Becoming Alpha’s Personal Caretaker
Chapter 186

Lauren's POV

My eyes widened when I heard those words from Lola.

Both Victor and I stilled.

My mate stopped walking but his back remained on the older woman. His hold on me tightened.

He looked at me. He wanted me to decide.

I took a deep breath before nodding.

Slowly, he put me on my feet but made sure that I am relying my weigh on his body. He knew that my body has been battered by the ordeal a few hours ago. The ground felt cold on my bare feet.

Yet, the shoe remained on my hand. It served as my lifeline on the possible truth that I may get from the woman who has been with me since I lost my mother. She may be the only one who can tell me of what really happened all those years ago.

I released the breath that I did not know I was holding. It was a little painful though.

The minor bruises that I have on my body are healing already. My ability helped speeding the process. However, the crack on my ribs were still on the mend that my chest and middle are still aching. As simple as breathing is painful to do. "Let me help you, my Love."

That was Kent sending his support through the link.

"Please."

Victor placed his arms around me as he lends me his strength. This way, the healing that my ability can do will be twice as fast. It can only be done because we are mates.

His support was all I have at the moment. I needed it.

I do not know how long it was but when I opened my eyes, I feel so much better. The pain on my chest and abdomen is almost gone. Just a little discomfort but I am alright. Without having to look in the mirror, I knew that the laceration in my temple is gone. All left in there was the drying blood.

I stood straighter but did not detach completely from my mate. His warmed gave me security.

I placed my hand around his arm for support before I turned to the older woman.

Lola was on the ground still but she was in sitting position. Richard was near her. He was ready to deliver whatever his Alpha will command him to do. Or the Luna's.

The old woman was injured. She was leaning on her right. Her left temple is bleeding. Her hair was a mess, too. I also noticed the reddish tint on her neck.

The woman's disheveled form gave me pleasure. In my mind, I am glad that I am not the only who was incapacitated.

"Speak." I said coldly.

I am glad that my voice came out firmly.

"I, I..."

"Come clean. Make sure that there is some sense in your words or else I will kill you myself."

It came out as a threat but they came from my heart. I mean what I said. I had enough of Lola and her daughter. They have taken a lot from me already.

I am at a rope's end.

Bella growled in my head. My wolf supported me as well.

Lola looked at me. Fear registered in her face when our eyes met. She must have seen the determination on my face.

"Tell me!" I yelled when the older woman turned silent. It came out louder than intended due to Bella's support.

The other woman was startled. She clutched her chest.

"Kill her. She has no use to me." I ordered when another minute passed and Lola said nothing.

I turned my back on her and deaf at her screaming. I do not have to see what the beta may have done to her.

"Lauren...! Lauren, please!"

I heard my mate's footsteps following behind me. Victor also did not say a word.

Anger crept inside me. Lola has been treating me like a child. She thought that she can control me like she did in the past. That a simple no and yelling, she can bend me as she pleases. "It was Manuel!"

I continue my pace away from the shack. My heart was hardened by the teachery she and Janice has been doing in my life.

"Lauren! It was your father! Please! I'm telling you the truth!"

My feet stopped on their own.

Despair was evident on Lola's voice. It was a far cry from the stepmother that I met when I was eight. It was far from the woman that treated me indifferently growing up.

"It was your father." Lola's cries resort to whimper.

Her voice became so small as she begged to be heard. Yet, it was delivered clearly in my sensitive ears.

I faced the woman again.

I felt no pity on her despite seeing her crumpled on the ground. She looked pathetic in the dark cloak that she was wearing.

Lola was weeping. She has her arms in front of her. Her tears were falling on the ground as she repeatedly mentioning the name of my father.

Slowly, she lifted her chin. Hope displayed on her face when she noticed that she got my attention.

"It was Manuel!" She exclaimed again.

Fresh tears plummeted on her dirty face. She started shaking but it did not appeal an ounce of pity from me.

"It was your father, Lauren." Lola sniffed. Tears and snoot mixed on her chin but she paid no mind.

"Why should I believe you?" I asked coldly.

I am still indifferent. This woman would say anything to spare her life.

"Y-your mother found out that your father was having an affair with another woman weeks before she died. She learned that the out of town business meetings were made up. She tried to persuade Manuel to leave me when she learned that it was me, his personal secretary. When Manuel refused, your mother did some investigating." Lola wept louder. "She learned about Janice. That she was the same age as yours. That was the last straw for her." Not wanting to give the old woman the satisfaction that I am believing her, I remained silent.

"She told Manuel that she was leaving him. She would bring you with her. However, your father refused to let her go." Lola continued. "You knew your father, Lauren. He will not allow anything to tarnish his reputation especially when he was still new to the position as the Tribe's alpha. He was still trying to build a name for himself and if his mate leave him, everything that he work hard for will crumble."

Lola was right. Manuel Blanco is a selfish bast*rd. He will not let anyone destroy his name.

My attention went back to my stepmother.

"They had an argument, Lauren. Your mother was adamant on leaving him. One thing led to another Manuel accidentally killed her." Despite the woman's lament, I remained on my feet. I refused to utter a word.

My eyes lingered on the woman who benefited on my mother's death. The person who reaped the advantage of me losing a mother.

Lola's wailing continued. Her head was down as she uttered her apologies of keeping my mother's death to herself. For allowing me to believe that my own mother took her own life.

Cold slithered on my skin. It started on my arms down to my head.

I was standing like a statue as I watched Lola.

My life crumbled before me as I learned the truth of my mother's death. My heart broke at the betrayal.

Tears fell on my face.