CHAPTER 103: GROWING UP ALONE.

"Tell me, what was it like growing up alone?" Angela asked, still in his arms. She didn’t want to break free. There was something about being there with him... it gave her peace. If anyone could understand what she had been through, it was him. They understood each other’s pain without needing to talk too much about it.

"You’re supposed to know," Hiro chuckled, his eyes drifting away as if he was walking through his own past. "It was cold and lonely. Sometimes, I wished there was someone to talk to about what was going on in my life... but there was no one. When I woke up in the pack house, I would see my cousins’ parents preparing them for school. And me? I just struggled to find my own way."

"I can imagine. I always prepared myself for school as long as I can remember, but guess what? It made things easier for me," she said. "I didn’t have to rely on my mother for everything. I handled things myself whether she was there or not. But sometimes, I wanted her to step in and fulfil her duties... just once. But she never did. Not even once."

"She sounds just like my uncle. Maybe we should introduce them and let the worst family members in the world meet," he said playfully.

Angela broke from the hug and looked at him. He was the king of jokes, and this one... she had to laugh. He didn’t know who Grace was. She would charm his uncles, then turn them against each other for her own amusement.

"You know what happened?" Hiro asked. She shook her head, and he continued. "When my parents died, I didn’t know. I thought they left me. I was only four, and one of my uncle’s wives always told me I was a bad kid who wouldn’t listen, and that’s why they left me to have another baby. She kept saying that until I started hating my parents. She made me do things I didn’t want to."

Angela was shocked. How could anyone be so cruel to a four-year-old who had just lost his parents? Instead of helping him, they turned him against the very people who had loved him.

No matter what, Grace had never said anything bad about her father. She always said he was a good man, even though he was gone now. That was one of the reasons Angela would fight for his name any time, any day. Her father must have truly been a good man, because Grace was not someone who gave praise without meaning it.

"After they left me in the orphanage, I grew up with the belief that I was unloved by my parents, so I condemned myself," Hiro said, tears in his eyes. Angela felt her heart burn when she saw him like this, yet even now she could see him trying to smile through the pain. "Later, my eldest uncle came to me and told me I was useless. He said I was one of the reasons my parents died when I was four. He told me I couldn’t use my powers because I was weak."

"He left and you hated yourself for hating your parents," Angela added softly. She could see why he was always playing tricks on people—it was his way of escaping the pain. She held his hand gently and kissed his knuckles. "Now, you don’t have to worry about the past. You are loved here. Your brothers might not say it, but the day you got shot, every one of them was restless."

"Really?" Hiro asked, as if he couldn’t believe it.

"Yes, Hiro. Don’t act like I am saying something strange," Angela said, looking serious. He was staring right at her, his eyes never leaving hers. She swallowed hard and looked away before she ruined the moment with the cravings building inside her. "Taros spent days by your side. Kaito kept checking on you... Renn did the same, even though they were busy with their duties. They really do care."

"What about you?" Hiro asked, reaching out for her face. He cupped her cheek in his hand and she kissed his palm with her eyes closed. He loved what she was doing, but he forced himself to control his urges. They had just started being friends and he wasn’t going to let his foolish desires ruin it.

"You already know my answer," Angela laughed, opening her eyes. She hadn’t liked him at first, but after finding out he was her mate, everything began to change. He was actually cute and seemed to be the youngest among the Alphas. "Are you younger than the rest of the Alphas?"

"I know you are trying to tease me," Hiro said, shaking his head. "We are all the same age, but Kaito is older than all of us by three hours."

"Really?" Angela was surprised. "No wonder he behaves so mature, giving off that big brother vibe."

"He has always been strict and too serious," he told her. "We fight and play all kinds of tricks to get on each other’s nerves, but I know for a fact that we both know exactly when to stop."

"Wow. I think I like that," Angela said. It was a relief to know that if she broke the news to them tomorrow, they wouldn’t kill each other. Just a little fight and it would be over. They would learn to live in peace with her.

"Then Renn comes second... my buddy," Hiro smiled as he spoke of him. "Always there for me no matter how rude he is. Renn would give his heart to me without thinking twice if I was in need of it."

Angela was surprised. She didn’t know Renn would do something like that. Her boyfriend was more soft-hearted than he seemed. "I didn’t know that he had a good side like this."

"Renn had a rough upbringing. It was not easy for him. I won’t talk about it with you or anyone because he doesn’t like discussing his personal stuff, so... you can ask him if you want."

Angela nodded. This was the second person mentioning it. She wondered what Renn had been through. Did he lose his parents too? Did he grow up in an orphanage? Many questions kept running through her mind.

"Then there is Mr. Perfect Taros, as the ladies call him."

"The ladies?" her face tightened. "What do you mean by that?"

"Yes... it’s Taros I’m talking about," Hiro laughed, looking at her. "Every girl in Luna Girls’ Academy admires him. He’s handsome and his eyes take their breath away... does it do the same to you?"

"Yes. They are hard to ignore."

"I understand. Boys admire them as well."

"I see," Angela crossed her arms in front of her chest. "The competition is high."

"Exactly. He is our doctor. Taros is super caring... he does it for anyone, it doesn’t matter if it’s a stranger, friend, or brother," Hiro said calmly. "He grew up in a perfect home, his mom always standing by his side no matter what. I spent one of my holidays at his home and I don’t think I have ever seen a happy family like his."

"I wish it was the case with us," Angela said quietly. "Taros is lucky."

"Yes. He doesn’t take it for granted."