Blood Floweret

« Chapter Three »

Suddenly, she was nervous and her stomach lurched with frayed nerves. She was meeting with the Alpha King, alone. What did he think of her? Had she ruined her chance by being weak? She couldn't stop the thoughts that bombarded her mind. They were just a string of negativity that made her overthink every little detail. 

Cassius didn't knock, he waltzed right into the Alpha's office as if he owned the place and he tugged her along with him. She was trying to take a deep breath to calm her nerves. 

"Cassius," Alpha Leroy's voice groaned, "For the love of god, would you please knock for once in your life?" 

"Sorry, buddy," Cassius replied and then laughed, "Nah, just kidding, I'm not." 

"You're so annoying."

"I'm your favorite, aren't I?" 

She could hardly pay attention to their brotherly banter. So many bad memories were associated with this kind of space. In the presence of an Alpha, someone above her. She could feel tremors of fear creeping up her spine, she had to clasp her hands together to stop them from shaking. She fought the memories that tried to surface, they made her want to flinch. They made her want to cower in the corner and beg for mercy. 

"Valencia," Her eyes shot to Alpha Leroy's voice, he was studying her, "Please, take a seat." 

She had to use all of her strength to stop herself from crumbling into the chair. The soft cushion met her back and she tried to steel herself. She tried to gain back control of her raving mind. God, she hated when her emotions controlled her. They were strong and they pushed, threatening to surge.

She didn't even realize Alpha Leroy had dismissed Casissus until the door clicked shut behind her. Oh god, she was all alone now. Her fingers dug into the cushion of the chair, she felt like making a break for it. She didn't want to be closed in here. She needed to get out. Her escape was open. No, she needed to stay. She had to deal with this like an adult. 

"Valencia," Alpha Leroy's voice was quiet, her eyes flickered to him and she gulped. His brow was furrowed, his expression carefully controlled, but his golden eyes were displaying concern, "You can relax, I'm not going to hurt you." 

She felt the pressure of her blood surging from the force of her heart. They all said that. Alpha Drake always teased her like that. They were false words. They weren't true. They always hurt her in the end. Her memories were taking control, she was getting lost again.

"Look at me," Alpha Leroy said. She hadn't realized her eyes strayed again. God, she was making a horrible impression. She was so stupid. She tried to take a deep breath and met his eyes again. They were so intense, she felt like he was reading her soul. He sighed, "We can always meet another day if you are uncomfortable. I just wanted to settle your wishes." 

Suddenly, she remembered why she was here and she forced herself to talk, forced herself to focus on something else, "I just need a home for my pack. They don't have anywhere to go." She was grateful her voice came out stronger than she was feeling.

"I know," He said, carefully, "Do you mind if I ask where they originally came from? Where your previous home was?" She tried so hard not to flinch at that word. She wouldn't ever call it a home. It was a prison. Hell on earth. 

"Winsor Pack, somewhere East of here. They were attacked by rogues and their Alpha was killed." 

"How did you claim the Alpha title, then?" 

Her stomach felt like it weighed a ton and she knew she had to say it. So, after a moment of trying to collect herself, she said, "I took advantage of the attack and I killed him." Her chest almost immediately deflated. 

Alpha Leroy only nodded, "I suspect there was conflict, then? You surely had a reason." Her brow furrowed, how was he not mad? She had killed her previous Alpha and admitting that out loud, she expected some kind of reaction from him. He was calm, she wasn't sure if that was worse. 

"I--uh... Alpha Drake wasn't nice to me." She felt like acid burnt her tongue saying his name. 

"So there was abuse?" 

Her heart stilled. God, he knew. "Yes," She answered quietly.  

His golden eyes softened, "I recognized the signs from the moment you came here, it always hard to hear that vile acts are still taking place. I am working so hard to eradicate it but I can only reach the packs willing to participate. Nobody deserves that kind of treatment," He paused, thoughtfully almost, and then continued, "I truly admire the fact that you've come this far, it takes an incredible amount of strength. You even took on a group of rogues by yourself. I'm proud of you." 

Her eyes widened. Had he really just said that? Those were fatherly words that would be said to a daughter, and from the look in his eye she knew he meant it, and her heart was throbbing with new emotions. She didn't know how to feel but his gaze was so understanding and she managed to say, "Thank you. But I uh--I wasn't alone." 

He waited patiently, allowing her to choose if she should continue or not. Somehow, that made her even more compelled to tell him. If he understood her this far, maybe he could understand her pain, too. At that thought, she remembered Fabian telling her about Alpha Leroy, before they had even left Winsor territory. 

She exhaled, "My best friend... my Beta... he uh--he was there, too. But he didn't--" She swallowed hard, "He didn't make it." 

"I understand what it's like to lose someone," Leroy consoled, warmth in his eyes despite the weight of their conversation, "I lost my brother in the war. He was the closest family I had. He fought well and he died for a purpose. I can only say that because I honor him every day by building the pack he dreamed of," He paused, examining her facial expression, and then he said more softly, "I know it can be hard, Valencia, and I know you don't want pity or empty words, but I will tell you that he wouldn't want you to hurt for him. He would want you to pursue your dreams, something that makes you happy. So take time to grieve but then get back up and honor him." 

She was speechless. Never in a million years would she ever think she would experience a moment like this. A feeling like this. Someone who understood her. She felt her eyes welling up with tears, but they weren't bitter tears, they were tears of a whole new kind of emotion. 

For so long, she had wanted her own father to act like this. She had dreamed of it. She had yearned for fatherly support in her life and she never understood why she wasn't good enough to receive it. But she never expected to find it here. She never expected the Alpha King to become that father figure, he just effortlessly invited himself, and that void that had always been in her heart didn't feel so vast. More tears fell. 

Leroy moved from behind his desk and came to crouch in front of her.

He slowly reached up and wiped a tear from her chin, "It's okay to cry. You've been trying to be so strong for everyone else. Take time for yourself, okay?" 

That was it, she couldn't stop crying. Her tears turned into a river, streaming down her face, and Leroy just understood. His unspoken understanding seemed to make her heart ache all the more with feelings she never knew. Emotions she didn't understand. His arms wound around her shoulders and he pulled her into a fatherly hug. She cried harder. 

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Oh lord, my heart. 

This was a scene that has been in the making for so long. I had envisioned it from the moment I started Blood Burden. Leroy is just that special kind of a character, exactly like Leon, they always took on the father figure of the family. I just love this scene so much, I can't even explain it.