checking up on me, sharing your day to day activities, your feelings and your story. Even though I couldn’t respond, I heard everything you said. You never made me feel alone. I even remember your smell. How can I forget my saviour?” he replied.
I used to spend at-least 1 hour a day here with him. I shared my life’s story with him part by part. My childhood, my pack and about my tragic love life with Zachary too. I feel little embarrassed about that.
“What can you say, our brains are undoubtedly amazing. Even in coma state, it’s doing most of its job. I’m really glad you are awake Dr.Smith. It’s an honour to finally meet you” I could not help but smile wide.
Everyone at the hospital got the good news. I informed Mason about Dr.Smith’s recovery. He came to the hospital to meet him in person. I was expecting Zachary to come too. But, for some reason he didn’t show up.
Later Ethan, me and Mason went to cafeteria for lunch. “How come Alpha Gray, didn’t join you here?” Ethan asked Mason.
Even I was looking at Mason for some answers.
“You guys don’t know? I thought Amara already knew. Alpha went to our neighbouring pack near southern border due to some rogue matter. He went 3 days ago. We are trying to reach him but no luck in doing so. I have sent few extra worriers to look into this” Mason blurted in a worried voice.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this?” I stood up from my chair, with my fists banging on the table.
“Amara, please calm down. Zachary came to your house before leaving to southern border. He wanted to inform you about this himself. I thought you knew. I was busy with pack duties so couldn’t get a chance to meet you lately” Mason says hurriedly. Ethan pulled me back to my chair.
“Oh goddess, I guess that night he came to say this. There was a misunderstanding due to which I got upset and told him leave” I explained my eyes filled tears.
Eva is blaming me for not giving him a chance to even explain that night. I feel horrible.
Mason confesses, he knows about me and Zachary being mates and also, about our chaotic relationship. He added before leaving, “It’s okay. I’m sure he is fine. We will get a hold of him soon. I will notify you as soon as I get any news”