Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 252

"Like what?" I ask.

He gestures towards me. "Like you're calling me to do something I'm not supposed to do."

I wave him off. "I just need a favor."

"Okay... Go for it, I guess." He looks around.

The hall's empty, as expected. Everyone's in line getting food. "You know how you wanted me to help Suzie?" I ask.

He nods.

"Well today I'm gonna suggest in front of the entire group..." That way no one can stop me. "... that she should be added to the guard shift."

"What?" A look of horror crosses his face.

"Are you gonna back me up?" I ask.

"Er." He scratches the back of his neck. "That's not exactly what I had in mind-"

"Perfect." I smile. "Let's go to lunch then."

His entire face falls in a way I've never seen before.

I'm taken aback. "... Ethel?"

He doesn't say anything.

"Are you alright?" I ask.

He hesitates. Then he shakes his head. I make him step into my office. "What happened?" I try not to check the time.

"Mom and I got in a fight." He leans against the lockers, hopelessly.

"Yeah?" I ask.

He nods.

"Well." This time I really do check my phone, because someone's texting me. "Why?"

"I guess I've just been thinking about imprints a lot lately." He leans further against the locker.

"Uh, huh." It's Michael. I text him not to wait up for me. "And the imprint bond made you fight with your Mom?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "I've just always wanted an imprint, you know? Because I'm tired of feeling like the odd one out."

"But everyone loves you," I say.

"But no one person does."

I'm not understanding.

He tries again. "Mom took all the brothers in when... Well when they needed someone, but Carson." He shakes his head, scoffing. "She treats him like the son she never had." He runs his fingers through his hair. "I don't have to tell you why, though. You get the allure of Alpha Carson."

"Why don't you stop then?" I ask. "Why don't you just find someone else?"

He looks at me like I've lost my mind. "That's not possible."

"Why? Because you don't want someone who's not your 'destined mate?'" That's so stupid.

"That's not it." He shakes his head. "If I start a life with someone, it would all come crashing down the moment I found my imprint, if that person wanted to be romantic."

My mind goes to Nurse Janice-Ethel's aunt. What if that happened to her? What if she was with Mr. Olcan at first but... My eyes widen. What if that's why Onai doesn't wanna be with Michael? Because he doesn't want an imprint one day to ruin them? I've set them both up for failure.

"What's wrong?" Ethel asks.

I shake my head. "Nothing." What am I supposed to tell Michael? Sorry, I thought you guys would work? "Keep talking. I'm listening."

"I'm just rambling." Ethel waves me off. "Tell me what's wrong."

I don't wanna accidentally out someone, so I choose my words carefully. "Onai..." I start. "Is he waiting for his imprint? Is that why he doesn't wanna be with anyone right now?"

He gives me a suspicious look.

"I'm just asking," I say. Apparently his cheating theory is still very much alive.

He looks at me from the corner of his eyes. "An imprint wouldn't be a problem for Onai, actually," he says quietly.

So the old man was right. "It's harder for him to find his imprint..." I say to myself. Maybe near impossible.