Bullied By My Alpha Stepbrother

Jasmine

The moment those words had left my mouth, I wanted to cringe. Feeling stupid, I wrenched my hand away from his and ran as far as I could.

Acting as the best man there is in the world, did not feel enough to me, to make up for all Hardin had done.

My heart might have flustered a little after Hardin’s words, but my vengeful conscience was not a very forgiving person. His words had moved me for a moment, but going back to our past and all that Hardin had put me through, I just couldn’t find myself forgiving him so easily, especially over spoken words.

Was I supposed to just give in, and welcome him back? What if he decided to go against his words one day, I would be the one hurting and not him.

“But he’s proven himself to you Jasmine, he’s your mate” my wolf reminded me but I wasn’t listening. Being my mate was not enough of an excuse to buy him forgiveness. Had I not been his mate, would he have felt sorry that he tortured and harassed me all these while? If for anything, Hardin had taught me that he didn’t care about the fact that I had emotions when it came to maltreating me.

And as for proving himself, it wasn’t enough! Yes, he might have gone into a dangerous race with Lorenzo for my sake, and even though it earned him a bit of my respect and admiration, it still wasn’t enough.

“What about your baby? Don’t you think it’s going to be hard if your child grows up without a father? Reason being that his mother is just intentionally acting like an unforgiving person?” My wolf was once again trying to fight for Hardin. I understood that she was probably fighting to be with her mate, so I didn’t really hold it against her. But as my wolf, I really expected her to be on my side more often. And the only excuse that I could make for her was that she was not there with me while I went through all the harassment from Hardin.

“Don’t you think it’s better for my child to grow up without a father than to have an abusive one?” I asked my wolf. She fell silent for a moment, probably due to her inability to bring up a good argument to counter my question.

“That’s what I thought” I added after her silence. She probably couldn’t argue anymore. No child would ever want to come into a world where they’d only suffer. With Hardin, that was looking like the case. Though he was making improvements in his character, I still couldn’t bring myself to fully accept him that easily.

I flopped down on a root, exhausted.

‘Speak of the devil’ I thought to myself the moment I saw Hardin’s figure approaching me. Without warning, he leaned down to my height and threw his arms around me in a warm embrace. Subconsciously, without me even realizing, I had withdrawn from the embrace and had spaced out from him. It was only after my reaction that I turned to see Hardin’s stunned one.

“Is anything wrong Jasmine?” He inquired but I didn’t answer, in fact I didn’t want to talk to him at all at this time. “Tell me what’s bothering you” He urged but I didn’t yield.

“Can you leave me alone for the moment? I really need my privacy if you don’t mind.” I requested as calmly as I could. If he had stayed any second longer I might have said or done something that I would probably spend the entire week regretting.

“Fine, if you say so” He leaned away before walking away. I could tell he was disappointed, probably hurt, or that he was feeling both at the time but I honestly didn’t care at this time. I was way too worried about our future together than of the current moment.

What would happen when our child or children discover that their father had once molested and harassed their mother? What would happen if Hardin didn’t change for real and was just acting. He was too unpredictable and currently that trait wasn’t working in his favor at the moment.

Now tired of the entire world, I picked up my bag and found my way home. If I was going to be doing all this mental work then I needed to do it in a safe zone, somewhere I probably wouldn’t have to worry about unregulated outbursts.

I breathed a sigh of both frustration and relief before I took a step into the house. I was exhausted at the moment and all I wanted to do right now was rest, but that didn’t look like it would be happening anytime soon.

Hardin had done quite enough. I could say without a doubt. But to me, enough did not look like it could convince me. Or maybe, I had probably developed the feeling of repulse towards him. Even times that I tried forcing myself to let go of everything, memories of his constant abuse came back, and messing with other girls and showing me pictures then did not help.

It only got me pissed and increased the anger that I felt in my heart, and I did not like that I had to constantly feel that way.

I knew he had done quite well. Definitely I won’t be ungrateful to say I didn’t appreciate him when he went extra miles just so my mother could stay healthy after the poison incident. And when he apologized to mom for every attitude that he had shown.

Or was it the other time that in front of the whole school, he announced that I was his mate and was sorry for treating me the way that he had? All of it was beautiful and something that I would admire on every normal day, if the questions did not linger in my head.

“If I was just Jasmine and not Hardin’s mate, will he have been sorry for all of the despicable things that he did to me?”

Upon arrival at the pack house, I met Hardin and his father engaged in a conversation I could tell was serious from the tension in the room.

And when Hardin noticed my presence, his face fell while Russo spoke up immediately.

“It’s good you are back, Jasmine. I was about asking the servants to go get you.”

My brows furrowed a bit, but I did not talk and decided to pay keen attention to what Russo wanted to say. Why was my presence needed that much at home?

“Please can you help me ask Hardin here,” he continued, “why exactly he wants to leave his position as Alpha and travel away from the pack too. Because I really am struggling to understand.”This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

The only thing that kept me from screaming out in surprise at Russo’s statement was the clear effort that I was putting in to stay away from Hardin. I acted like everything that concerned Hardin did not affect me, because I actually did not want him to matter so much, but it was really a tough thing to do.

“Oh,” I cooed out like I was less affected. “And why is that?”

“I think you should ask him. Because all that he is saying doesn’t make sense.” Russo spat out, and walked away rather annoyed, leaving the both of us.

“Father said I should ask you. Do you care to tell me?” My legs were tapping the ground like I was in a hurry. Good thing it was the exact thing I wanted him to think.

“I think it’s more personal, but I know it’s for the best.”

“Okay then.” I simply said. “I believe you are mature enough to bear the consequences of your actions.” And that was how I left Hardin standing to himself, and his plans of leaving the pack.

I did not need to be told. It was clear that he wanted to leave because of me. He had mentioned it one time that if I did not forgive him, then there was no point being an Alpha. All of it was empty talk. I was certain.

And while I laid on my bed, trying to sleep, my mind was in an emotional conflict. Did Hardin really want to leave? Was there any point not forgiving him? What if he had actually changed?

He was a terrible person, no doubt, but did I really want my child to grow without a father?

Wasting no more time, I stood up and rushed down to Hardin’s room. I had no idea what I wanted to do there, but easing the restlessness that I felt was a good start.

On getting there, Hardin was nowhere to be found. But I could still pick his scent.

Could it be that he had actually gone like he mentioned? And my fears got confirmed when I asked the maid that passed and she confirmed that she had seen him carrying a bag that was not enough for someone that wanted to relocate, but quite enough to hold four or five clothes.

Out of impulse, I ran after the direction that his scent felt stronger without caring how late it was. And that was how I found myself in the woods. Good thing, I had caught up with Hardin.

“And what are you trying to do?” I said immediately I got to him, but he did not answer. “Leaving now? How do you think Russo would feel, and how should I feel that somehow I am the cause of it?”

“Answer me Hardin!” I yelled, as he did not look like he planned to give me an answer.

“I really don’t intend to make you feel that way Jasmine. Please forgive me, but I really can’t stay here anymore, seeing you everyday and realizing that you hate me and would not want to even hear me out. I don’t see the point of all of it. The position, the pack, if you would really not forgive me. ”

“I spoke with Dad, and the leadership would not leave our family. I think this time the rest of the pack would have to agree to have a female as their leader. Because I am entrusting the pack to your care, and our little baby in your womb. Dad would be around to help you at every time.”

I wanted to snap at him for saying ‘our little baby’ but there was no point lying to myself. Hardin was the father of my child and I’ll hate myself if I let him go.

“It’s not really safe out here. You should please go back.” He mentioned, and then turned away leaving me behind.

My fears were coming to reality, and it was not what I wanted. It dawned on me now that I’ll rather stay with him even with how terrible I feel most times than part ways with him.

There I screamed, “you really are leaving me now? Do you care about our child? What is supposed to happen to us?”

“But…”

“No buts. Please don’t go. I have forgiven you, I am really ready to, as long as you don’t go away.”

“For real?” Hardin turned to me, his voice sounding really enthused.

“For real!” I nodded.

“Yes!!!”

And the next place I found myself was in Hardin’s tight embrace. “I got so scared that I will lose you, Jasmine. I got so scared. Thank you so much for forgiving me.”