Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 48: He's Gone

*Lena*

Heather was pacing back and forth across the living room of our apartment, her face screwed up in a vicious scowl. I was sitting on the couch, my cheeks tear-stained and the tender skin above my left breast throbbing painfully as Viv held my hand, toying with my fingers to mask her own nerves.

"And he didn't even walk you home?" Heather spat, her face flaming with fury.

I choked back a sob and nodded, to which Heather replied by throwing her hands in the air and stifling what could have only been

a scream.

"F*ck these Morhan men, seriously," Viv mumbled, her face flushed of all color as she glanced at me, then down to where Xander's mark was, although it was hidden by several layers of clothing, and a thick robe, at this point.

I was freezing. Everything hurt. I felt like I was being torn to shreds from the inside out. Rejection. It had to be rejection. How could I have been so stupid?

"I say we kill him," Heather said sharply.

I would have thought she was joking or trying to make me feel better, but her expression was deathly serious. “I'll be fine," I cried, but I didn't feel fine.

"What the f*ck was he thinking! Marking you, then kicking you out-" Heather was raging.

I'd never seen her like this before, and if I hadn't been on the verge of a total breakdown, I would have been incredibly impressed by her ability to throw herself into this kind of fury.

I was crumbling. My entire body was shaking as Viv tightened her grip on my hand.

This kind of anguish should have sent me into a tailspin and ignited my powers. But for whatever reason, all I felt was grief.

My fingers weren't prickling. Plants weren't growing between the gaps in the hardwood floor, and I hadn't obliterated my roommates in a burst of light.

I was just devastated, and for the first time in my life, I was able to feel every single excruciating emotion without it causing me to spiral out of control.

Normally I'd retreat. I'd back myself into the darkness, looking for the door to the secret place, the garden I kept hidden in my mind.

I hadn't been able to find it today. I was numb to everything but the pain radiating through my body.

Xander had sent me home in a pair of his sweatpants and sweater that hung so loosely from my body that I had to hold my pants up as I walked the five blocks between our apartments. Xander was a mess, fighting with Adrian the entire time I dressed, the argument spilling into the hallway and down the stairs into the lobby of the apartment building.

At first I thought someone must have died based on the severity of the fight, or that we were under attack. He was frantic, pulling on a coat and hat and practically pushing me out the door, telling me to go straight home without giving me a single second to ask why, or what had happened.

He stalked off down the street, in the opposite direction, while I stood on the snowy sidewalk in my walk of shame outfit, the sweatpants I was wearing covering the black leather boots I'd worn the night before, which were useless in the thick snow.

Adrian had tried to apologize, but I had been too shocked to register what he'd said. He took off after Xander, leaving me alone.

The ribbon woven through my body, tying me to Xander, felt like it was fraying, pulling so tightly

I had chosen each other only hours before. The tears had started to fall when I began to wonder if he had woken up next to see, full of regret, his decision marred by alcohol and

This went against everything

had I ended up on this couch surrounded by my roommates as they tried to help me? I

was leaving tomorrow. It

done, I felt a sudden, inexplicit peace

a deep void inside of me, whatever had been there before replaced by

to Xander quivered, then slackened, its hold around my heart falling away

forward as I tried to fill my lungs

Viv watched me I staggered toward the kitchen and

pleaded, but I chugged the water, closing my eyes as it wet

I breathed, setting the cup down

but I shook my head, cutting her

said softly,

still looking as fierce and heated as

it anymore. It doesn't hurt." I touched

her breath, but Heather

padded to my room, shutting the door behind me and

again. The sun was setting as I rolled out of bed, finding the apartment empty as I

home for Winter Break. Their suitcases were open and half full. Little piles of clothes and shoes were scattered on

owed them an apology. I owed them endless thanks for caring for me repeatedly over the past few

tell them the truth, just like I'd told Xander, regardless of

my room and rummaged through the desk in the far corner, finding two pieces of paper and a pen. I spent the next

and my eyes closed. I heard Viv and Heather come home, their muffled voices coming from beneath the door as I propped myself

a male voice with them, and I rolled out of bed before my mind could catch up with my body. I opened the door, coming

feeling of dread washing over me as the three of them turned to

a lump forming in my throat. I reached up to touch the mark

"Xander left town," Adrian replied, his voice low and hoarse. His cheeks were flushed a rosy

"Where did he go?"

off abruptly and he shook his head,

what?" Heather snapped, just as irritated as she had been when I came home earlier in the

three of you leave Morhan?" he asked us, turning back around to face

around nervously, and Heather looked somewhat

narrowing my eyes at him. "What's going on? Does this

eyes told me everything

coming back?" I pressed, but Adrian only shrugged, looking defeated. I wished that Viv and Heather weren't in the room so I

"I don't know."

I began, but Adrian