Hated By The Alpha-Chapter 191: Consequences

"Oh, my God; it’s been so long, and this place only got more beautiful," Sandra gasped as they walked into the garden.

"I know, right? It looks so inviting," Stacy agreed.

Some girls went toward the orchid, some toward the garden, but Sandra removed her dress and jumped into the water.

"Girls! Come on, don’t be boring, jumping here with me!" Sandra called from the river.

"Fine. Everyone, come on, in the water!" Cara shouted, already pulling off her skirt.

Audrey simply stood aside, watching her friends act like children

"Hey, Audrey! Where are you going?!" Sandra called from the water.

Audrey paused on her track toward the statue, "Nowhere, just here," She pointed in front of her.

"Ohh, we’ll be right here," Sandra splashed water Audrey’s way but it didn’t get to her.

Audrey sighed and resumed her path to her statue.

She reached the grotto and sat herself on the stone beneath the statue. She didn’t say a word, she sat quietly, staring into space as she thought about what Ms. Bridget had told her.

Should she just say it?

Was it really a good idea?

"Fuck this..." She muttered. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

’Fuck what?’ The statue whispered, as if it were sharing Audrey’s inner thoughts.

Audrey chuckled, "You already heard my thoughts, what do you have to say?" She asked, looking up at the statue.

’I can’t think for you, Audrey. It’s all your choice,’ The statue said.

Audrey sighed, "Fine. I’m going to do it." She stood, sighing loudly.

"I’m going to tell him. And, I’m going to mark him. That’s all I have to say," Audrey stared at the statue, determined.

’Well, then... you’re mind is made up. Do what you must, but...’ The statue paused.

Audrey frowned, "But what?" She raised a brow.

’You don’t expect not to have some consequences for your choice. If you want to break the rules, it has to be hard for you.’ The statue replied.

"How? What do you mean?" Audrey questioned.

She knew there would be consequences, but it might be more than she thought.

’Your choices already have their consequences playing out, you will see them when the time comes. You shouldn’t have made such a choice, you might end up achieving the opposite of your choice... depending on how you handle your consequences.’ The statue said eerily.

Audrey thought deeply for a second; she was wondering what these consequences might be, The statue seemed quite particular about it.

"I’ll handle it when the time comes," Audrey said.

The statue no longer replied. Audrey knew she was no longer going to get any reply; it was done with her.

"Fine, then. That’s all I had to say," She sighed and walked away from the statue.

Her mind was so preoccupied with thoughts and she didn’t notice when someone walked through the white gate.

"Mikhail?!" Sandra’s surprised voice broke Audrey away from her thoughts.

Audrey immediately snapped her head toward the soft footsteps she heard from the side.

"Mikhail?" She called, shocked.

"Hi, Momma," Mikhail smiled at her, his eyes looking around the whole place, "Wow, Momma, this place is awesome," He said, awed.

"What are you doing here, Mikhail? No, how did you get in here?" She went to him and held his hand, leading him toward the river.

Mikhail giggled, "I knew you said the gate. You’re hiding it from Dad and Leon," He smiled at her.

"Mikhail, come over here," Maria called from the river.

Audrey snapped her head toward Maria, "That’s all you have to say?" She questioned.

Maria shrugged and swam over to the bank. She stepped out of the water and walked over to Audrey, "Let the boy be. Why are you surprised? You’re his mother after all, it would be weird if he couldn’t find this place." She took Mikhail’s hand, "I’ll take him around, she’s the one you should ask." She tilted her head in the direction of the statue.

Audrey sighed, "Listen to me, baby. Promise you’re not going to tell your father about the gate, okay? Don’t tell him you went through it, I’ll tell him myself, okay?" She caressed his cheek.

"Okay, Momma. Hey, look! It’s you!" Mikhail pointed to the statue, excited.

Audrey sighed, "Yeah, I’ll tell you about that person," She said, wishing that Mikhail had really not come through the gate.

"How did you get in here?" Audrey questioned.

Mikhail pointed to the gate, "I was walking with Sebastian, I felt your presence in here, and here I am. You don’t want me here?" He asked.

Audrey shook her head, "No, darling, I want you here. You can walk around with Maria, I’ll be right back," she kissed his cheek and walked away.

She went toward the gate, she needed to see Sebastian.

’I wouldn’t let him alone if I were you,’ The statue spoke, this time, through mind-link.

Audrey halted and immediately turned to find her son. He was walking amidst the colourful flowers, admiring them. She couldn’t understand why the statue had warned her not to leave.

"Why?" She faced the statue squarely.

’Your mate is right outside, searching for his son with your friend, how will you explain appearing from between the trees?’ The statue giggled and went quiet again.

"Fuck," She muttered, "How am I supposed to leave now?" She sighed.

Lake’s instincts would probably be telling him that his son was in here, wasn’t he supposed to be in a meeting?

But Sebastian was supposed to know better and lead Lale away from here.

’Consequences...’ The statue whispered.

"What the hell..." Audrey looked toward the river and saw Mikhail already taking off his clothes.

"No, don’t..." She paused as Mikhail jumped into the river, giggling as Sandra started to tackle him.

"Damn it," She face-palmed.

"Ahh!!!" Cara’s scream drew everyone’s attention to her.

"Fuck..." Audrey looked up with widened eyes and slackened mouth.

Cara was held up by water... in the form of a hand, holding her leg and letting her body dangle upside down.

Everyone was shouting, murmuring whatever reason that came to mind. Grace even said it was because Cara was mean to Audrey in the past, but Audrey suddenly realized something.

She heard her son’s amazed and mischievous chuckle by her side. She turned her head to him and saw him lying his hands above the water surface, his green eyes glowing slightly.

She slowly walked over to the water, squatting beside it.

"Mikhail," She called softly.

Mikhail didn’t answer, his eyes stayed on Cara, his face glowing with excitement.

Audrey noiselessly got in the water, walking her way toward her son.

She reached him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, "Hey, son... that’s a cool power. Let her go, please," he whispered.

Mikhail blinked, and suddenly, Cara fell into the water with a splash.

"Mikhail, are you okay?" Audrey held him up as he fell back against her.

Mikhail was breathing rapidly, "My head hurts," He murmured.

"Oh, my God, Audrey, did you see that?" Sandra asked, turning to look at Audrey.

"Is he okay?" Mary swam forward, touching Mikhail’s body, "He’s hot," She whispered.

Everyone was gathered around her, including a very shocked Cara. They were all worried about the young boy.

"What’s wrong with him?" Maya asked.

Audrey gently carried Mikhail in her arms, placing his head on her shoulder, "He did it... I think he controls elements," She said.

Cara gasped, "You mean..."

"Yes, he picked you up with the water," Stacy nodded.

"His body is getting hotter, let’s get back. I need to try to stop his temperature, I can’t take him back to his father like this," She started to walk out of the water, others following her.

She gently lay him on the soft grass, placing her hand over his forehead.

’That won’t work. The child is accepting his abilities..." The statue said.

Audrey frowned and looked up at the statue "What do you mean?"

’The river is an amplifier; it unlocked his inhibited powers. The more he stays here, the more intense his reaction. Take him home, let him get used to the new energy within him,’ The statue answered.

Audrey sighed; she guessed this was one of the consequences.

"Maybe we should take him home," Grace suggested.

"Yeah, let’s do that," Audrey said and carried the boy off the floor.

***

"Where was he?" Lake asked as he entered Mikhail’s room and found Audrey sitting on his bed.

His eyes went to Mikhail’s sleeping form, a crease forming on his forehead.

Audrey slowly turned away from Mikhail to look at Lake, "I found him in the forest," She answered, not holding his gaze.

Lake stepped closer to the bed, "I searched everywhere, Sebastian, too. You, your friends, and Mikhail were nowhere to be found. Where were you, Audrey? Where was my son?" His tone was hard.

Audrey stood and faced him, "Calm down, Lake. My son was with me, you don’t have to worry where I took him -"

"He’s my son, too," His tone was low, a brewing anger.

Audrey chuckled nervously, "Look, I know you feel attached to my son, but you don’t have to worry about -"

"You think I’m stupid? I know my forests like the back of my hand, yet, I couldn’t find you both anywhere around it. Just tell me, Audrey, enough with your lies, where the fuck where you and my son -"

"He’s not your fucking son!" Audrey burst out, breathing angrily.

She didn’t like the way Lake was pushing her to tell him what he wanted to hear; she was already seeing the consequences, and she didn’t think she would go on with her plan. If her son’s life were involved, she would back away.

Lake clenched his jaws, pinning Audrey with a hard gaze, "Look me in the eyes and say it one more time... I dare you," He whispered.

Audrey glared at him, heart pounding loudly.

She sighed and looked away from him, returning to sit beside Mikhail. She couldn’t say it to him. This was already getting out of hand.

"What’s wrong with him?" Lake asked behind her.

Audrey remained quiet, not knowing how to reply to him.

He went forward and placed his hand over his forehead, "He’s hot. What happened?" He placed his hand under Audrey’s chin, raising her face staring at her face.

Audrey sighed, closing her eyes at his touch. "He’s... he’s just sick." She removed her face from his hand.

"Come on," Lake said, and pulled her up by the arm.

Audrey silently followed her out of the room and into his room.

"I’m sorry for raising my voice..." he slowly turned away from the closed door and gazed at Audrey behind him.

"I was just so worried about you, and Mikhail. I searched everywhere but couldn’t find him. I know, I know he’s not my son as you say, but I was just -"

"I’m sorry, too. I’m sorry, Lake, for things you’re even aware of, I’m sorry. I’m proving not to be the best partner, and I’m really sorry for the trouble I’m causing you... I just need a little more time and all this will be over," She explained.

Lake stared at her for a while before he gently hugged her, wrapping his arms tightly around her.

No words were said, just their mutual and silent apologies seeping through their skins.

"I love you," Audrey whispered.

There, she’s doing it, she’s taking that step.

Fuck those consequences, she was going to fight for her man abd her child. She was ready to take it on.

Lake was frozen in place, his wolf pushing forward and shining through his eyes.

"What?" He asked, staring into her eyes.

Audrey smiled, "I love you, Lake. I mean it," She kissed his jaw.

Lake buried his face in her neck, "I love you, too, Audrey... thank you for giving in to me," He whispered.