Chapter 60
Miranda
I smile at the Gamma guards who stand outside the elevator doors. Security throughout the building has been increased alongside security at my children’s school. I want to feel safe and secure with them around, seeing how they are very capable of completing and fulfilling their job duties, but I cannot help but feel like there is trouble just across the horizon.
“Miss Miranda,” the Gamma bows his head to me, watching me as I pass. I nod at him, clutching my white plastic bag to my stomach.
Miss Miranda? I’m just a chemist…why is he always so formal with me?
I shrug the thought away and look into my bag as I walk, clinging to the wall so I don’t accidentally bump into someone passing by. My tote bag jingles as my keys and dance around, colliding with notebooks, scattered makeup, and pepper spray.
“We’re going to need to see some identification, sir. Only employees are permitted on site today.” I hear the Gamma solider’s voice beckon from behind.
I glance at him from over my shoulder, casually approaching my lab’s door, when the tall figure catches my eye. The lab keys hang from my hand, suspended in midair when my eyes connect with the figure.
Father? Is that you?
I blink a few times and I even rub my eyes to see if what I’m seeing is a figment of my imagination or if it’s reality. When my father’s tall frame doesn’t disappear, instead growing larger as he nears me, reality sets in. I turn to the lab door and fumble with my keys, trying to shove the metal into the hole as fast as I can.
“Miranda.” His voices sends threatening shocks throughout my body. Adrenaline pumps through my veins. The hair on the back of my neck stands straight, chills coursing through my veins.
“Go home. You’re not wanted here,” my tone is like venom, my words my only weapon against him. I can’t cause a scene here, no, I have to be smart about my next few moves. Information must become limited and many aspects of my life will be censored. I cannot let this speck of a man leech onto me or anything he can use against me, especially my kids.
“That’s not a nice tone to use with me. I’ll let you try again,” his voice is laced with condescension, something that I thought I would have been used to by now but find my mental fortitude already crumbling.
“Leave me alone,” I say just as the lab door opens. I breathe a sweet sight a relief and step through, moving to close the door behind me, but my father intercepts it before it can close. I look up at him, narrowing my gaze, and tug against the door. “Let go.”
“This is not how you should teat your father, Miranda,” he warns in a low growl, towering over me. My gaze flickers to the Gamma down the hall. He watches us closely, hand resting on the hilt of his gun. I groan and release the door, stepping away.
I kick off my sneakers and slide my feet inside my white crocs, looking down at the frog charms that Noah picked out for me. My eyes close and I take a deep breath, hearing the door click behind me.
“What do you want?” I sternly ask.
“Why do you assume that I am here for something?” He shoots back in an accusatory tone. I rolled my eyes, refusing to turn and face him, as I slip on my lab coat, stuffing my purse into my locker.
“When I was a kid, you only ever came to me to do something for you,” I begin in an unapologetic and furious tone. I circle to face him, crossing my arms over my chest. “Whenever you wanted a drink, you had me get it. Whenever Harper or Lily needed something from the store, you made me buy it for them with my own money that I earned. You made me your errand girl. So yeah, I’m going to assume that you’re here because you need something from me.”
The corner of his lips tugs up for a brief moment before falling. He takes a single step toward me, his long coat flowing with his body. A low chuckle emits from his throat.
“I came here to see what you wanted, dear,” his nickname for me sounds like nails being dragged down on a chalkboard. “What is it that you want from me and the Silvertail pack?”
“What do I want?” I scoff, looking away. Who does he think he is?! “I don’t want anything from you!”
“That’s a lie,” he refutes.
“It’s the truth,” I snap back, glaring at him.
“Then what do I need to do for you to leave me, my family, and my pack alone?” His request is shocking. I hesitate to respond, unsure of what to do or say in response to his request. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my body down as much as possible.
“There is one thing…” I breathe out.
“What is it?” He takes another step towards me.
“Is there a way to bring mom back?”
My father stops in his steps. He stares at me, pain flashing across his face before his stoic expression returns. He clears his throat, shaking his head at me.
“You know she’s not coming back,” he responds in a low tone.
“Exactly,” I hiss.
He stares at me like I’m a demon. Does he not know that he’s the creator of his own downfall? He’s the one who shunned my mother, which led to her death, and he is responsible for marrying Harper and allowing his so called family to abuse me.
“You should be afraid of Lily, Alpha,” I close the distance between us, looking up at him with a glare. “You created the monster that will bring your demise. She is the one responsible for the downfall of my mother’s legacy, not me. I have always offered to help the company but she’s rejected me. I thought that was a plan of your making but…seeing you here, practically begging for my help, shows me that not even you can control the ones closest to you.”
“Miranda…” I hate the way he says my name.
“She’s your biggest enemy, not me. All I wanted to do was to be left alone. To live my life without a pack, a fate that you’ve subjected me to. You couldn’t help yourself, could you? You thrive in my misery.”
“Miranda. Stop that! Right now!” He barks at me.
“Leave. You are not welcome here. You never have been,” I try my best to hide my faltering face, the way my eyes become glossy from tears. I turn before they can fall and reach for the door that leads inside the lab. I turn the doorknob, ready to push through, when my father’s voice breaks through the tension filled silence.
“You look just like your mother…you act like her too…she was always bitter towards me, even in the very end.”
“Yeah?” I raise my voice, keeping my back turned to him. “I am her daughter, after all.” I push through the lab door, escaping under the LED lights, knowing that he won’t follow.
