Can't I catch a break? Isn't there already enough things going on in my life right now? I don't need any more drama.

My father looks me over up and down as I stand there.

"You look much different than the last time I saw you," he muses.

"Why are you here?" I don't care what I look like. I don't want to make small talk with this monster.

He looks taken aback by my response. When he recovers he answers.

"I came to see you, of course. To see what you've been up to all these years. It looks like you're doing quite well," he says as he gestures to my office.

I narrow my eyes at him. "Well you came and saw. You can leave now," I say monotone.

He wants to see what I've been up to! Well he could've googled my name instead of showing up here. He hasn't tried to contact me since I left.

I'm sure he didn't even care that I left that day.

I turn to the side and hold a hand out signalling for him to leave.

He walks my way.

"Elena, I came here to make amends for what I've done," he sighs.

Make amends? I haven't seen the man in six years and he wants to make amends now!

"Look Joe. I've been good without you. I got through high school and college without you. I became who I am today without you. I don't know why you want to make amends now, but I don't need your sorrys or whatever it is that you want to say to me. You gave me a rough life after mom died and I can't just wipe those horrific memories from my mind. You just being here brings them all back up," I say tautly.

Once again he looks stunned by my words. His brows furrow and his lips dip down on each side.

"Elena..." he says soft spoken. "I'm sorry for everything. I was at a bad place at that time. I lost your mother, my mate for Christ's sake. I..."

I don't give him a chance to finish. "You don't think I wasn't suffering too. She was my mother. My mother! I was suffering too. It wasn't just you!" I yell.

How dare he. How dare he come in here and act like he was the only one affected. Not once did he consider my feelings.

My eyes start to water and soon I feel a small droplet slide down the side of my cheek. I wipe it away quickly. I don't want him to see my tears.

My father looks dejected.

Good.

"I know. I was selfish. I was inhumane, but I changed. I'm a better man and I'll never forget what I put you through. I'm sorry."

His eyes start to water and plead with me to believe him.

I look to the ceiling and take a deep breath. I wipe my traitorous tears away as they fall. I can't do this right now. It's too much.

"I don't want to do this. I'm working and emotionally I can't talk to you right now. I need some time to think. So can you just go? Please."

He looks like he wants to says more, but to my relief he nods and walks towards the door.

Before walking away he turns to me.

"I know I made my bed, but I'm hoping you'll give me the chance to right my wrongs. I do love you and I miss my little girl," he expresses.

How can he love me if he treated me the way he did. That's not love.

"Please go," I whisper.

"I moved back to town. So, I'll be here. I just want to talk." He opens his jacket and reaches into the pocket inside. He pulls out a white card and holds it up before walking to my desk and placing it on top.

He gives one more lingering look before he's out of my office.

As soon as he leaves I slump against the nearest wall and cry.

Why is this all happening to me? Why can't everything just be normal. It's all too overwhelming.

I cover my face with my hands and let the tears fall freely now. I stay like that for awhile until I hear a deep soothing voice whispering in my ear and two strong hands lifting me from the ground.

The body sits in my office chair and places me on his lap cradling me.

"Shhh. It's okay. Whatever it is it's going to be okay," Pierson soothingly says to me. He rubs my back up and down. I bury my face into his broad chest and cry till no more tears can fall and all that can be heard are my sniffles. I haven't cried like this since that day in the parking lot six years ago.

He holds me there as the time passes. Neither of us saying anything.

"Elena?" He calls softly through the still air.

I don't want to look up at him I'm embarrassed.

Two fingers grip my chin and lift my head up slowly.

Worry and anger are shown on his flawless face.

"Please. Tell me what happened," he says in his soft husky voice.

"My father showed up," I say like it's supposed to explain it all.

Pierson's brows scrunch together in confusion.

I don't know if I should tell him about my old life, but when I see the tenderness and warmth in his eyes I can't stop my mouth from spilling it.

"I had a difficult life after my mother died. My father and I moved away from the pack house to settle in a new home. My dad fell into a deep depression and treated me like a stranger. He drank all day and kept to himself just as I did, but that all changed one day," I pause hesitantly not knowing if I want to continue.

Pierson notices my reluctance.

"It's ok Elena. Whatever it is I'm here to listen. If it's too much to talk about it's alright. Just know I'm here for you," Pierson voices.

I remove my eyes from his. I need to tell someone. I've bottled it away for too long.

"He started hitting me," I say in a small voice.

Pierson tenses under me and I look to see his expression. His jaw has clenched and his nostrils are flaring.

"In what ways?" He asks lowly.

I swallow the lump that has formed in my throat.

"It started off with a slap here and there, but then it started getting...more violent. He started to punch me, kick me, and slam me into things," I choke on a sob. The memories all coming up in a flash.

"A lot of the times I needed to see a doctor, but he refused. I would have to take care of myself in the best way that I could."

Pierson wraps his arms around my body and just holds me. I can feel the anger radiating off of him in waves at my confession.

He breathes in my scent trying to calm himself down.

"I'm so sorry. I had no idea. How long had it been going on for?"

I swallow another sob. "Since I was sixteen."

"I'm gonna kill him," he growls.

He stands abruptly from my chair. I grab his arm and hold him there.

"Pierson, please don't. I don't want to cause any trouble," I say frantically.

I give him my most pleading look I can muster up.

He gives me a long look before nodding his head.

"Why did he come here though? We haven't seen him around here in years. Was he trying to hurt you again?"

I shake my head. "He said he was sorry for what he did. He said he couldn't handle the loss of my mother," I explain to him.

"So he thought he could beat you to help him deal with the loss of his wife," he spits.

"I guess so. He also said he changed. That he's not that same man anymore and that he still loved me," I go on.

"Sometimes I do wonder why he did all those awful things to me. Why he felt the need to do it to me. We used to be so close. How can you just flip a switch so quickly?" I voice my thoughts I buried years ago.

Pierson pinches the bridge of his nose and closes his eyes.

"Whatever you want to do with him Elena it's your choice. He is you dad after all. I hate what he did to you, but if you need to talk to him on a one on one to get answers than do so. I could tag along with you if you want," he suggests.

"Thank you, but I think I should talk to him alone."

"I understand, but just know I'm here if you change your mind."

"Thanks. Also, sorry about earlier. I'm sorry I broke down the way I did," I say.

"There's nothing to be sorry about. You don't always have to be strong. It's okay if you fall sometimes and need someone there to pick you back up."

His word hit me deep. I've been depending on myself for almost ten years now. There's been no one there for me but Em. It just feels strange.

"Why were you here? Did you need something," I change the subject.

He lets the topic go and sighs before answering.

"I wanted to talk to you about something, but it looks like you have a lot on your mind now, so we can talk later," he tells me.

That's probably for the best. I probably couldn't process what he wants to tell me anyway.

____________________________________________________________________________

Hey guys,

So, I'm going into the last month of this semester in college, so I'm not going to be posting once a week until I finish this school year, which will be in the middle of May. It's a stressful part of the year and I need to dedicate a lot of my time to school because it's a huge priority. I'm still gonna update I just don't have a set schedule, so I'm going to just update at random times and it won't be as frequent. Thank you, for understanding.😊

-Klarissa