“Family …” I mutter.
It’s something I’ve always wanted but never truly knew.
“We’re family, Aurora,” my father says, playing on my heartstrings.
But I know it can’t be true.
I don’t want her. I never did.
She’s a monster.
Beast merely watches me, but the pain in his eyes is almost unbearable.
“We should stay together as a family. Us two. Not him.”
What?
“He doesn’t belong here, Aurora,” my father continues, his tone lowering. “He’s the enemy.”
My heart begins to drop.
“No,” I say, shaking my head.
My father’s face darkens. “Are you in love with him?” my father asks.
I don’t even know how to answer without feeling judged.
But my face apparently says enough because the disgust clearly shows on his face. “Wow. You want to be withhim?” my father says as he gets up from the floor. “He’s a murderer who betrayed his own men.”
“Stop,” I mutter, closing my eyes because I can’t stand to even look while they try to face off again.
“No, you have to choose. Him or me,” he retorts.
“Don’t make me do this,” I beg, rubbing my lips together to stop the tears from flowing.
“Wow. I never thought this day would come. Betrayed by my own fucking daughter.” My father’s nostrils flare. “I can’t listen to another minute of this,” my father barks as he storms out the door. “Good fucking luck.”
I expected Beast to follow him and throw him down to the ground to wrestle him to death.
Instead, he stands there in the living room like a giant made of stone, feet lodged firmly onto the floor. As though he’s afraid that if he even moves a single inch, he might end up hurting my father. Hurting me.
Tears slowly begin to roll down my cheeks, and suddenly, he moves.
He stomps toward me and wraps me into his arms, almost crushing me in his embrace.
“Don’t cry,” he says.
“I can’t stop,” I reply. “I don’t know how.”
“Don’t give him any of your tears,” he says. “He’s not worth a single one.”
I hug him as tight as he’s hugging me, the pressure enough to force me to stop.
“He’s really gone, isn’t he?” I ask.
He doesn’t respond, but I can feel his chest tighten.
“I don’t have anyone left,” I mutter, feeling the gaping hole in my heart growing.