Alpha Hole

Ch. 9

Aiden's clenched fist slammed into the wall, its sound echoing through the room like distant thunder. I stood there, silently watching him, my heart torn between empathy and caution. "You don't have to go," I whispered, inching closer. The gap between us felt like more than just physical space; it was a chasm filled with unspoken fears and buried truths.

He met my gaze, his obsidian eyes stormy and intense. "It's not about wanting," his voice was low, strained with emotions. "It's about the past... a past that haunts me no matter how far I run."

My hand hovered in the air, just shy of touching him. "Your past doesn't define you, Aiden. You are more than your history, more than your losses."

He turned away, letting out a bitter, humorless laugh. "You don't understand, Layla. That night, the night everything I knew crumbled... it wasn't just about losing my pack. It was like losing my soul."

My heart ached hearing the raw pain in his voice. "Tell me," I said gently, "I might not understand, but I can listen."

The silence that fell between us was heavy, laden with sorrow. Finally, he spoke in a hushed whisper, "That night, Jonah Delphi didn't just take my pack. He took my mother, my father. He left me alive, a coward hiding in the shadows while my family... my whole world turned to ash."

I caught my breath, feeling the weight of his anguish. "Aiden, I'm so sorry."

He faced me again, his face a mask of torment. "You see, now why I can't go. It would kill me to go back knowing I can't change a damn thing."

His eyes searched mine, looking for an answer or maybe a reason. "Why would I even try? After everything..."

"Because," I said, finding strength in my voice, "sometimes facing our demons is the only way to move forward."

Our moment was shattered by a knock at the door. Aiden quickly composed himself, the mask of strength returning to his face.

As he opened the door, Rylan stood there, looking uneasy. "There's a situation. Dominic wants to see you both."

We walked to Dominic's office in silence, each step heavy with unspoken thoughts. I could feel a change in the air, like the calm before a storm.

Dominic sat there, exuding authority. "Layla, Aiden, there's been a development," he started, his gaze sharp. "Jonah Delphi has requested Layla's attendance at the ceremony. If she doesn't go, he'll take it — personally."

Aiden's snarl filled the room. "You can't be serious. You'd risk Layla's safety just to keep Jonah Delphi appeased?"

Dominic's eyes then settled on me. "You'll be attending as my plus one, Layla."

"With you?" Aiden's voice was a mix of surprise and anger.

"Yes," Dominic continued, "and Aiden, as my head enforcer, your presence is required as well. It wouldn't make sense to leave you behind."

Aiden's growl vibrated through the room, a clear sign of his dissent. But the decision was made. We were walking into a situation fraught with danger and political intrigue, whether we liked it or not.