CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
SKYLAR
My heart splinters into a million pieces. Rejected and safe worded in a matter of seconds. Holy fuck.
“That could have gone better,” Fishman says under his breath. “Let me know if you need help hunting him down or anything. You also know I’m never above a little kidnapping.”
Fishman slinks away as if he didn’t just destroy my life. No, I did that. I should have found a way to tell Koen, because things always have a way of finding the light.
“Rhodes,” I say, my fingers trembling as he reaches out for me.
“Absolutely fucking not,” he barks. “No touching, don’t look at me, I can’t do it, Sky. Everything is ruined.”
“You have to let me take you home,” I remind him. “You can’t drive in this.”
Rhodes looks down at Princess Sunny, and I’m incredibly grateful she’s the one thing keeping him together. He may risk himself, but not her. He’s pissed enough to attempt to drive himself.
“Go fuck yourself,” he replies, but since he didn’t punch me, I follow behind him as he stalks through the hallways.
My mind races through every possible way I can fix it. I’m slowly putting it together as Rhodes snuggles Princess in his coat as we walk out to my car, throughout the terrible drive to our house, and it all clicks when I get a text to my phone from Olsson.
Olsson
You fucked up, and now my best friend is crying on my couch. The crazy fucker was half frozen when I found him walking on the sidewalk. I don’t know what you did, but you have to fix it.
Me
Did he tell you what I did?
It doesn’t mattereither way to me if he does know. I’m still kidnapping my fucking scent match back. I don’t care if he rejected me, I’ll show him why I’m perfect for him.
“Whoever it is you’re texting, ask them if they’re looking for an alpha for sale,” Rhodes says glumly as we trudge inside.
“That’s adorable, but you know you’re stuck with me. We both know why I’m currently giving you space, but that’s not going to last very long,” I say, disarming the alarm once I lock the door behind me. “This too shall pass, or whatever the fuck they say.”
“You’re not a Persian Sufi,” Rhodes grunts. He’s so fucking smart. It hurts so much more to see the pain in his gaze as he collapses on our couch with the puppy.
I don’t have it in me to remind him why the dog isn’t allowed on the furniture when I’m the one in the doghouse. Besides, Princess Sunny is laying on his chest and is technically nowhere near the furniture. Ugh, my head hurts.
I need to fucking focus.
“I definitely am not, but I will fix this,” I tell him. “Fishman has a big fucking mouth. However…we are responsible for our own actions.Take a breath, Rhodes. You’re going a little pale.”
I used my bark with zero remorse on him, and he sucks in a breath at my command.
“Passing out to escape the pain will not help,” I say.
“Then knock me out because this fucking hurts. How are you not losing it right now?” he asks.
“Look at me,” I growl. “Rhodes. Don’t fucking make me force you.”
Rhodes’ eyes are closed tightly, refusing to open them. His chest heaves as he struggles with his emotions, causing our puppy to ride the wave as it rises and falls. She whines slightly before wiggling up to his neck to curl up and offer him comfort.
My brain is screaming for me to work faster while calling me every terrible thing it possibly can. I am far from okay. Being rejected is like being dropped into a sea of fire and told to swim, only to find you’re also drowning because even oxygen hurts to breathe.
Nothing about the past hour is okay.
Sniffling loudly, Rhodes turns his head to look at me. The couch is arranged in a big U-shape at the moment, and he has to strain a little since I’m behind him. He stares at me for a long moment before tears begin to fall down his cheeks faster.
