Chapter 6

Adrian POV 

I never realized how exhausting it was to experience a rejection. I knew it was painful, and I knew it was dangerous for lower ranks, but I never realized that, even for someone like me, the toll it takes on your body.

Every muscle in my body ached. And not like I just overdid it working out and pushed myself a little too hard, no. It felt like I had worked out for 3 days straight. My muscles were on fire. It was even hard to walk to the bathroom. My chest constantly ached. It felt like someone ripped my heart from my chest. 

Not even in my sleep was I able to get away from it, or away from him. Every time I fell asleep, I dreamed of him rejecting me over and over again. He haunted me every time I closed my eyes.

I hear a whimper again as he snuggles closer, and I finally force myself to open my eyes. When my eyes open, I'm met with a head full of strawberry blonde hair. The Omega has been my constant companion. He refuses to leave me alone and tries his hardest to make me feel better. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot he can do. There are only two things that'll make me feel better, and one of them will never happen. My only other option is time. Allow my body to go through the withdrawals of losing a part of my soul. 

These symptoms won't last forever. They'll eventually fade, and I'll be back to myself. I just wish it was sooner rather than later. I want this behind me as fast as possible. I don't want to think of him ever again, but unfortunately, my body won't allow that to happen right now. 

Aside from the sounds coming from Milo, The room is unusually quiet. I roll onto my back, turn my head to look out the window and flinch when I come face-to-face with Nikolai. The idiot was lying behind me on his side, and his damn eyes were wide open, staring at me like a creep. 

“Goddess, what in the hell are you doing?” 

“ Waiting for you to wake up,” Nikolai said. 

When I tried to straighten my legs, I realized I couldn't. There was an obstacle in the way. I lifted my head and looked down just to find Weston lying across the foot of the bed, scrolling through his phone. 

“How long have you guys been in my bed?”

“Long enough to learn you snore,” Nikolai said. I would have glared at him, but my head was throbbing. Instead, I massaged my temples, trying to ease the ache.

“So… are you going to tell us who it was?” Nikolai asked as he sat up. 

“No! Stop asking,” I said, peeking my eyes open to see what Milo was doing when I felt him climb out of bed. That was when I realized Timothy was in the room too. He was sitting on the couch on the other side of my room with a book in his hand. He set it down as soon as he saw Milo walking toward him. The Omega opened his arms, and Milo crawled into them. My heart warmed for them. I was so glad Timothy's Alpha sold him to us. I honestly didn't think he would. 

“You say it wasn't Alaric, but you were fighting him minutes before that happened. If it wasn't him, then who was it?” Nikolai asked. 

“Can you please leave it alone? I'm a big boy! I can take care of myself,” I said, dragging my hands down my face.

“I know you can, but that doesn't change the fact that I want to kick his ass!” Nikolai said, staring out the window. 

I sighed as I looked at my best friend. These guys really care a lot about me, and it's times like this remind me of that. Not many people have friends like these two. 

“Thank you guys for caring about me, but can we leave it alone for now? Just remember, he's going through the same shit I am. That should give you a little satisfaction,” I said as I struggled to pull myself out of bed. Weston was by my side in an instant when he saw my legs tremble. 

“It would give me more satisfaction to bury my fist in his face a few times,” Nikolai said, watching us like a hawk as Weston helped me into the bathroom. 

“Thanks! I got it from here,” I said once I was in the bathroom and holding on to the sink. 

“Are you sure? I can hold it for you,” Weston said, and I shoved him out of the bathroom while the idiot laughed. The sound of the Omega's giggling eased the ache in my chest. 

The shower felt good. The hot water beating down on my muscles was soothing. I'm not sure how long I stayed in there. I only came out when my fingers began to prune. 

I called out to the guys, and when none of them answered, I became concerned. But when I opened the door and stepped into my room, I saw why they weren't answering. They were gone, and in their place was the Alpha. 

The Alpha sat at the foot of the bed with his hands clasped, leaning forward with his arms resting on his legs. He looked up as I stepped out of the bathroom. He carefully watched me walk into the room and quickly stood when he saw how weak I was. In an instant, he was by my side with his arm around me.

“Adrian, I know you didn't want to talk about it the day it happened, and I know you're not telling the others, but I'm your Alpha. I want to know who did this to you.” 

“Why? So you can send someone after him?” I asked, and Victor looked off in thought as if he was considering it.

“As much as I would love to, no. I guess I don't really have a good reason for needing to know. It's just. Each one of you boys, you're like my son's! I can't imagine anyone doing this to you. I just want to know. I don't know. Maybe so I can ban them from ever coming back here,” Victor said, and my heart stuttered. 

It's not very often the Alpha gets sentimental like this. So when he does, he means it. 

I briefly looked at the Alpha before exhaling and giving him a nod. 

“Okay… just don't tell them yet. I will, I just need to get my strength back first. I don't want them doing something stupid because of me while I'm down like this and can't stop them.” 

Victor looked at me and nodded. “ I give you my word, I won't tell anyone. I'll leave that to you.” 

I pushed out another breath as I looked down at my hands. “It was Alaric. Alaric was my mate. He hates me just as much as he hates our pack. He knows we want to change things for the Omegas and hates us for that. He said I'm a disgrace to our kind… He wanted nothing to do with me.” I said, my voice getting quieter near the end. I swallowed the lump in my throat. It was hard to say that out loud.

I felt Victor's hand rest on my shoulder, squeezing it. 

“Adrian… I'm so sorry! I feel like… I feel like this is my fault. I feel like you lost your mate because of me,” The Alpha said, with sadness in his voice. 

“What? No! This isn't your fault! Sir, I look up to you! You said I'm like a son to you, well, you're like a father to me! Your beliefs… I'm proud of them! I'm proud to be born under your rule. I couldn't imagine being in any other pack. Being raised like them,” I paused, shaking my head at the very thought. The thought of being okay with Omega's being used as breeders, having no say in what happens to them. Being abused and beaten, and being okay with that… The very thought made bile rise in my throat. 

“This didn't happen because of you. This happened because of Alaric and his father's beliefs. He could have been like your great-grandfather and had different beliefs than his father. He could have been the beginning of change, just like your great-grandfather was for our pack. But he isn't. Alaric chose his path, and it's the wrong path. This is his fault.” 

When the Alpha finally looked at me, I was taken aback when I saw his eyes were filled with tears. I watched him swallow thickly before licking his lips to speak. 

“I never knew you felt that way… It means so much to me to hear you say that. Thank you, Adrian! You made me proud of my Great-Grandfather all over again, and I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you for knowing what's right and wrong and following the right path. I'm proud that you want to change things for the better, just as much as I do. I just know you boys are going to do it. The three of you, you guys are something else! The bond you three have… it's like you're blood brothers. I feel it deep in my soul that the three of you are destined for something big. I love you, son,” Victor said as he grabbed my shoulder, pulled me toward him, and kissed the side of my head. 

“Get some rest… or, try to. The boys will be back any minute. They went to grab food. I heard them talking about a movie marathon of some sort,” Victor said as he stood. 

The Alpha laughed when I groaned as I fell back against the bed. I was hoping for a little peace and quiet. Looks like that's not happening anytime soon.