Saving Isadore [MxM] (An Alpha's Fight Book 1)

Chapter 5

AARON ¤ POV

"Aaron? It's the weekend, why the sad face? I thought you'd be delighted." A large, heavy hand clapped down over my shoulder and I didn't have to turn around to know my father was standing behind me. He squeezed in what he thought was a comforting gesture, but it was more painful than anything else. He was a huge alpha, all brute strength, towering height and heavy bulk. My dad had always found it hard to control his stregnth and his heavy hand often ended in some sort of accident, whether it be shattered glass or a bruise when he hugged me too hard.

I sighed heavily, turning around and leaning up against the counter to face him. I'd previously been washing the dishes, though my mind was elsewhere, focused on one particular alpha who was neither my father or Landon. I was frustrated that I couldn't erase him from my mind as easily as I'd told him to forget about me. Just remembering the look on Isadore's face last Saturday after I told him nothing could ever happen between us, was enough to spook me to my core.

It wasn't a look of disappointment, anger or regret. No, it was the look of someone who's world had crumbled to rubble around him and all he could do was helplessly look on. It was the resigned look of a man who accepted this and believed there was nothing left for him to fight for. It was the terrifying look of someone who would jump off a building in a heartbeat. Had I caused that look? That cold, haunted look on his face?

I felt sick the more I thought about it, guilt making my heart thump erratically in my chest. I hadn't meant to hurt him, in fact, I had pushed him away because I wanted to avoid him getting hurt in the end. This was for the best. For one, I was not the type of omega a sweet alpha like him needed by his side. For two, Landon was dangerous and would attack Isadore if I showed any interest, heck if I dumped him and started dating Isadore, all hell would break loose. That's right, I did the correct thing. But then why did I feel like I'd made the worst decision of my life so far? It hurt, and it shouldn't.

On top of that, Isadore had skipped a whole week of school. Overheard rumours were going around that he was in hospital, but no one knew for sure why he would be in there. Shifters hardly ever fell sick so I wondered if it was something horrendously bad, or if it was simply a rumour and nothing more. However the former conclusion scared the shit out of me. What if he'd actually tried something and I was partly to blame? What if I could've done something to stop it? I thought about going around to his house to ask his grandma if everything was okay, needing reassurance to calm building worry as the days went by. But the unwelcome way his grandmother had asked me to leave last Saturday made me believe that she probably wouldn't want me bothering them and I didn't  want to push any boundaries.

"Aaron, talk to me," my dad suddenly ordered, making me jump as he startled me out of my head. I blinked up at him, at his shaved head, his dark brown skin and the piercings through his ears and nose. He was a handsome man, even in his older age, and my dad had always been reliable for advice. I peered behind him to make sure we weren't going to be interrupted. Landon was over for dinner and I could hear him chattering away with my mum and sister all the way from the living room. It was risky to talk, but I felt like my heart was going to burst if I didn't get this off my chest.

"I... I have a classmate, he's an alpha. He's been giving me love notes for a few years now and during that time, I've been avoiding him. Last Saturday, I told him to stop, that I'm with Landon and that he's not a good match with someone like me. But... I'm worried about him. He seemed really hurt and he wasn't at school all week. It's eating me up. I feel guilty," I explained briefly, hoping he had some sort of wisdom or knowledge to share that would help me out with this situation.

Dad paused, stroking his thick goatee as he thought over my words. I waited patiently, my gaze hopeful, desperate for guidance as to what to do. Isadore had been haunting my mind all week and it was driving me insane. Finally, my father spoke carefully, keeping my gaze.