Beastly novel Chapter 56

A blush rose to my cheeks and I cleared my throat as I tore my eyes away from him, looking out at the lake again.

"I never knew my parents." I said, hoping my voice came out strong enough "Frankly, the only parents that I've ever had are Ben and Maria. They taught me what it was to truly love and be loved, regardless of who you are."

"They are really important to you."

I laughed a little "I'd do anything for them. They really helped me through a lot and took care of me without even knowing me. It was because I met them that I got to become a ballet dancer."

"You really like it?"

"Like it? I love it! I started dancing when I came out of therapy. Of course, I wasn't fully recovered, so I guess dancing for me was what gardening was for you; a coping mechanism. Along the line though, it made me so happy that I decided to become a teacher."

I remembered how the little girls in the dance studio were always excited to come in every day. The sound of Cassie's voice as she encouraged them and the little moments that we would have snack breaks. I really did enjoy what my life was like.

"Things have changed and obviously, I can't do what I used to months ago, but I won't ever stop loving ballet." I said and turned to him with a big stupid smile on my face "It's kind of ironic how getting on stage to perform in front of people was a remedy to my anxiety."

"Not really. I think it's beautiful. Just like you." he said

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'm just wondering."

"About?"

"If I was born to a normal family and had grown up a normal person..." he frowned a little, the clenching of his jaw visible "If I wasn't such a monster, would you have loved me enough for your eyes to light up the way they just did?"

There was no way to answer that question. Would I? My mind couldn't imagine Xander and I meeting in another circumstance. We had both been born into a world and a time that had dealt us difficult cards, made us do things normal people would never do and develop relationships destined by fate. Turning back the hands of time wouldn't be enough for us to escape the inevitable and recently, I had become painfully aware of that.

I was lucky enough to have a redeeming moment that had saved me from my suffering. I wondered if Xander's redeeming moment had been the moment he had given the title of 'Alpha'. Then again, even years after, he was still suffering. There was really no way to determine.

"If you feed me enough..." I started, smiling slightly "I might consider it."

His eyes widened a little bit before he started chuckling, probably not expecting that response.

"What are you? A puppy?"

"Hey! The only puppy here is you! I'm not the one that does those cute little head tilts all the damn time."

"Cute?" He tilted his head and I scowled, realising what I had just said "You think my head tilts are cute?"

"You know what Alexander? You were much better when you struggled to talk."

His chuckling turned into small amounts of laughter and although I kept scowling at him, it was a rare sight to see him laughing and for some reason, it made me happy.

.............

"That chocolate cake was wonderful!" I gushed, for the thousandth time as we drove home. I heard Xander's small groan beside me and directed a glare at him "Don't you dare do that. It's your fault for taking me there."