The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn

~SCARLETT~

I’m about to explain the lingerie on the bed when I realized something I should have realized sooner.

He was drunk.

He was drunk?

Why would he choose tonight to drink?

The way he swayed on his feet towards the bed was the confirmation that I needed.

Was marrying me so difficult that he had to drown his sorrows away with alcohol? I tried not to let it bother me, but it wasn’t something I could easily ignore.

I watch as he drops to the ground next to my feet.

“Carter!”

I move to the ground to help him to the bed, but he pushes my hands away. His rejection hurts me.

“Don’t.” He growls.

I fight back the tears as I attempt to move away from him when I hear him whisper,

“I don’t deserve your help.”

I freeze.

I couldn’t believe he’d just said that.

“Why don’t you deserve my help?” I ask him.

“I’m a monster.” He whispers.

My eyes widen. I don’t know what’s happening, but he seemed to be convinced that he was a ‘monster’

“What are you talking about, Carter?” I demand. “Does it have something to do with the full moon? Does it have anything to do with what Nicole tried to warn me about?”

His eyes snap up at my questions, and I’m taken aback by the fear on his face.

“Please don’t ever mention the full moon to me.” He begs. “Don’t. I never want to speak about it. Not with you.”

I move back onto the ground next to him. “Is it really that bad that it makes you behave this way?”

He can’t even look me in the eyes as he ignores my question.

“Carter, please,” I beg. “Please tell me that the man I fell in love with isn’t the one who turned his back on me. Please tell me that you had a reason for hurting me. Please, I’m begging you.”

He doesn’t respond to me, and I can’t stop the tears this time. I still was hurt over everything. I was still heartbroken.

“I gave you my heart: I gave you a part of me that I never gave to anyone else.” I whisper. “I’m still here waiting for you to give me an explanation. I’m still willing to make things work. All I need you to be is honest with me. What happens on a full moon? Please just tell me.”

“No.” He snaps. “I hurt you. I hurt you and your sister. I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore. So please, don’t ask me anything. Don’t ask me, Scarlett. I’m begging you. Stop asking.”

Why doesn’t he want to tell me the truth? What could he possibly be hiding?

“Let me at least help you onto the bed.” I try again, but he pushes me away a second time when I reach for his arm.

Ignoring his protests, I make another attempt to help him. I reach for his arm for the third time, but he pulls away before I can touch him.

He moves so quickly that it causes me to lose my balance. Before I could hit the ground, he caught me in his arms.

There’s a look of urgency in his eyes as he leans into me, “You’re carrying my baby. Please be careful from now on, Scarlett.”

“He isn’t just yours,” I whisper. “He’s mine also.”

“Our baby.” He says softly, and there’s a glow in his eyes as he says those two words. I’m lost in those eyes before I realize how close I am to him.

“Our baby,” I repeat.

He buries his face against my neck, and I can’t help but bury my hands in his hair. For some reason, I felt like Carter was in much pain. I could feel his pain through this hug “Thank you for keeping him safe.” He whispers.

Did he think that I would ever consider the possibility of abortion? That never once crossed my mind. I loved him too much to ever think about it.

“I wish you could be honest with me, Carter.” I try one more time.

I didn’t want to give up. I wanted him to tell me the truth.

He freezes the second I say that. It seems he locks me out of his life whenever I mention the full moon.

“Get some sleep.” He tells me. “I don’t think I will be sleeping here tonight.”

“What?” I demand. “We are married now. Doesn’t that mean that we both will sleep in the same room from now on? Isn’t this your room?

Where do you plan on going?”

“I don’t know yet.”

I angrily pull away from him and move back onto the bed. I grab a pillow and throw it at him.

“If you don’t want to sleep here, that’s up to you.” I snap. “Sleep at another girl’s place if you like. We know that’s what you want to do.”

He picks himself off the ground and leans over me to place the pillow back onto the bed. I narrow my eyes when he pulls the sheets over me.

“I do plan on sleeping here with you.” He says suddenly. “Just not tonight. I had too much to drink. I don’t trust myself around you.”

He doesn’t trust himself around me?

“What does that mean?” I ask him. “Why don’t you trust yourself around me?”

“You’re pregnant now, aren’t you?” He asks me. “I did that to you. I’m sure you didn’t want to be pregnant with my baby. Our baby. I’m sure it’s the last thing you wanted, Scarlett, but I did that to you. I took everything from you like you said to me before. You’re forced into this marriage with me, and everything is my fault. I can’t trust myself around you; I keep doing things to ruin your life. I don’t want to ruin it anymore than I’ve already done.” I’m left speechless by his words.

Was that what he thought about our marriage?