“What?” I asked,shocked.
Spurred on by my reaction, he continued. “That’s right. Don’t think I don’t know what yourmotiveis.”
“Mymotive!?” I echoed. “My only motive is freeing you from thisplace!”
Niko shook his head. “I don’t think so. You’re going to have to think of a better liethanthat.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Why did Niko think I was lyingtohim?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said as gently as possible, which was becoming difficult with how frustrated I was. “I think you’re confused, Niko. I think someone has been lyingtoyou.”
He looked appalled at the suggestion. Once again, he glanced frantically at Virgil, but he remained strangely silent the entire time, which I supposed I should bethankfulfor.
“No,” Niko repeated. “You’re the one who's lying, nobody else. I don’t know why they let you into our pack. Nobody wantsyouhere!”
Hearing my mate spit that to my face made my heart turn to lead. I sat there, stunned, andcompletelylost.
The person I loved most in this world wantedmegone.
“You should get out of here,” Niko muttered, his expression contemptful. “And don’t come back. I don’t want to see youagain.”
I stood up slowly, and a flicker of fear flashed across his eyes again. But he seemed to be done talking. Nothing I said was going to changehismind.
“Virgil,” Niko saidsuddenly.
“Yes?” the other alpha saidcalmly.
“Please… if you can… don’t bring him hereagain.”
Virgil nodded slowly. “Alright.”
Dazed and losing my sense of self, I let Virgil shepherd me out of the cell. I don’t remember anything after that. It was if my mind simply stoppedfunctioning.
*
Cold air brushed my skin and I realized I was outside again. Virgil must have been guiding my way because my mind went completely blank for a few moments. Now that I was fully conscious again, I just wished I wasn’t. It was less painfulthatway.
Niko didn’t want me. I had no reason to be aliveanymore.
“You should just kill me,” I muttered before I could stopmyself.
Virgil stopped cold. He smacked me across the chest with the back of his hand to get my attention, although it was a little harder than I expected and I flinchedinpain.
“David,” he said sternly, “listen to me. I need you to pay attention. Are youlistening?”
“Yes,” I muttered, watching his hands just in case he decided to hit meagain.
“You’re not paying attention,” hescolded.
“What do you want me to say?” I snappedweakly.
“Come with me if you want to see your mate again.Notinthecell.”
Then he walkedbrisklyaway.
I blinked, confused for a moment. Did I hear himcorrectly?
When he stopped and looked sharply back at me with serious eyes, I knew he wanted me to follow him. I didn’t know why, and honestly, I didn’t even want to - but with my current weakness and Virgil’s power as a First Order alpha, I didn’t have achoice.
Ifollowedhim.
