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 pain didn't start until I was halfway home. The ribbon woven through my body, tying me to Xander, felt like it was fraying, pulling so tightly around my heart I thought it would rip and fall to pieces.

I'd never known anyone who had been rejected by their mate. Xander and 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 primal passion.

Stupid, stupid, stupid girl, I thought. You i***t. You knew better. This went against everything you promised yourself, everything you knew that was right.

How many times had I ended up on this couch surrounded by my roommates as they tried to help me? I was nothing but a burden.

I was leaving tomorrow. It was a good thing.

But as I sat there, watching Heather and Viv argue about what could be done, I felt a sudden, inexplicit peace wash over me. I leaned into the couch cushion, taking a shuddering breath.

There was a deep void inside of me, whatever had been there before replaced by numbness.

The thread that bound me to Xander quivered, then slackened, its hold around my heart falling away as the throbbing of the fresh mark wound faded.

I stood up, leaning forward as I tried to fill my lungs and slow my pounding heart.

Heather and Viv watched me as I staggered toward the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water.

“Talk to us, Lena. What can we do?" Heather pleaded, but I chugged the water, closing my eyes as it wet my parched throat.

“Nothing," I breathed, setting the cup down on the counter. “I feel better."

“What–" Viv asked, but I shook my head, cutting her off as I turned to look at them.

“It's gone," I said softly, my voice losing its tremble.

“What's gone?" Heather growled, still looking as fierce and heated as before.

“I don't feel it anymore. It doesn't hurt." I touched the mark, then shrugged.

Viv let out her breath, but Heather furrowed her brow, looking exceedingly suspicious.

No one said anything after that. I padded to my room, shutting the door behind me and sinking down into my bed.

Hours passed before I opened my eyes again. The sun was setting as I rolled out of bed, finding the apartment empty as I walked back out into the living room.

Viv and Heather had been packing up for their journeys home for Winter Break. Their suitcases were open and half full. Little piles of clothes and shoes were scattered on the rug in front of the couch.

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

I had to tell them the truth, just like I'd told Xander, regardless of the outcome.

I went back into my room and rummaged through the desk in the far corner, finding two pieces of paper and a pen. I spent the next hour spilling my truth out on paper, crumbling the sheets between my hands and starting over, and over, again.

Eventually, I gave up, flopping down on my bed with my arms splayed and my eyes closed. I heard Viv and Heather come home, their muffled voices coming from beneath the door as I propped myself up on my elbows.

There was 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 face to face with Adrian.

I stepped out of the room, a feeling of dread washing over me as the three of them turned to me.

“What's happened?" I asked, a lump forming in my throat. I reached up to touch the mark on my chest.

Adrian glanced between Viv and Heather before looking back at me. “Xander left town," Adrian replied, his voice low and hoarse. His cheeks were flushed a rosy pink, and based on the sweat lining his temples, I assumed he'd run all the way here.

“Where did he go?"

“Lena, I don't know. That's why I'm here. Did he tell you… did he tell–" Adrian's words dropped off abruptly and he shook his head, glancing at me before turning for the door. “He didn't tell you–"

“Tell her what?" Heather snapped, just as irritated as she had been when I came home earlier in the day and told them what had happened.

“When do the three of you leave Morhan?" he asked us, turning back around to face us.

Viv glanced around nervously, and Heather looked somewhat shocked.

“Tomorrow, all three of us," I replied, narrowing my eyes at him. “What's going on? Does this have something to do with Crimson Creek?"

He didn't answer, but his eyes told me everything I needed to know.

“When is he coming back?" I pressed, but Adrian only shrugged, looking defeated. I wished that Viv and Heather weren't in the room so I could ask him for details. I knew he wouldn't tell me anything in front of them.

“I don't know."

“There has to be something–" I began, but Adrian was heading for the door.