The Alpha's Omega Mate-Chapter 37: Monster or Mushy?

~Dahlia’s POV~

"Even though I don’t believe you, I never said you did." He drawled in that usual dark brooding tone of his and his words, even though they sounded light-toned felt like a slap to my face. And for the first time since he stepped into the room, I noticed something precariously strange but hurtful all the same:

He didn’t care.

He didn’t care about my wellbeing, not for a bit. And not even now as he stood barely a foot away from my bed.

I flinched. "I’m sorry, Alpha."

He didn’t respond right away but simply stared at me like I had sprouted a new head. His eyes raked my body curiously, only stopping at the bruise around my neck and I saw how his eyes darkened at the sight, but right now, I couldn’t ascertain if that was anger in his gaze or something else, something that bordered towards... was that satisfaction?

Shaking my head to rid myself of these thoughts, I forced myself to glare back at him despite the tingles running through my veins and the way his face seemed sharper, more defined and handsome under these blinding fluorescent lamps.

"I’ve decided to be lenient with you because Doc Ava advised it and for that reason, you’ll not be sent back to the dungeons as soon as you’re fully healed." He said slowly, sounding almost begrudging but I didn’t care about his tone at all. Not even for a single moment as relief crashed into me in waves.

I let out a weak exhale as the several emotions that had once clogged my throat and knotted my stomach loosened, and with a smile— an almost real smile— I bowed to him and croaked out; "Thank you! Thank you, Alpha."

But he didn’t speak. He simply nodded— not that I cared anyways.

"You’ll also not be forced to clean the entire fortress afterwards too." He added, and I could only smile as an immense feeling of joy enveloped me.

"However, you’ll be kept under very close watch. And if you feel the need to visit your daughter more frequently than I would like at my Beta’s manor, then I would advise that you consider the possibility of bringing her to live with me... at the main house." He said, but as soon as the words left his lips, my face paled and without thinking it through even for a slightest second, I rushed out;

"No. I think she’s better off there."

Alpha Zarek visibly stiffened as if he’d been hurt by my words but right now, I was too desperate to care. I was too scared for Amara’s safety to worry about something as insignificant as the effect of my words on a noxious Alpha.

"There’s a girl her age there which makes it easier for her to stay out of trouble, and you know... helps her." I added quickly but Alpha Zarek never bothered to respond. Instead, he cleared his throat and continued;

"Since you feel she’s better off there. Henceforth you’ll only be allowed to see her once every week. Better on Saturdays, and only after you’re done with your chores. You’re not allowed to spend more than one hundred and eighty minutes per visit and you’re to report to me after every visit." He stated, his voice so calm that one wouldn’t think he was delivering news so damning and so evil it was literally tearing my heart into pieces.

Like how do I explain to this four year old that I could no longer be able to see her for more than a day in each week? How do I even explain that I wouldn’t even get the chance to stay longer per visit even after witnessing just how much she needed me?

Anger rose like a lump in my throat but before I could bring myself to say something I would probably regret for the rest of my life, Amara stirred in her sleep, her big green eyes fluttering open as she stared pointedly at me. And then a grin spread across her face.

I should feel happy. I should have felt satisfied but I didn’t. I felt broken.

Broken because I wouldn’t get to see this sweet grin as frequently as I want to anymore. Broken because she’s about to be snatched away from me right under my nose.

I wiped my suddenly teary eyes with the back of my hand and after successfully giving her a wet smile, I glanced up at Alpha Zarek— who was watching the entire exchange— and muttered;

"That’s fine by me. I’ll make sure to obey all the rules."

He nodded.

However, just then, the unexpected happened. Amara glanced up at him too— probably to see who I was speaking to— and she became awestruck. And I meant this in a literal sense.

Her usually bright eyes lit up even more— which was strange— and the smile that spread across her face was so dazzling and contagious, it almost had me reeling.

What the hell?

I frowned as I watched her watch him. And do you know what was worse? Alpha Zarek couldn’t peel his eyes off her either!

I was so stunned by their weird exchange that I didn’t even notice when she bounded out of my arms and off the bed, and it wasn’t until I saw her wrapping her dainty little arms around his legs, hugging him, that I slipped back into consciousness. I gasped.

"Amara!"

Deep down, I feared that Alpha Zarek would crush her child-like demeanor. I feared that he would push her away like she was nothing but a pesky unwanted mutt, seeing as he hated me so much—her mother. However, nothing prepared for the shock I experienced when he instead lifted her into his big arms and smiled adoringly at her.

"What’s your name?" He asked, his tone a complete contrast to the one he’d spoken to me with only a few minutes ago.

He was soft. He was kind. He was all mushy. And it made me extremely stunned.

Amara graced him with her usual toothy grin. She answered; "Amara." And then lifting her hands to tuck a stray tendril to the back of his ear, she asked him; "What is your own name?"

My heart fell and I soon began to hyperventilate. She was young, yes. But she was playing with fire. One that was so dangerous and so massive, it could burn us both. I trembled in fear.

"My name is Zarek." Alpha Zarek responded with a soft smile, causing my usually traitorous heart to somersault at the use of his first name.

He had introduced himself to Amara without the air of arrogance he usually exuded. Hell, he didn’t even add any form of formality to his name and that made me even more jittery than I already was.

My eyes widened when he patted Amara’s hair so gently, and when he spoke to her, there was no hint of malice in his voice. No anger. No coldness. Not even the usual indifference he wore like a treasured cloak. He asked;

"And how are you, Amara?"

"I am fine, Zarreq!" She exclaimed excitedly, her toothy smile wide. "But since your name is a little difficult, can I call you daddy instead?"

I froze. And from here, I could see how Alpha Zarek froze too. He glanced up at me just then and I could swear that I saw the conflict in his eyes. He gulped, he pleaded with me with his eyes, and even coughed dramatically but I was too stunned to come to his aid.

Amara on the other hand, still stared expectantly at him.

He rushed out, a slight tremor in his voice; "I know I said earlier that you can only visit her once every week."

"Yes?"

"That remains... but now, she can come visiting every day if you want her to. I could even watch over her for you while you work. Is that okay?" He said, seemingly uncomfortable. But I didn’t care about his comfort nor his reaction to Amara’s question.

Right now, I couldn’t speak. My jaws literally dropped.