Hyperventilating, I raised a hand in front of myself preventing Abe to say anything else. After some time, still silent, all I could do was drag him back to the office where Adrian and I discussed the matter of the attack, the two of us just staring at each other like that in the middle of the hallway was too conspicuous. My beta glanced at me apprehensively, like he was waiting for a worse reaction than that.

Well, good for him I was still trying to absorb what he said — and that he was a good, very good, friend —, otherwise I would be jumping in his neck right now.

If he was anyone different I would probably be screaming at his face right now, but since it was Abe... I just couldn't. He had been there for me for a long time, bearing with all my craziest ideas. How could I recriminate him now for a mate he couldn't control?

I couldn't, which made my face squirm as I tried my best to not talk with my head spinning like that. Biting the interior of my cheek, I breathed between my hands.

How could he...? Why...? But...! Argh!

"Abe!" That was all I could say without grabbing him by the collar at that moment.

He cringed, taut in his place. As I didn't say anything else, Abe started again "I'm so sorry, Syera. I tried to tell you so many times, it's just..."

"Shut up." Oh my god, why was he still talking? It was clear I could never reprehend him, but I couldn't let him go too far. "What were you thinking?!" I stopped for a second. "No... Sorry, I know we don't think clearly when it comes to a mate. I mean... What are you planning now? Stay here until they attack again?"

Abe opened his mouth a few times before his head fell and his eyes stared at the ground. I could see the knuckles of his hands starting to go white, with the strength he used to keep the fist closed. "I just... I figured if we stayed here it would be easier to..." He bit his lower lip. "Protect him."

"Against Adrian."

"Against your mate, yes."

Fuck! I hit the table so hard it hurt in my hand. Abe ran toward me, but I signaled him to stay in his place.

"First of all! He's not...!" Not what? My mate? I couldn't really confirm this information since I now hated Abe for even thinking of double-crossing him. Controlling my urges to punch him, I added "Second... He is your alpha now! You cannot seriously be thinking of betraying him. Betraying us."

If that man were from another pack, it would be easier to solve. But a mutt! A mutt who attacked us and tried to murder Adrian. It was so messed up.

"Believe me, that's not my intention. I just need to make sure he is... Okay. That no harm comes to him. If we are here, it'll be easier for me" I'm sure he also meant me. "To intercede for him. Syera, if he dies... I don't know if I can go on living. Even if you forgot about it, I'm sure you know the feeling. I can deal with never seeing him again in my life, as much as it hurt me, but I can't stand the idea of him dying. He has to live, even if it means I'll be sacrificed."

I did know that feeling, as much as I tried to cover it under thick layers of steel. Even when I just ignored Adrian, I felt it. Or when I ran here to aid a man I remembered nothing about, because the simple thought of him being hurt was unbearable.

"You're my loyal friend."

His lips almost formed a smile.

"But I can't betray him." Sighing, I just raked a hand through my hair. "I'll think about it, just leave for now. Don't even think about doing anything stupid."

I wanted to kill Abe for not having told me all of that before, yet how could I blame him? I would have done the same, even though that seemed unthinkable.

A few minutes after he left me alone in that office, I stormed through the corridors, following that scent that guided me ever since I got there. Adrian turned to me, as soon as he realized I was near. His lips half open, probably about to say something, when I caught them with mine.

Holding his head with my hands, I kissed him anxiously. My mouth knew that way and urged for his skin to touch mine. At first, he stood rigid, not moving. But then, his hands embraced my waist, pulling my body against his. Adrian's heartbeats were loud enough for me to hear it, but so were mine, pumping so hard in my chest that made my mind go blank.

And then tears rolled down my face. When the salty flavor caught our tongues, he stopped kissing me. But didn't ask me what was wrong, just wrapped my head in his fingers and brought me closer. I rested my cheek in his shoulders and let the sorrow take over me, as I was meaning to for a long time. Until now, unable to give myself to him.

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Hello, friends! How've you been?

I'm busy as hell but still managing to write Rejected and Loved during some of my free time. Hopefully I'll be able to finish Syera's story before the middle of the year. I admit I'm crazy to write new stuff, but I have a terrible problem of never finishing what I start. So... This is my finish-anything-I-can project. And only when I'm done with at least half of  the things I've started I can begin something new.

What did you think of this chapter? I'm so happy Syera finally gave in to Adrian (for now, at least)

If you enjoyed reading, don't forget to vote and comment!