Alpha's Nala novel Chapter 19

Legaxy

Why do I feel like Mum, after seeing her surprised look a second ago, doesn't like me being single?

Is being single that bad?

“Hold on, hold on” — Mum reached for my hands and squeeze it, lightly this time — “you can't be serious, right? I mean, you particularly don't have someone special with you right now?” She asked, sounding a bit… bothered?

Woah.

So it is bad? 

I shook my head — almost flustered, in a NO. 

“Not even a suitor?” She looked, suspiciously, upset by this now. 

Odd, but the tone of her voice was making me pretty gloomy...

Like, Seriously Mum?

What's wrong with being single and having no suitors, anyway?

I lived this long with no boys by my side — except for my brothers and Dad. I'm happy on my own, and that's what I believe to be the most important.

Right?

“Ma, the only suitors I have ever since I know what that word meant, tried to either break me or kill me.” I finally stated, my turn to be annoyed now, “Depending on whom was hungry at that time.”

Mum inhaled sharply, her green eyes slightly widened.

Wait a second, is it just me, or she looks alarmingly worried... for me?

Now, I'm feeling uncomfortable.

“What about human males? Those guys from work? Oh, oh who's that guy again” — she let go of my hands and snapped her fingers — “from the front office… Kevin, was it? What about him? I remember him being so close to you… or that male with piercings, who's very obsessed with you… the engineering ” — she placed her fingers under her chin, remembering — “a guy named Demer... Deter… Demeter — ”

“Demetrius, Mama.” I interrupted, squinting my eyes as I corrected her.

“Yeah, that guy. What happened to him? To them? Please don't tell me child you broke those poor boys' hearts for the sake of work again.” She inquired, I heard a desperate tone somewhere in that sentence. 

I snorted.

“Excuse me? They are the ones who broke my heart, Mama. They're too afraid of independent women that they ended up looking for much more easy prey to pounce on.” I replied dryly. 

Mum looked perplexed at this, as she mumbled, “I don't understand — ”

“They're both cheaters, Mama. All of them suitors… all are damn two-timers that I can't believe I even befriended some in the past.” I interfered again, scowling.

Mum shot me a pitiful look and then, within a second, twisted into a more anxious expression.

“Huh, but maybe not ALL — all, Lily. I mean, don't generalized men species for what a few of their brothers did to you.” She defended, encouraging a smile at me, “Some human fellas I know, are all in a long-term relationship already. Five to ten years in maximum... That's great, based on your human culture, right?”

My culture? What's it got to do with my culture now?

Recognizing that Mum's being silly again, I rolled my eyes at her.

“Sure, sure… unless they are all married,” I argued.

Mum shot me a bewildered look at first, but I noticed she thought hard about it. Then, realizing my point, her face beamed in comprehension and then into a full-blown interest.

“Actually, not all of them.” She replied softly. Still, baffled with something else, she wrinkled her forehead in question at me, “But it's still a long-term relationship, Lily. That's what counts, right?”

Oh, so that's what it is… 

Nonetheless, Mum should have known better; I'm no ordinary lady, to begin with. That's why I shot her an ‘are you serious’ look, earning me an innocent ‘WHAT’ face from her.

I immediately rolled my eyes at her once again...

“Mama, my kind has its own beliefs regarding relationships, and personally, I respect that. But being raised by mythical beings and be surrounded by them 24/7; seeing how your romances go and how strong your bonds are, made me believe that there's more to just years and affection for me...as a human.” I expressed, seriously staring into her eyes now.

When she didn't comment or react — her full attention on me, I continued my talking.