Sebastian
"Cancel the flight."
I would have left.
Yes, I'd have left if I hadn't noticed Aaron heading to the Cafe Athena worked in. If my eyes had failed to notice them two sitting across each other and mostly, if my hearing ability was like a human, making his reason to be spotted in this town nothing but a perfect coincidence.
Fucking hell.
He was trying to take what was mine which was now, cetled me to the conclusion that he'd lost the love for his life, or simply couldn't find any other way to die so he pulled this stunt.
As I stormed back to the hotel room, my heart pounded in my chest, and my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. I slammed the door shut, the sound reverberating through the empty room. I paced back and forth, my fists clenched, feeling the weight of betrayal bearing down on me.
My mind raced with questions as the night advanced.
I tried to make sense of the situation, replaying the events over and over in my mind, trying to find clues or signs that I had missed. But the truth was, I hadn't seen it coming. It blindsided me.
The anger surged through me, fueling my frustration. But despite the rage, I couldn't process the reality of the situation. It was too much to bear.
I'd thought of him as a friend, trusted him with both business and family but in the end, he is there, trying to persuade my own mate. What a fucking joke he'd made of my trust!
"F*** this!" I muttered under my breath, unable to contain the frustration that surged through me.
I had overheard their conversation, witnessing his persistent attempts to win her over, but I also saw her reluctance, her confusion. She looked torn, caught between her feelings and uncertainty.
My heart clenched with anguish. Was she really going to choose him?
God, have some mercy!
As moments passed and I drowned deeper into my worrisome thoughts and out of ways to fix this fucked up situation, I saw Carolina walking into my room, dragging her small laugage behind her and her room keys in her left hand.
"Hey, you ready?" She asked, "The flight's about to take off in just half an hour."
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment as I pulled my hands down my face, bracing myself to break the news.
"I have cancelled my flight," I finally revealed, my tone solemn.
Her reaction was a mix of shock and curiosity, evident in the way her features shifted, shadows of emotions playing across her face.
"Oh, it's no biggie, I'll..." She paused mid-sentence, processing my words, and then it dawned on her, "Wait, what?!"
She walked over to me, a determined stride in her step, her eyes searching mine for answers, "Why did you cancel the ticket?"
I hesitated, unsure of how to explain the turmoil inside me. But I owed her the truth— She was the only one trying to fix my broken relationships even though she didn't have to.
"Well... I caught my beta, trying to persuade my mate to run away with him," I said with a bitter chuckle, my emotions raw, "Seems like he's grow feeling for her, enough to throw his loyalty out the window and stab me in the back."
"Shit!" She exclaimed, her own anger mirroring mine.
I was seething with rage, a storm of emotions swirling inside me, but I knew I couldn't act impulsively. Athena and I were not in the best situation right now, and if she chose him, I would have to let her go because all I wanted was to see her happy.
"God, this is so fucked up," Cora sat beside, all colours had left her face, "Did Athena agree to go with him?"
"Not yet, but she has reasons to agree, doesn't she?"
"She loves you, Sebastian. She does not love Aaron, what do you even think that she will leave everything behind and go with him?"
"Because, sometimes love isn't enough and she wants to leave everything behind," I heaved out a sigh of despair, "She is tired, I have seen it in her eyes today...she is really tired."
"Wait a minute, you went to meet her?"
"Yes, I wanted to see her for the last time."
And her next question hit me like a punch to the gut.
"And now you that you have cancelled the ticket after witnessing your beta trying to wrap your emotionally distressed mate around his finger and take her away. So what do you plan to do now?"
"I don't know. I just want to kill him at this point."
"You know, I am always against violence but I might let it slide for this time." She sounded serious.
"I trusted him, I really thought he was my friend," I heaved out a sigh.
"It's okay, we all make mistakes," She comforted me, "Why don't you just go and talk to Athena? I am sure she is struggling as much as you are right now. She needs your support."
"She doesn't need me, Cora. Trust me, even if it's absolutely disgusting on Aaron's part to go after my mate behind my back and try to convince her to start a life with him, being aware of everything she and I went through and how much I love her, it's still an undeniable truth that he's still a fat better option for her rather than I. I am fucked up, at least, he would be able to take care of her and give her the things I never had."
"Oh boy," She clicked her tongue, "You don't understand that a woman only loves once. Yes, there might come other men in her life, perhaps far better option in your perspective but, for her it'd always be that one man and trust me Sebastian, I have seen it in her eyes— It's you for her. She loves you and no matter how hard much, Aaron swings with soul or gives it his all in the bandstand's plan, he'd never have that place in her life that you have. Consider it your good luck that she choose you, it's finding a pure soul like her."
"I don't think I need to remind you about what did I gave her in return, you know everything," I let out a bitter chuckle, "And tell me something, why did you tell her that I am hurting myself? Did you really think it's gonna bring her back?"
"I did not have any intention to use the excuse of your bad mental health to bring her back but it's true that I wanted her to help because she is the only one who can help you through this, cause it's her whom you wronged.
"Nothing is gonna bring her back, I have already lost her."
"So what are you gonna do? Watch your beta, betray you and run with your mate with the absolute trick of his manipulation? Stop acting like a fucking looser, Sebastian. I am tired of seeing you like this. Regret will bring you nothing but taking a few decision might bring you back the life you had once refused to live!" She stood up, looking seemingly frustrated as she threw her hands over her head.
I watched as she looked incredulously, perhaps thinking I was an utter fool to not take a step.
"Well, I am not gonna sit here and watch him take away my mate. Indeed I have left the curse, Cora but that doesn't mean I have forgot how to fight," I stood up as well, rolling up my selves, "First, it's my beta I'd death with and then it'll my mate whom I'll talk to and you know that I am willing to do anything it takes to bring her back.
"You promise?" She motioned her index finger at me in warning.
"I do."
"Thank god," She finally let out a sigh of relief before speaking again, "I wish I could stay with you but I have clients to fix, so, I'll catch you up when you are back in London, hopefully with the beauty herself. Best of luck and beat that motherfucker's arse."
"Maybe it's time for bringing the old ways back?" Unknowingly the corner of my twitched upwards.
Realisation drew upon her, her eyes widened ever so slightly before she let out firmly, "Only if necessary."
"Got it."
******
"You wanted to talk, Alpha?"
"Oh, so you have arrived as expected," I spoke, my tone laced with a sense of gravity. Aaron's presence was not unexpected, for he had been privy to my message. A concise message, that bore the weight of accusation, for I knew of his nefarious activities.
"I know you are the town doing bunch of shits. We need to talk."—This was the simple missive.
Of course, Aaron's timely arrival at my location without the need for further directions only confirmed my suspicions. Though it was a wise choice for him to not decide to show up.
He watched me with cautiousness.
The air was charged with tension as we stood infront of me, the gravity of the situation hanging palpably in the air. It was clear that our conversation would be no ordinary exchange, but a crucial confrontation, as I sought answers and accountability for his actions.
I placed my hands on the armrests, the familiar weight of the cigar between my fingers. With a deliberate tap, I let the ash fall into the ashtray, my eyes fixed on the tiny embers, ignoring him for solid second.
"So, shall we dance around the truth or shall I spell out the misdeeds that you've committed? What do you say, pretend or not?"
The bitter taste of the cigarrette on my lips was the only thing keeping my calm. It was my only anchor, my sole source of composure in that moment. The urge to unleash my wrath, to end his life for the unspeakable deeds he had committed, surged through me.
I had ample reasons, justifications that could easily justify my actions.
But, I held back from unleashing my anger.
He fell silent, his gaze averted to the floor, perhaps, concealing signs of guilt or something I didn't know. Yet, when they were back to stare me, they held neither guilt nor the expected fear they were supposed to.
"I love her."
Well...I hope, I'd be able to keep my gun holstered and claws sheathed