Page 190 of The Alpha and His Song: Volume One

I sincerely said, “I really had fun, I like that house of yours.” Keaton smiled, “We will come back once we have your ex situation under control.” I muttered, “Maybe my brother will whack him for me.” Keaton laughed, “I’m sure he would. Your ex is going to have to worry about me getting to him first. I’m not a nice man.” Sassy smugly sang her song.

That comment should scare me, but it made me happy. I argued, “You are a nice man.” Keaton snorted, “Not everyone would say that.” I teased, “Lisa doesn’t count.” Keaton snorted, “I don’t care what she says anymore.”

I squeezed his hand, “Good, because she’s bat crap crazy. I’d really avoid her because your ex seems to think you’re her personal tissue.” Keaton laughed, “Yeah, she kind of does.” We reached the airstrip and got out as JJ and Jules pulled up behind us. We quickly boarded the plane.

I sat down and closed my eyes when we took off. I opened them when someone sat in front of me. Jules handed me a drink, “This will take the edge off.” I smiled and took a sip. I laughed, “What is this?” Jules answered, “A gin and tonic.” I downed it then grimaced.

I inclined my head saying, “Thanks.” I wiped my mouth off. Keaton grabbed me and took me back to the bedroom. JJ yelled, “Don’t be too loud.” Keaton snorted, “She needs rest.” I pouted right along with Sassy.

Keaton whispered, “My Song, you need sleep. I know you haven’t been sleeping well.” I sighed, “Fine, but you have to stay with me.” Keaton winked, “There’s no place I’d rather be.” I fell asleep and I ended up in the water.

I groaned, “Can’t I ever just sleep? Is that too much to ask for?” I swam down. Thankfully, I was near Caspian’s house. I walked through the crowds then decided to look around. I usually went to the same place, but this time I wanted to look around.

The rooms were all beautiful. I stumbled into one that was calling to me. I found a picture on the nightstand. It was my mom and Noxus. This was clearly from their wedding. They looked so happy. The next one was them holding one of my brothers.

Picture by picture I saw the love mom had and her family. How could my mom walk away from them? From this? This was all I had ever wanted my entire life: a loving family. Mom had it all, and she threw it away.

I found several pictures of my mother with Grandpa Alon. They looked happy too. Someone cleared their throat and I whirled around. I must have summoned the man with my thoughts. Grandpa Alon stood there which made Sassy sadly hum her song.

It might not be fair, but all the anger I felt for my mother I could direct at this man, considering they seemed so similar. I said, “I’ll just go find literally anyone else to talk to.” Grandpa Alon pointed at the picture and said, “That was the day she met Noxus. Morgana was so happy to share all her love with him. She was such a happy child. I thought I could protect her from becoming her mother.”

I frowned, “My grandma? What happened to her?” Grandpa Alon sat down on the bed across from me. “You grandma rejected me to go evil. I told everyone she died, but it wasn’t true. She rejected me and chose the dark side.”

I snorted realizing Alon really was just like my mother. I rolled my eyes, “So now we are in Star Wars?” Grandpa Alon laughed, “Sure. I can’t believe Morgana’s done this to you. We should be able to speak freely, but we can’t.”

I questioned, “What does that mean?” He sighed, “I can’t explain right now, but maybe one day I will be able to do so. I still believe your grandma got in contact with your mom.” I shrugged, “Is her name Valdoma? Because I see her a lot.”

Grandpa Alon laughed, “Do you? No, that’s not your grandma’s name. Valdoma is quite famous though. Don’t talk to her.” I asked, “Why would I do what you say? I should probably do the opposite.” Not that I wanted to talk to Valdoma, but she did keep her word to me.

I could admit that evil lady seemed like a really bad person, but she didn’t want to hand me over to Luke and his family. My very own Grandpa did. Valdoma advised me to resist where Alon wanted to chuck me to them.

Grandpa Alon winced, “I failed my only daughter, and wanted to make everything up to her. We had a few bad years, just a few. My second chance so….” He stopped then corrected, “I mean my second wife; I didn’t realize she’d been abused.” Was he deeply unobservant? That thought amused Sassy.

Grandpa Alon continued, “I didn’t realize the cycle that was forming in my home.” So, yes, he was unobservant. Grandpa Alon admitted, “Noxus was the one to realize what was going on. He saved her, not me.” Ok? I’m hearing mom was saved. That’s the good part.

Grandpa Alon all but pouted, “I’m Morgana’s father. I’m supposed to save her. I took Morosa away for therapy and came back for the wedding day. Morosa stayed away because she knew Morgana wouldn’t want her here.”

“My wife, Morosa, feels like this is all her fault for returning. I just don’t understand. I asked Morgana if it was ok, and she said it was fine. So many years had passed, I was a fool to think we could all just move on.” Yes, he was. Mom could hold a grudge better than anyone else I knew.

Alon ran a hand through his hair, “I’m her dad, it’s my job to protect her.” I shrugged, “I wouldn’t know, I don’t have a dad.” Grandpa Alon winced, “You do have a dad, and he’ll be a powerful man. You actually have two dads. Noxus and one who doesn’t know about you.”

I admitted, “That’s the going theory. There’s a chance my dad does know and doesn’t want me.” Grandpa Alon muttered, “I doubt it.” I admitted, “For a long time, I thought there was something fundamentally unlovable about me. Lux left and never looked back. I was shuffled around, and when someone finally paid attention to me; I let myself fall into an abusive relationship. Which is exactly what you and my mother wanted.”

Grandpa Alon interrupted, “I don’t. I said things I didn’t mean because I feel like a failure as a father.” I studied him and in truth, I nearly believed him. I think if I hadn’t started talking to Caspian and my brothers, if I hadn't felt accepted and loved by someone; I’d have fallen for that speech.

I stood, “I don’t believe you.” Alon looked like I’d slapped him. I reasoned, “You still want to save mom. Maybe you regret that I heard you and your plans, but I don’t believe you regret anything but that. I don’t trust you one bit.”

“Maybe my brothers do because they grew up with you. I tend to believe people these days when they show me who they are. I’ve been naive long enough. I’ll just ask that you let me be happy. I’m not trying to come here and ruin whatever fantasy you have of being reunited with your daughter.”

“I’m sorry that grandma rejected you or whatever. You could just say she divorced you, that feels like an option. Letting people believe she was dead is kind of terrible. I just don’t believe that you miraculously changed your view on me.”

“There’s a chance you are genuine, but there’s a very large part of me that thinks this is bullshit. You merely want my trust so you can hand me over to Luke. You don’t know me, and you made it clear you don’t want to.”

Grandpa Alon stood, “Odette, please just….” I cut him off, “Please, what? Let you explain? Explain how my entire life all people have wanted is to use me for some mob war purpose. Yeah, I got that.” Grandpa Alon disagreed, “Yes and no. I think Morgana plans to use you to get what she wants, then she’d be her happy self again.”

I scoffed, “Ah, there it is. You want to help Morgana with her plan because of what you believe will happen. You want to hand me over, so mom gets what she wants. I’m rescued, and everyone lives happily ever after. Except me.”

“Because I don’t live in a fairytale. I live in the real world where your precious, happy daughter has neglected and abused me. Mom has allowed me to be locked up and terrified. She doesn’t care that Luke is stalking me, but then again neither do you.”