Chapter 83: Jealousy
Rhydian;
"Alpha Rhydian, you need to see this!! It’s Bram!"
I stare at Ishu’s dishevelled state, and I can tell that whatever is going on is not something good. And the fact that he came to me makes me more concerned.
I stand up to move towards him, but as soon as I do, Elián grabs my wrist.
"Where are you going?" He demands, and my brows crease.
"You heard what he just said. I want to..." I begin, but he cuts me off.
"I heard. It’s about Bram. Why should he be concerned about anything that has to do with Bram!?" He replies, directing the last part at Ishu with a scowl and one of my eyebrows arches.
Is... is he jealous?
"Master Elián, I believe anyone will be concerned if they see what is being done to..."
"Then let anyone else worry. Why are you calling Rhydian?? He has no connection or responsibility with the guy." Elian snaps with irritation, clear as glass in his voice, and my lips part in awe at how angry he is, and how unapologetic he’s being about expressing it.
Ishu’s gaze falls, and he falls silent for a few seconds before opening his mouth to speak. And an action that informs me that he had to give proper thought to his response,
"I’m sorry, Master Elián. I know Alpha Rhydian and Bram share no connection, but I came here because... only Alpha Rhydian can save him from what is happening." Ishu replies, and my gaze darts to him.
"Save him? What’s going on??" I question, with my curiosity piqued, and Ishu looks up at me.
"Alpha Liandria has ordered that Bram be killed. Not only that, but she ordered that he be tortured however the guards liked... as compensation for... Master Elian’s escape this morning. He’s currently at the Betas’ quarters. " He explains, and my heart drops into my stomach.
"What!?" The word bursts out of me in shock, but Elián still doesn’t let go of my hand. Instead, he tightens his grip.
I turn back to look at him, and he scowls at me.
"Don’t give me that look." He says, and I stare at him in shock.
"You heard what he sa..."I begin, but he cuts me off.
"Why do you care!? If he gets raped in my place, is it so bad?! Have you forgotten?? If the bastard hadn’t lied against me, I wouldn’t be in this mess. If you ask me, this is Karma. Cold, hard karma! He almost ruined my life, and the next minute you want to go and save him??" He rages, and I take a deep breath as I understand his pain and quest for vengeance.
"I know, Elián. But for all we know, my mother may have forced him to say all those things against you. And this is death we’re talking about. He’s about to be killed." I explain, and Elián shrugs.
"A fitting punishment if you ask me. I was almost gangraped because of that bastard, and now I’m supposed to feel pity for him?!" He replies, and I sigh.
I sit back on the bed beside him and gently stroke the back of the hand he has wrapped around my wrist.
"A wise young man once taught me... that the fact that you dislike someone doesn’t mean you wish them death," I say, and he stares at me from the side of his eyes.
"Well, you never set me up before! You never lied against me or were a part of the process that could have permanently altered my life. Heck, you aren’t involved in two of my near-death experiences!" He rants, and I sigh.
"Elián... You don’t really want him to die. You know you’re just upset." I whisper, and there’s silence.
It drags for a while as the young man stares at me, and rather reluctantly, he lets go of my wrist.
"Fine." He says as he adjusts himself in the bed.
He lies on his side, turning his back to me as he properly covers himself with the duvet.
"Go to him." He grumbles, and I smile.
I get off the bed and plant a kiss on his hair.
"I’ll be back as soon as I’m done. I promise." I say to him, but he gives me no response.
I turn to Ishu, who has been watching the entire exchange in silence.
"Lead the way," I order, and he nods before turning around and walking out of the room.
*******
Elián;
Why do I care??
No, seriously.
Why do I give a shit!?
He can do whatever the fuck he wants. Hell, if he wants to wife Bram up and take him to the Bahamas for their honeymoon, and Burg Khalifa next, it won’t bother me.
It’s not like he means anything to me.
He is just a stupid, pompous bully I’ve been forced to go on a trip with.
When did we even start getting so cordial??
I’m beginning to be too soft wth him.
He probably thinks I’ve fallen for his stupid bright grey eyes... flawless skin... and that godforsaken brooding look he always has on his face.
Well, I haven’t!
And I won’t.
No matter how many times he kisses my hair, or how nice he is to me... I won’t fall for a man who’s taking advantage of how good-looking he is.
After all, what’s the point of falling for someone who doesn’t spend enough time with you and goes running to some shitface when they’re in trouble?
"Ugh!" I groan in annoyance as I sit up in the bed.
I run my palms down my face and sigh in exasperation.
Why the fuck am I so pissed!?
That little shit must have planned this. He wants Rhydian’s attention. That must be it.
That bastard is really going to make me prove to him that Rhydian is mine?!
Well... not mine. He’s just... I just can’t let him knock someone up because that will affect me.
I’ve decided to accept life here and... live here. I need to do whatever I can to make life for me here good, and that involves stopping the Alphas from getting someone else pregnant.
I know. I’ll go see for myself.
I get off the bed and take a deep breath. I get to the door and am about to open it when I hear footsteps.
I freeze when I hear a man speak, and goosebumps attack me as fear washes over me.
"Did you see how pissed Alpha Rhydian looked? Those men are going to regret being on disciplinary duty today."
I swallow and pull my hand back as the guard’s voice sets a spark to thoughts I’ve been trying to avoid for the past few minutes.
His voice reminds me... of the men in that room. The men who tried to... rape me. The ones I can not remember how they died.
"Today has just been a bad day. Brent was going to set me up with his sister, but now he’s dead. If only he knew, he wouldn’t have struggled to be in the group to correct that blasted Omega." Another voice says as the men get closer to the door, and I start struggling not to hyperventilate.
I take slow, steady steps away from the door with my eyes fixed on it.
If they come in here... if... if they try to hurt me again... I’ll jump out the window. I don’t care how high it is.
"I still can’t believe Alpha Rhydian killed his men for that outsider." The other man speaks, and I gulp.
"I know. I can’t stop thinking about it. It makes me want to snap the boy’s neck." The second man speaks as they walk past the door, and only after I hear their footsteps get farther and farther away, can I try to let out a breath.
I bump into the bed and sit on it as I struggle to steady my breathing.
I look down at my trembling hands and only then do I realise that there are tears in my eyes.
I quickly wipe them and stare back at the door with my heart drumming in my throat.
I’ll... I’ll just wait here till Rhydian comes back.
I won’t go out. I... I can’t.
Now, with so many of those vile Beta crawling all over the place.
What if they try to hurt me when Rhydian isn’t paying attention?
I just heard one say he wants to snap my neck. I don’t... intend to find out if he’s being serious or not.
I pull my legs out of my sandals and crawl back into the bed, and under the covers with my eyes trained on the door.
What if the whole thing with Bram was just a distraction to get Rhydian away from me so that someone can attack me?
I don’t like this feeling. Feelng like prey. I... I don’t like it. I just... I want to go back to the Ashfang estate.
I don’t like this place. I don’t know why the King sent me here with Rhydian... but I’ve had enough.
I just want to go back home.