“Calla!” Adew called as he rushed downstairs to the front door. The okie came running after him. Adew didn’t wait for him to catch up, he had to get out of there before he did something stupid. Like go back up there and beg Nylune to take him back. Tears prickled his eyes as he burst through the front door.
Shit. He was fucking crying.
He never shed a tear when the fucking doctors told him he might never walk again. He knew he’d make himself walk and get back his life. But he couldn’t do a damn thing now. He couldn’t make Nylune want him.
He couldn’t be his alpha…that hurt more than he thought it would.
“Adew! Adew!” Lars ran after him. Adew came to a stop in front of Lars’s pod and waited for him to open the door. “What’s going on?” he asked instead of opening the door.
“Get me out of here,” he bit out.
Lars looked at him for what felt like forever before he opened the door for him. Adew jumped inside and sat in the passenger seat. Calla came and sat next to him. Lars got into the operator’s seat and brought the pod to life. Adew looked away from the house as they drifted away.
They drifted for a while in silence, until Lars couldn’t take it anymore. He found the nearest parking dome and brought the pod to a stop.
“What the fuck is going on?” he asked. But Adew didn’t want to talk about it. He still felt too raw.
“Can you please get my shit and take it home?” he said, getting up from his seat.
“Adew?”
“Please, I don’t want to talk about it right now. Take care of Calla for me. I’m going to get some air.” he said, but Lars gripped his arm before he could get out of the pod.
“No. Talk to me, dammit,” he said. “What the hell is going on?”
Adew sighed. “It’s over. He doesn’t want me.”
“Shit.”
“It feels like it.” Adew rubbed his hand over his aching chest.
“What are you going to do now? He’s your mate.”
Adew groaned, burying his face in his hands. He didn’t need that reminder. “Like you said. True mates don’t exist anymore. I guess this is the reason why. I’m not what my mate needs. He needs an alpha who can help him with his prolonged heat. I can’t do that.”
Lars blenched. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I know.” Adew leaned his head on the seat and closed his eyes. “Just take me home, please.”
Lars was silent for a few minutes. Adew opened his eyes and stared at him, waiting.
“Okay,” he said. They drifted out of the parking dome and headed home. They arrived an hour later. “Are you sure about this? I can find you a place to stay. Urim…”
“I’ll be fine,” Adew said, following Calla out of the pod. The okie bounded to the door excited to be home. At least one of them was happy to be there. He knocked slightly before he opened the door. “Mom!” he called as he walked inside. He heard movement from the living area and made his way there. Urim looked up from the viewer, his eyes wide from shock.
“Adew?”
Adew cringed at the excitement in his voice. “Where are my parents?”
“They went out,” he said. “Are you here to stay?”
Adew wanted to say no. But what would be the point? “Yes. But it’s still over between us.”
Urim shoved to his feet and closed the gap between them in seconds. His eyes glistened from the tears he was clearly trying hard to hold back. “You don’t mean that. Your pride is hurt, that’s all. I don’t care about you being a champion or anything else. I…”
Adew clasped his shoulders, cutting him off. “Please, let’s not do this. I’ve had a long day.” He turned and left him standing there. Adew prayed he wouldn’t follow him as he made his way upstairs to his room. As if sensing his mood, Calla followed him. He jumped on his bed and waited for him.
“You know what I need, don’t you?” Adew dropped down next to his okie with a sigh, WAB and all.