Freeing Starr✔️

Chapter 19 ~ Cleaning

"I'm sorry I took your mate from you... Believe it or not I didn't have much of a choice in the matter either." I murmured against her hair.

A weak snort made it pass her lips as she chuckled, sobbed a reply, "you didn't take Zion away from me. He chose to leave me for you. I've already accepted that."

Now it was my turn to snort, "he didn't leave either of us. He chose to have us BOTH."

We fell silent at that. Taking comfort in each other's arms.

I lifted my head and looked over at the tray I brought, "you should eat something. If not for you then for your baby."

Nadia sniffed and wiped at her eyes before leaning over to take hold of the tray and resting it in her lap, "Thank you."

I nodded and got up, stretching my hands above my head to rid myself of the tension.

She placed a fruit in her mouth and chewed slowly, watching me.

"So what happens now?"

I pursed my lips as I thought of how I should handle this situation and sighed, "honestly... I'm afraid to confront Zion about this but I have to. Even if I can't get him to let you go, I should at least make sure you're living comfortably."

"You're a nice person, y'know that? Anyone else in this situation would've killed me out of jealousy." Nadia chuckled weakly.

I shook my head with a frown, "I can't do that. You did nothing wrong. You're just another victim... like me."

Her laugh fell and she lowered her head sadly, her voice quivering, "I don't want to stay here. I want to leave. I really want to leave. I'd rather die than live through the pain of him being with another," she glanced up at me, "no offense."

I cracked a pained smile, "none taken. I also don't want to share him with you. Call it an Alpha's pride or whatever this feeling that I'm experiencing right now is... I hate it."

We fell silent again.

I sighed, "you should rest up. Get some more sleep and make sure you eat that. Zion is going to be gone for two days so we have the house for ourselves. You have nothing to fear."

She nodded as she chewed silently on a piece of sandwich.

I glanced at her one more time then left the room, closing the door gently behind me.

I opened the cabinet that was in the hallway and took out a bunch of cleaning supplies then headed towards the room I previously thought lead to a basement.

I placed a mask over my head then stepped into the room again, sighing in relief when the scent didn't hit me as strong as before.

I got to work and immediately began cleaning. I dusted the walls, sweeped and mopped the floors, cleaned the toilet and restocked the almost empty fridge.

I took the mattress that was thrown on the floor and dragged it out of the room. As I got it through the threshold of the door, I paused and wiped at the sweat that coated my brows, blowing out a puff of air in exhaustion.

My entire body felt sore. I've been at this for the entire day now.

Nadia was cooped up in the bedroom. The last I checked on her and delivered another sandwich, she was sleeping soundly.

I leaned against the wall and laid my head back, inhaling sharply as tears once again pricked my eyes.

I thought I was done with crying.

Apparently my tears didn't like to listen when it involved Zion.

I shook my head and got back to work, dragging the mattress across the floor and towards the front door of our house.