Elena's POV

Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Repeat.

Ok Elena, you got this.

I straighten my back and hold my head high as I push the door open to the small cafe I told my father to meet me at. It has taken me two weeks to gather the courage I needed to meet with him.

I've come alone like I said I would and didn't take Pierson up on his offer. I decided I needed to do this by myself.

In the distance I can see my father at a round, wooden table looking up every few seconds. Most likely awaiting my arrival. When he turns my way we make eye contact and my stomach churns unpleasantly.

I quickly look away and walk towards him. When I'm close enough he stands from the table.

We awkwardly stand in front of each other not knowing how to greet one another.

"Hi," he says. I return his greeting before deciding on just taking a seat. He follows suit.

"You look beautiful Elena," he offers.

"Thanks," I mutter.

"I ordered you a vanilla cappuccino. I know how much you love it." He points to the mug placed directly in front of me.

I raise my eyebrows in suprise. I'm a little shocked that he remembers that. He never seemed to have a care in the world about my likes and dislikes.

I pick up the mug with both hands and bring it up to my mouth. The sweet aroma invades my nostrils and I close my eyes as the smell calms me. I take a sip of the steaming liquid before placing it back on the small plate.

"Elena, I know you're tired of hearing it, but I'm sorry," comes my father's soft response getting straight to the point.

His warm eyes stare into mine. They look so much different now. They seem full of life and hope.

"Why?" I ask.

He looks at me in puzzlement. Waiting silently for me to elaborate on my question.

"Why now after all these years did you come looking for me?" Memories of mine and Pierson's conversation come rushing back. Me asking him a similar question.

Life is funny sometimes. Two people who I never thought would want to see my face again come back and beg for my forgiveness and for another chance in my life.

"After you left, it hit me. I had no one. Being in the pack house working with Alpha Kris was an eye opener for me. I saw the love he and his son shared. It was something we used to have. Memories of you and I before your mother died started to invade my thoughts constantly," he begins.

"I started to take a look at my life and came to the conclusion that it wasn't really a life at all. The only thing I had was you and I let you go. I mistreated you in the worse way possible." His voice is low and filled with sadness as he talks.

His eyes glimmer with unshed tears. I know he's struggling to not let them fall.

What am I supposed to say to that? Thanks, but no thanks.

I need to say what I've been thinking about saying for a few years now.

"I know you want me to say I forgive you and I do. I did a long time ago." His face peeks up in happiness and he opens his mouth to say something.

I hold up my hand stopping his intention to do so.

"I forgave you not for you, but for me. I let what you did to me invade my mind for years and I always asked myself, what could you have done differently for him to not have went down the path he did? I blamed myself you know."

He looks downcast.

"The thing that didn't even make sense was why I blamed myself. I did nothing wrong, but there I was a foolish, naive girl taking your abuse because I felt that I deserved it for some stupid unknown reason to me. When I came to that realization I told myself that I would never take that again. I would never set a foot where your presence was to be. I hated you. God knows I did. It took those years of self reflection to come to the conclusion that I didn't need this hate and sadness to be a part of every second, minute, and hour of my life. I forgave you when I forgave myself first. For beating myself up constantly over things that were out of my control. I realized I had a life to live for myself and to do that I first needed to forgive those who wronged me. After I did that it's like this wave washed over me and I felt free. Free of the moments that tainted my life. So, it was for me not for you," I finish my long heartfelt rant.

My father stares at me intensely. The unshed tears finally falling. He doesn't say a word, so I continue.

"I know mom's death was hard. Trust me I do, but what gave you the right to take it out on me?" I choke up at the end.

He releases a heavy sigh. His eyes filling with some unknown emotion that I can't decipher.

"That's the thing Elena. I had no right. I hurt you not only physically, but mentally. I can never take that back."

He looks at me with guilt ridden eyes.

"I took my heartbreak out on you because you reminded me so much of her. I was mad that she left me...left us. I started going to the bar every night and I was hooked on drugs because they allowed me to escape reality."

The last part surprises me. I didn't know he was on drugs, but it makes sense now. The constant fidgeting, the dialted pupils, and the weight loss he experienced when I lived with him.

"That mixture just made me see things that weren't there. When I came home and I would see you I thought I was looking at your mother. That she was physically right in front of me. It made me so happy until the very moment I realized it wasn't her. It was you. This deep heat would settle in my chest and each and every time that happened it felt like I was losing her all over again and I blamed you."

Tears fall from my eyes at his confession. I wipe them away with the tips of my fingers.

"And I'm sorry for that. You were an innocent girl and I..." he pauses looking at his mug of coffee before looking up at me with a strong resolve.

"I was a monster. I'm sorry I didn't realize it sooner. I'm sorry it took you leaving for me to realize it. I'm sorry I put you through so much pain. And most importantly, I'm sorry for not being a good dad and being there when you needed me the most," he let's out a strangled sob at the end.

His words hit me hard. Never in my life did I picture this moment every happening. The two of us expressing our feelings and my dad trying to make things right between the two of us.

I'm glad he finally acknowledged his actions, but now I know the ball is in my court and I must decide what it is that I want for the both of us.

"Look I'm glad you came here. I know it was hard for you. It's also hard for me to just accept you back into my life."

He nods his head in acknowledgement to what I'm saying.

"But I will be willing to work at it. It may take some time, but maybe we'll get there."

My father's eyes light up. A wide grin bearing his straight teeth spreads across his face.

I'm surprised at my answer. I came here with a closed mind already having my decision made. That was not even giving him the time of day. I was just going to tell him to leave me out of his life and depart, but something inside me told me to hear what he had to say.

"That's all I ask for Elena. I'll work hard to earn your trust back I promise. I won't let you down. Not again," he says determinedly.

I hope so. I don't feel one hundred percent confident in his words, but I'll give him another chance. I won't let my guard down and I'm going to keep him at a distance until he proves himself to me. Mom would've wanted this. I'm doing this for her and the chance at a real family again.

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I got a chapter up!👍

Watcha think about it? Also, I hit #28 on werewolf?👏