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.

Heather and Viv glanced at each other as I followed him out into the hallway, closing the door behind

me and praying my roommates weren't eavesdropping.

“What the hell is going on, Adrian?"

“What did he tell you last night?" Adrian hissed, turning around to face me before he reached the

stairwell.

“What do you mean?"

Adrian looked deep into my eyes, searching for something. I blinked, pursing my lips as I waited for him

to tell me something, anything.

“Is he in trouble?" I asked, but Adrian shook his head, leaning on the railing overlooking the stairs.

“A man came looking for him last night. He showed up at the party after the two of you had already left.

Gideon, I believe."

“Gideon was here?"

He nodded. “He said he needed to speak to Xander, but I… I didn't think it was serious enough. I

thought Xander was going to tell you–"

“Tell me what?!"

Adrian's eyes were deeply blue, and shone like gems in the dim light in the hallway. He was handsome,

but boyish, his blond curls ruffled and falling over his ears and forehead.

He considered telling me. I could see the internal argument he was having flashing behind his eyes.

But he decided against it, shaking his head and then turning toward the stairs.

“Is he gone?" I asked, my voice catching. “Is that why I can't feel… I can't feel the mark anymore? I felt

like he might have been rejecting me–"

“What time do you leave tomorrow?"

“In the early morning. I'm catching the six o'clock train to Breles."

Adrian nodded solemnly. “I'm sorry, Lena. I can't give you the answers you need. It's not for me to tell

you."

“Is he gone?" I repeated, damn near begging for an answer.

“Not gone, not like that," Adrian said, a soft smile touching his mouth. His eyes met mine for a moment,

then he turned, and walked down the stairs.

“Whose Gideon?" Heather said from the door I hadn't noticed was open.

I turned to her, trying to stop the furious flush from coloring my cheeks. “Part of that strange family in

Crimson Creek. I think… I don't know, Heather. This is all too much."

She gave me a soft, knowing smile.

“Well, I say f*ck it all. Let's go do something tonight, celebrate, you know? I heard the ice skating rink

was recently cleared of snow...."

I followed Heather into the apartment, looking over my shoulder at the empty stairwell.

Where are you? I thought, wondering if Xander could hear me.

And what the f**k is your problem?