CHAPTER 35
Dale’s POV
It had been a whirlwind romance – we had fallen for each other quickly and passionately. I couldn’t imagine my life without her, and I knew that she felt the same way.
But then, something changed. It started small – little things that I used to find charming or endearing started to annoy me. And then, it grew into something bigger – I found myself feeling indifferent toward her, almost as if I didn’t care anymore.
I tried to ignore it, to push it away and focus on the good things. But the more I tried, the more my indifference grew.
I didn’t know what to do. How could I go from loving someone so deeply to feeling nothing at all?
I tried to talk to her about it, but every time I tried, I found myself tongue-tied and unable to express myself. I didn’t want to hurt her, but I knew that something had to change. And then, one day, it all came to a head. We were arguing about something trivial, and suddenly, I just snapped.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
“What’s wrong with you, Dale?” she asked in disbelief when I snapped at her for overcooking our meal.
“I am tired of pretending, Amber,” I told her.
“Pretending about what?”
“That I really love you. I mean, I don’t know. I can’t explain it. I thought I love you but I think I was just being territorial when it comes to you. I cannot imagine seeing you being married to someone else,” I explained and she became pale at my confession.
“What do you mean, Dale? What are you talking about?” she asked, then, she looked at me, her eyes filled with hurt and confusion. “How could you say that?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I didn’t know how to respond. I didn’t want to hurt her, but I also couldn’t keep pretending that everything was okay. I still cared for her and our baby, but someone inside me was eating me alive.
Perhaps, it was because I have neglected my plan to avenge my mother’s death. The Alpha has become powerless but it did not end there. I knew I needed to do something more.
“I need some space,” I told her. I asked for a break – to give each other some space and time to think.
And as I walked away, I couldn’t help but wonder what had gone wrong. How could I have fallen out of love so quickly, and with someone that I had cared for so deeply?
It was a painful realization, but one that I knew I had to confront. Maybe, just maybe, the love that we had shared had been real, but it was no longer enough to sustain us.
I tried to avoid her each day but fate brought us together once again.
One day, I walked through the garden, the soft grass beneath my feet and the gentle scent of flowers in the air. It was a peaceful oasis, a place where I could escape from the stresses of my daily life.
But then, I saw her. She was sitting on a bench, her head in her hands and tears streaming down her face.
My heart ached at the sight. I wanted to go to her, to hold her and comfort her, but something held me back. Was it the fear of being rejected? The fear of making things worse?
But then, I saw her look up and catch my eye. There was something in her expression – a mixture of pain, vulnerability, and maybe even a hint of hope.
I took a deep breath and walked towards her, my heart racing with every step.
“Are you okay?” I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
She looked at me, her eyes red from crying. “No,” she said, her voice cracking. “I’m not okay.”
I sat down next to her, feeling the warmth of her body next to mine. “Do you want to talk about it?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
And then, something strange happened. As we talked, as she opened up to me about her pain and her fears, I felt something shift inside of me. The indifference that I had felt for so long began to fade away, replaced by a deep sense of empathy and understanding.
So, what was wrong with me? I was also confused!
I looked at her, my heart heavy with the weight of my decision.
“I think it’s time for you to leave,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
She looked up at me, surprise and hurt written across her face. “What do you mean?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I mean that it’s time for you to go,” I said, my words firm but gentle. “This isn’t working out. We’re not right for each other.”
She looked down at the ground, tears filling her eyes. “But I thought… I thought we had something special,” she said, her voice trembling.
I took a deep breath, trying to stay strong. “I know,” I said. “But sometimes, things just don’t work out. It’s not your fault, it’s not mine. It’s just the way things are.”
She looked up at me, her eyes full of pain and confusion. “Can’t we try to work things out?” she asked, her voice pleading.
But I knew that it was over. I knew that we had tried our best, but it just wasn’t enough. “I’m sorry,” I said, standing up and walking towards the door. “But it’s time for you to leave.”
“Dale…,” she mumbled in a low voice, hoping I would change my decision.
“I’m sorry, Amber,” I told her.
With teary eyes, she left me in the garden. Her steps were slow as she walked toward the house. I followed her. She went straight to our bedroom.
I watched her move about the room, her eyes focused on the task at hand. She was packing her belongings, preparing to leave my home and start a new chapter of her life.
I didn’t want her to go, but I knew that it was the right thing. We had tried to make it work, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough.
As she folded her clothes and carefully placed them in her suitcase, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness wash over me. I had grown to care for her deeply, and the thought of her leaving was almost unbearable.
I watched as she packed her last item and zipped up her suitcase.
“I’m going to miss you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Why did I say it?
She looked up at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and hope. “I’m going to miss you too,” she said.
I nodded, knowing that she was right. And as I helped her carry her suitcase to the door, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the time that we had spent together, and for the lessons that we had learned.
I watched as she walked out the door, her head held high and her eyes fixed on the horizon. And as she disappeared from view, I knew that she was going to be okay. That she was going to find her way, and that someday, we might meet again.
Then, I ran to follow her.
“Amber!”
“What is it, Dale?”
“I will take you to Jacob’s house,” I told her and her eyes widened in disbelief.