The Alpha and Me

62. He's angry

62. He's angry

Nandini's POV

I was staring at the door when I felt a hand grace my shoulder. Forcing a smile at Luna, I looked through my stock of excuses to give her one.

"Don't mind him, honey," She settled next to me on the bed. "He's been like that since that day. I am his mother, and to say he didn't spare me either."

I wish I could ignore him. But I did mind his leave.

I couldn't help though. He came like a nice monsoon rain and left like a spinning tornado. Others seemed unpolluted, but I felt as if the room was shuddering in the wake of his departure.

He was the last person of all to accept and let me into the pack. Somehow he became the only person who knew me through and through.

To others it was a day full of miseries and shock. But I know that the day had been atrocious and wearing out for him. He was caught off-guard from all the four sides, not knowing what and how to do, and I added to it.

"Look at this," She pulled out a present wrapped in shimmery wine colored paper, instantly catching my eyes. "I've got something for you."

"We've got something as well." The others sang together as they rocked their presents.

Jenna was there too. With eyes soft and guilty, and a smile that didn't stretch wide like others, she hugged the present. I can see she was fighting an inner turmoil.

I smiled at her as I grabbed the gift from Luna's hands. For once forgetting that my boyfriend was mad at me.

"There wasn't any need for any of these." I forced myself to smile as they placed the presents into my lap and around.

"There was." Navya grinned, taking the empty spot on my left.

I couldn't perceive that increasing glint in their eyes. I was trying not to let Manik's leave get to me when Alpha Manav sat down by the edge just a hand' s distance apart from his wife. Running his warm fingers over my head, he pinned me with a smile that stirred my emotions.

"We missed you, Nandini. We didn't realize you'd become a part of the family until that awful day you were admitted to hospital." My eyes watered.

"Your absence affected our daily lives." Navya side-hugged me.

I saw Jenna pinching and pulling her fingers as she added, "We missed you around a lot."

"Yes, best friend," Vinay crawled into bed and sat across from me. "We all missed you around and your craziness. This mansion without you felt like a retard dog biting at our asses."

Everyone exploded into a fit of laughter. I held my stomach, feeling some pain emancipate from the shaking. I've never assumed that I would ever create an impact on anyone. Or my presence.

Having them shower me with genuine smiles and care made my emotions come up on the surface. I picked a tear on my fingers and wiped it on the hospital gown I was still wearing.

"Oh dear, I so wished to come and pick you but you know Manik!" Luna scrunched her nose at the gown I was wearing. "He sternly warned everyone to stay back home and that he would bring you in."

I wanted to say it was completely fine, but she added before I voiced it out, "I would have brought you a beautiful dress too. I hate this gown. Doesn't suit you at all. Looks like a big cloak on your figure."