CHAPTER 177: 177-I CONFRONT THE CHEATERS

Joshua:

I had decided to leave the useless piece of trash behind. I could tell he was being attacked, and those things were only focusing on him. Early on, I guessed he was the one luring them somehow, but why, I had no idea. I had never seen these things before. They were weird, like ugly dead bodies flying around.

We managed to get into a small vintage shop and stayed there until we noticed the things finally leaving. We had no clue if they were able to save Nate or not. I came out from behind the counter and saw Yorick and Troy carrying Nate away.

"Is it safe to go outside now?" Yash asked, stepping out from behind a big shelf of vintage goods.

"Argh! It hurts so bad," Then I heard Suki complain. She was still sitting on the ground, unable to get up. I rushed over, but once again noticed Jack trying to reach her before me. This time, I wouldn’t let it happen. When the things were attacking us earlier, I couldn’t argue with him, so I let him comfort her. But not anymore.

"Back off!" I yelled at Jack, giving him a look.

The fact that they betrayed me so badly for so long, and still didn’t stop making mistakes, only proved to me they weren’t guilty at all. It just angered me more. I had seen Jack as my brother. And Suki? I had rejected so many proposals for her because I felt a mate bond with her.

A lot of people told me that if I dropped Suki, I could stay in the pack. My father gave me that condition, and I didn’t accept it. I chose Suki. So when I found out they had betrayed me, it felt like my entire life had been ruined.

But did it make me love her any less? No. No.

"I was just worried for her, Joshua. Come on, she’s been my friend too," Jack went on, completely ignorant.

The betrayal from these two would affect me for the rest of my life. And the fact that I still couldn’t hit either of them, because I loved them so much, made me feel pathetic. But I wasn’t going to let go of Suki. That wasn’t an option. I just wished she realized it and mended her ways.

I gave him a look, then before walking over to Suki, I stopped and faced Jack.

"I’m here for her, Jack," I said, hoping he realized that getting close to Suki was making me uncomfortable. He wasn’t a child. He knew what had happened. He just needed to back off and let me handle my own mate. Once Jack realized I was not going to let him get any closer to Suki, he stepped back.

"Anyway, are you okay?" I ignored Jack’s grunting and focused on Suki, who was grimacing in pain.

"That fucking thing clawed me all over my back," she complained softly, making me shake my head at her.

"Of course it did. Everybody wants a piece of you," I teased, and she managed a small smile.

"Let me take care of it," I said, opening the bag the ringleaders had given us. It was specifically so we could take care of each other’s wounds if it came down to that.

"Thank you," Suki whispered in her soft, gentle tone. She started to take off her shirt, and I sat in a way that kept the others from watching her. I didn’t want anyone’s eyes on her.

When I was applying balm on her body, I couldn’t help but think of her naked in front of Jack, and I had to clench my fists to stop myself from imagining their intimate sessions. I knew they told me they had done it so many times they couldn’t even remember the number. I didn’t want to leave her now. I had come here for her. I had to make it work, even if it meant forgiving her this one time.

Flashback:

"What the heck was that?" I shouted the minute I shut the door and faced the two cheaters. They had no idea how they made me feel back there with everyone watching. I even caught the blue squad smiling. Oriana seemed to enjoy letting everyone know I wasn’t a suitable alpha, since I didn’t even know what was happening behind my back.

Suki opened her mouth, then closed it when she glanced at Yash and Nate. I could tell she wanted privacy.

"Oh, screw that," I snapped at her. "You didn’t need privacy when you were doing Jack all over the academy, and now suddenly you want it? You’ll say everything in front of them."

I groaned, pointing at the two. Yash and Nate sat down, but when I glared, they quickly stood again, giving me their full attention because I demanded it. The cheaters looked shamelessly clueless. Suki seemed upset that I was questioning her. And Jack? His face showed nothing.

"I want to know why. Why did you two do this to me, and how long has it been going on?" I shouted, glaring at their faces one by one.

"Just for a year," Suki said, closing her eyes. Finally, some guilt showed on Jack’s face.

"A year?" I asked. They had no idea how badly they’d broken me. If I hadn’t been so worried about my reputation, I would have cried. But I couldn’t. An Alpha never cries. That would make me look weak.

"Do you have any idea what kind of betrayal this is?" I yelled at Suki, then turned to Jack. "And you? You have nothing to say?" I pressed.

Jack closed his eyes and muttered, "I’m sorry." That was all. No excuse. Nothing.

"I need a minute," Suki said as she rushed past me to the door. I wanted to stop her, to scream at her, to remind her how much I had done for her. For that ungrateful bitch. But I couldn’t. I let her go.

Jack studied my face for a moment before heading to the bathroom. I felt like I deserved an apology, a real one. Not just because they got caught. But they both ran, avoiding my eyes, because they couldn’t face the truth anymore.

End Of Flashback: