N/A: I know I switch back and forward with dad, daddy, and papa with Ayan's parents, but I haven’t found what flows better for me, so enjoy the constant switch until I figure it out.

I'm also gonna switch Povs between Ayan and Aithne for quite a bit of this chapter. 

Enjoy chapter 9~

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Ayan Pov~ 

“Who the fuck told bitches they was me now?” I sing, aching my back out. “ I knew these bitches was slow.” 

Mmm, I was feeling this song. I felt untouchable bustin’ it down to Nikki….. and because my mate kissed me yesterday. 

“Nanannanan…. If he ever miss me.”  I threw my leg out in a high kick. 

 “Woah! Slow down there, gymnast.”  

Oh shit. I pull my headphones off and put them on the counter. “I'm sorry, papa. Didn’t see you there.” 

“I saw, thankfully.” He continues walking on my stage, aka the kitchen, and opens the fridge. “Keep in mind, pumpkin; this is the kitchen people are in and out of here all day.” 

Well, no shit. “Sorry, I’ll be more careful.” Wait, pause. “Pumpkin?” 

He laughed. “Yeah, Aithne pretty much stole bunny, so you get a new one.” 

“She didn’t steal it. She adapted to it like the rest of us.” I defended myself. 

He raised an amused brow. “Defenses much?”

I opened my mouth and then closed it. 

“Sorry, papa,” I mumbled eventually after some time.

“No need, pumpkin. I understand the need to defend your mate. I was once in your position too.” 

I was ready for a subject change. “Can I have some juice too?” 

He saw right through my little diversion, but other than a lift of his brow, he poured me a couple of Apple juice as well.

“Since you want a subject chance, why don't you tell me all about that little kiss of yours yesterday.” 

Well shit. 

****

Aithne Pov~ 

It was time to say goodbye. 

I had to let go of my dream life. The life that was taken from me. 

I have to own my responsibilities. I had to see the people counting on me now

I had Ayan now. 

It was time to step into the role that was given to me because, if anything, I couldn't let him down. 

I hadn't even known him for more than a day, and he somehow became my whole world in that short amount of time. 

I also had to deal with Darius. 

But that was for another time. Right now, I was mourning and grieving the person I wanted to be and instead becoming the person I was meant to be. 

I take one last look at the mahogany airport, the airport that would've taken me to my dream College and other futures goal before I drive away. 

“Goodbye.” 

***

I turn off my phone and throw it in the back part of my truck and slam it close. 

Hiking up my bag higher on my shoulder, I turn and start walking into the densely populated forest, no stopping until I reach my destination.

 “I let my bag drop to the ground as I take in the scene before me. I take a deep breath and calm the emotions threatening to overflow. 

“Just a little while longer.” I take another deep breath and another til I know I'm calm. 

Then I get to work. 

***

“They're all done.” I admired my handiwork.

The fresh pillows and blankets layout in the grass, a small fire a ways away, and everything I had from my old life sitting in a box near the fire. 

I sit down on the blankets in a cross position.

I stare at the box for a long time. A sense of dread tugged at my gut. 

With one last deep breath, I pull the box towards me and open it. 

My breath caught. Painful memories surfaced at the items inside. 

I couldn't stop and reached inside to grab the first thing showing. 

A picture. 

Graduation day. 

The day I graduated high school. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was so happy. 

I was one step closer to my dream town and college.  

A tear slides out of the corner of my eye as I reach for the next thing in the box. 

My acceptance letter to UAGC and a one-way plane ticket to Montana.

I remember the day I found out. I remember the happy tears and thinking, “I did it; I finally made it.” 

More tears started rushing down my face, and I hugged the papers tightly to my chest. 

They really didn't know what they took from me, or maybe they didn't care.

A piece of me broke the day my mom bit me. I felt like my happiness was ripped from me. 

It was. 

With the last bit of determination, I threw the papers into the fire before I could regret my decision. 

I took back my freedom of choice.  

But I couldn't stop the sob that busted from my chest when I did. 

Or the scream when I started grabbing things from the box and throwing them into the fire. 

The pain, the tears, and the sobs consumed me from the box was empty and the fire was roaring. 

I fell over into a fetal position and just let it all out. 

I couldn’t stop, I couldn't stop, not until every emotion left was gone.  

I was saying goodbye 

And so I laid there even while the skies grew dark. While the fire slowly calmed down until it went out. 

I continue to lay there and fall apart. 

Outside of time and space, out of everything, I didn’t move until I knew I was somewhat whole again. 

And that felt like a lifetime. 

                                ***

Ayan Pov~ 

“And that was it.” 

“That's it?” 

I nodded. “Yes, papa, that was it.” 

But he wasn’t convinced. “You weren’t disappointed.”

“No, papa, quite the opposite. In fact, I was relieved I was joyful even.” 

“But-”

“No, papa, that's it.” 

I mean, what more did he want from me? I told everything, minus the Darius part and how I felt about the kiss. 

It was almost like he was disappointed in me. 

And on second thought, knowing him and his theatrics, he probably is. 

“I'm sorry, papa, but it wasn't over the top, and shooting rainbows that's not who we are or like.”I scolded. 

A guilty look quickly flashes over his face.

Busted. 

He sighed. “I know, pumpkin, I was probably expecting too much, but I just want you to have every experience with your mate to be amazing and over the top.” 

“Thank you. I appreciate papa, but I wasn't disappointed.” 

“Okay, pumpkin, whatever you say.” oh, hell 

“Thank you….. Wanna go to dunkin?” I ask. I was craving coffee like no one's business….. as well as a distraction. 

And the thing about my papa, he was a dunkin whore. 

He took the bait. “Let go.” 

We headed towards the door destination set right; as we went to open the door, a knock sounded. 

My gut twisted at who was at the door. 

I wasn't the only one with the feeling because when papa and I made eye contact, he tilted his back, indicating he wanted me to get behind him. 

“Who is it?” Papa called out. 

More knocking. 

We made eye contact again, and I got ready to run. 

“Please.” a teary voice answered. 

We made eye contact one more time before papa slowly opened the door. 

My stomach dropped at who it was. 

“....Darius?” 

He was clearly drunk with the way he swayed and the red-rimmed eyes. 

He stumbled into the door, falling right into my papa's arms. 

“Woah.” I jumped forward to help catch his weight. 

“I… I want to talk to you,” he said, surprisingly clear, considering the heavy scent of alcohol on his breath. 

I looked at him expectantly. 

“I..I…” was what I got before he passed out in our arms. 

Well, shit. 

“Help me put him on the couch.”

I bulked. “What? no!”

My papa raised a brow. “If you think I'm gonna leave him outside, you're surely mistaken. Now help me.” 

I didn't get another say as he started dragging Darius to the couch. 

“What do we do with him?” 

“Call Owen. I have a feeling he's the right person to deal with this or rather him.” 

That's Unsurprising, considering they were always together before Aithne came along.

“Do we even have his number?” 

Silence followed before we both called out the same name. 

“Evan!”

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Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, what the fuck is Darius doinggggggg? I swear that boy stays doing some shit anyways. I hope you enjoyed 

Let me know what you think💕 

Peace out, Sugar plum boo bear 🐻 💕