DAMON'S MESSENGER

My past returned to haunt me a second time when the visitor turned out to be a beta with a child of about six years old sitting next to him. I didn't recognize the man at first, but as soon as I walked into the office, he stood up to greet me. The two of them that I met were waiting impatiently for me to arrive and the boss wasn't there when I entered. I pushed open the door, and as soon as I saw the child and the young man, the smile on my face vanished.

“Isabelle, you do recall who I am, don't you?

He questioned me first as soon as he stood up and moved closer.

“Actually, I do. Lucas, it's been a while since we last saw each other," I retorted, not very impressed by the reunion with a fellow pack member.

"After what happened years ago, I can tell you're not happy to see me."

"You're correct. It bothers me to see you here.

“Damon sent you here with his letter, right?”

I asked folding my hands.

“Yes, he did and he will be surprised to see how pretty you have become” Lucas said and grinned but I was not impressed by his friendliness.

“Drop the compliment. Tell me why you are here and who is this kid?” I inquired as soon as I shifted my attention to the boy near Lucas.

My gaze fell on the boy who had attached himself behind him, and his face was strikingly similar to Damon's. Not only did his appearance break my heart, but it also brought up memories of someone I had lost many years ago. The idea of Damon and Martha making love to have this particular child who resembled him then occurred to me, but I was hoping that I could be wrong about another speculation and that Lucas would prove me wrong.

"Well, it seems like you are correct that Damon sent me here” Lucas answered.

“I asked you who’s this child?” I questioned further.

"He's Damon's son, and he instructed me to bring him to you."

Lucas answered without holding back his words even though it was clear to me that this was deliberately done by Damon to upset me. I couldn’t believe Damon was up to no good after all these years and I was agitated at that moment of revelation that Lucas had brought his son to me. Not only did I look at the kid with sharp disdain, I was wounded by her words since I had lost his baby he never knew this nor did any member of the pack especially Lucas who wasn’t around on the day Damon broke my heart.

After learning what Lucas had told me, I felt old wounds reopening themselves in my heart but in double similar to the pain I had experienced in the past when Damon dumped me. Without a doubt, Damon had deliberately sent his child to me in an attempt to upset me after all these years of hiding from his shadow probably because I was succeeding as a well-known Journalist. The same kid he had dumped me on a memorable day to have with Martha had now appeared before me and no matter how hard I tried to deny it, he had succeeded in his intent to make fun of me. I stood there in front of Lucas, trying to find a way to release the mixture of hate and pain in was feeling deep inside.

It was harder for me to hold back the hurtful feelings Damon reminded me of once again let alone recall all the pain I felt after his betrayal, and Lucas successfully acted as his puppet to insult me on my face. Lucas knew I was angry but he was only carrying out orders from the Alpha and shifted closer to continue his persuasion which he and I knows that I would never accept under any circumstances.

I frowned angrily as soon as the child came closer and folded my hands in sheer agitation at the sight of the young boy standing next to Lucas. I wanted to say something to stop him from coming a lot closer but, to my greatest surprise, I could hardly say a word because of the hateful feelings that I’ve been hiding away for a long time now and it drowned away the voice in my throat the moment I wanted to say something after Lucas revealed to me the identity of the young kid whom he brought along with him. I cleared my throat twice when I was able to suppress the anger I felt inside but it was clearly written on my countenance that I was furious about what he had told me concerning the young boy. Then I took a deep breath and exhaled when I barely managed in suppressing the negative emotions I felt inside my heart though I knew it wasn’t going to last long.

"Had...Has Damon explained to you why he thought I should meet his son?

I stammered, attempting to cover up the disgusting sensation in my chest.

"He didn't say, but I suppose he believes that if you met his child, you would listen to him." Lucas answered.

“Lucas, that is ridiculous. Don't act absurd.” I advised.

“Listen to me, Isabelle..” Lucas said but I interrupted him.

"I'm not interested in hearing from you. I could be wrong and this is a calculated attempt to ridicule me, just as he did seven years ago.” I snapped and Lucas felt stunned at my words.

"Believe me, It's clearly nothing like that." Lucas replied in a futile attempt to defend himself.

"Yes, it is and for the record, Because you weren't present when he dumped me for that bitch, you wouldn't understand a thing." I said sharply reminding Lucas of the past.

"You're right. Although I wasn’t there at the celebration of your eighteenth birthday, I was told about it.” Lucas pointed out.

"You heard? That’s good to hear then. Those bastards must have told you what happened, and truth be told, they did good telling you about it.” I replied sarcastically.

"Yes, they did over the phone, and you had already left when I returned to Jacksonville." Lucas narrated further.

"Even though we were buddies as kids, I don't think any of the pack members are trustworthy. Not any longer.” I remarked looking angrily at Lucas and the child.

He answered, "I understand that you are upset about this, but consider what I have to say before acting irrationally." Lucas was aware that my emotions were beginning to spiral out of control, and he found it difficult to talk me out of it when I was obviously upset.

“Lucas…. It’ll be best for you to leave with Damon’s son right now”

I said without giving much thought to my decision.

“Please, we can’t leave just yet”

The child spoke out in desperation. And stubbornly refused to budge.

“And why is that, huh?” I asked agitatedly

“We need your help to find my mom. Tell her uncle Lucas”

He said demandingly as he peered at the two of us.

“That’s the other part of the reason why we came to see you”

“Well, he can ask someone else to do that for him and as for you brat, you better leave with Lucas right or else….!”,

With a little bit of self control, I lashed out and frowned at the child who became frightened and tucked himself behind Lucas. Lucas directed his attention to the kid and he hid his face in the arms of Lucas who was surprised at my outburst. He barely managed to placate the child down and returned to face me.

“Isabelle, you shouldn’t have yelled at him. He’s just a kid longing for the absence of his mom”

“He should have listened to me in the first place” I said unfazed by the child’s displeasure about my refusal to obey his wishes of finding his mother.

“You need to apologize to him Isabelle because you know your actions were wrong” Lucas said demanding an apology

The boy’s countenance was already pale by the time Lucas responded back to me.

I felt embarrassed by his words which of course was true. At the realization that I had hurt the little child, I became coolheaded and was able to control my emotions which had gone out of control all because the hatred for Damon had grown deeper than it was the entire time I hadn’t seen him since he dumped me. I now despised myself for transferring my aggression to the little kid and hated myself for the embarrassment I unintentionally caused.

“Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to shout at him”,

The sudden flush of embarrassment had crippled the tempestuous wrath inside of me and I felt too ashamed to stare at the kid who returned the look with a deep emotion that shot an arrow into my heart. His looks stabbed me there and I couldn’t help but to rush out of the room leaving them behind in the boss’s office.

I went straight to the elevator after taking the keys to house from my office desk and pushed the button of the first floor. My heart was too heavy to spend another second in the publication department with those two still present in the building.