11
Scar
The darkness of Ryu’s apartment enveloped me. With Gabriel and Raja gone, and Angel asleep, I was able to stew in my bitter thoughts alone. Every so often I checked the time, only to find it later and later, with no sign of Ryu’s return.
I scowled.Who does that bastard think he is, running off like that and lying to my face?
At the time, I hadn’t realized where Ryu went or why he was in such a hurry. My sleep deprivation from the night before and laser focus on Angel distracted me from the memory, but once it hit me, I felt nothing but anger and betrayal.
I remembered Ryu’sdatetonight, with that omega Henry.
My eyes narrowed against the darkness as I sprawled listlessly across the floor table. My annoyance at Ryu spilled into anger directed at myself. How could I have been so stupid? He’d already told me before I found Angel that he had a date at the pier. At the time he’d seemed so excited about it that it made me want to roll my eyes out of my skull. Ofcoursehe’d run out on Angel and I to go see his young, hot omega date. Why wouldn’t he?
You’re the idiot who thought he was different,I berated myself.
I groaned and planted my face on the table. What if they came home together? Was I supposed to babysit Angel in another room while they fucked?
An even colder pang of dread crawled up my spine. What if they mated for real, and Ryu had a biological child of his own with Henry? What were Angel and I supposed to do then? We wouldn’t be able to stay here forever.
The impulsive part of me wanted to pick up Angel and all her supplies and get out of here before Ryu even got home. The only reason I didn’t was because I knew I wouldn’t be able to carry everything on my own because of my damn disability. I scowled and grew angrier with myself for ruining everything.
Maybe if I wasn’t like this, then Ryu would prefer me over Henry…
Just as I began to spiral into my dark thoughts, the front door creaked open. Instantly I was on guard, ready to argue with Ryu.
“So you finally decided to show up,” I growled.
Ryu blinked in confusion. “Scar, why are you sitting alone in the dark? Did the others go home already?”
I ignored his question. “Why did you lie to me?”
He paused again, then held out a hand. “Wait, hang on—I know what’s going on. Let me explain.”
But I was too frustrated and scared to stop. I needed to know if I was wasting my time here. “Where’s Henry? He didn’t come back to stay the night in your bed?”
“What?” Ryu asked. “No, he—”
“Are you coming back just to tell me I need to get out? You might as well, since you and Henry are just gonna get sick of me living here. You could at least have the decency not to lie to me about it!” I spat.
“Henry and I arenottogether!” Ryu cried.
I opened my mouth to retort, but stopped as soon as his words registered. “Huh?”
Angel fussed slightly in her sleep. Ryu put a finger to his mouth, gesturing for us to remain quiet. He slowly sat down at the table and I did the same.
“I was trying to explain that Henry and I broke up tonight,” Ryu said, lowering his voice.
“Oh.” My cheeks flushed with shame because I’d yelled at him for no reason, once again. “Um… I’m sorry. What happened?”
Ryu sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair. “We didn’t see things eye-to-eye. I was talking to him about you and Angel and he just freaked out. He began accusing you of things you didn’t do.”
My skin prickled. Cautiously, I asked, “Like what?”
“He thought you moved in her with Angel without asking. He seemed convinced that you were taking advantage of me.”
“What?” I snapped, a little too loud. Angel mumbled again but didn’t rouse, thankfully. I sighed and lowered my voice again. “What the hell is he on, talking about me like that? He doesn’t even know me. And hell—I saved him from those alphas! Ungrateful piece of...”
“I know,” Ryu said gently. “Honestly, he seemed jealous. In a way, he apparently believed you were stealing me from him.”
