The Alpha's Addiction [BXB]

Chapter 35: Space

For clarification: Des is Koa's first love. Zacan is Oliver's biological father.

Nothing feels real. Nothing at all. Certainly not Des sitting across Cyrus and I next to Juliet as we're served lunch in the gardens. I can't stop staring at him.

It's him. I'd know that face anywhere. But he's taller now, broader. Baby fat has long been traded for sharp edges and muscles. He looks so different, yet exactly the same. The boy that I grew up with. The one I ran with through the fields as a pup, the one that held me on cold, sleepless nights. The first love that I stole kisses with whenever we thought no one was looking.

My brain—my wolf—can't fathom it. That this man is here in front of me, alive. Mourning him was the one of the most painful things I've ever gone through. My heart felt like there was a hole left in it when suddenly wasn't by my side anymore, a hole that only began to close up when I met Cyrus.

Now the wound feels fresh again. That painful twinge of loss and sorrow—regret over what could've been. He'd been alive. All this damn time, living as a rogue or whatever he'd been up to the past 9 years.

He'd been fucking alive.

"So you two knew each other?" Juliet asks, breaking the uncomfortable silence that sat between the four of us.

"Uh, yes," Des glances at me in uncertainty. "We were childhood sweethearts,"

Besides me, Cyrus growls lowly in his chest, his grip on my thigh beneath the table tightening. None of us miss the death stare he's giving Des across the plates of food.

"Oh, calm down, boy," Juliet tuts, "they were kids! I think it's rather cute,"

"It was really cute," I agree, fixing my glare on Des, "until I was made to believe you died,"

He bites his lip, what looks like anguish in his eyes as the words hit him. "Koa, there are things you don't know—"

"Care to enlighten me, then? I've been mourning you this entire time, only to find out that—that you left me in that godforsaken place, Des!"

"I'd rather not go over it here. Can we speak later? Alone?"

"Like hell I'm letting that happen," Cyrus interjects through gritted teeth. "You don't even breathe the same air as my mate if I'm not present,"

Juliet's jaw drops. "Cyrus!"

Des's gaze flicks between the two of us. "So you found your mate, then. Funny. I'd always been so sure it would be me,"

Cyrus snarls, "Well it isn't."

I abruptly stand up from my place, sending my chair skittering back. "I think I've lost my appetite, Juliet. I'm sorry,"

"Koa—" Cyrus and Des start, but I shake my head.

"I need space. From both of you,"

*

I pick up Oliver alone, instead of with Cyrus, as planned. Unsurprisingly, my little boy is disappointed. "He promised we'd play today, mama!"

"I know, baby. I apologize. There's a lot going on right now,"

"Like what?" he pushes.

"Just... do you remember when I'd talk about Des?"

He scrunches his brows. "My fake dad? Your friend that died?"

"Yes," my lips form a tight line as I sigh. "But he's not dead. He... ran away,"

Oliver frowns. "Why would he go without you?"