Rejected, Abused, I Fall for the Forbidden Alpha (by Riley Scott) novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Hades POV

“Hades, I think you’ve had enough to drink,” my sister gently pries the beer bottle from my hand and puts it to the side, studying me closely. “You’re acting like a man about to face the guillotine instead of a happy fiancée.”

“Leave me alone,” I mumbled, “you shouldn’t be in here.”

I didn’t have the strength or the willpower to make her leave, though. A small part of me didn’t want to be alone, even if I wasn’t about to admit it.

I had escaped the party as soon as I could and left Marissa to fend for herself. I was in a dark mood; my mind filled with turmoil. I had done it. I had announced my engagement to the girl I was intended to marry, but why did I feel so empty about it? Was it because of what I’d done to Raven? Was it because every time I looked at Marissa, I saw Raven’s face instead? It felt as though I was slowly going insane.

“Are you going to kick me out?” Aeress huffed, “Because you don’t look capable of it just now.”

God, she was stubborn and a downright pest when she wanted to be.

“Leave it alone, Aeress. Shouldn’t you be holed up somewhere with Jackson?” I grumbled.

“You’re so smart,” she smiles through tears, “but love isn’t something you can push aside, Hades. The longer I went without Jackson, the stronger my feelings grew. I love him,” she confessed, “more than I could ever explain. It’s like I can’t even breathe unless he’s with me. I want that for you. I want you to be able to forget the past and move on. I want you to feel the overwhelming peace and security that comes from having a partner.”

It was impossible. I would never allow myself to feel that way, not about anyone. Aeress was a small exception, and Jackson, and even then, I remained as distant as I could with them.

“I have a partner. I’m engaged, remember?” I reminded her gruffly, her words moving me despite my trying to harden my heart against them.

“Do you? Will she give you the same respect? Will she match your strength, your energy, your passion? Will she give you everything she has and not expect anything in return?” My sister’s eyes search mine, or will you spend the rest of your life in a transaction that does nothing except be a painful reminder of what you could have had if you had just opened your heart?”