Fatal Miscalculations •Jaeyong•

Chapter 25

“What the hell has gotten into you?” Jaehyun jarred when they were outside. Taeyong looked up at the overcast before frowning over to Alec, who pulled out a cigarette and lit it up, puffing out angry palls of smoke. “Alec.”

Taeyong curled a hand around Jaehyun’s arm to hold him back as Alec restlessly paced the pavements, taking long drags of the cigarette. “Are you okay?” Taeyong asked in a lower voice when he noticed Alec’s eyes brimming with ferocious tears.

The valet came to a halt and he clenched his eyes tight for a moment. Then tossing the cigarette away, he drew in a deep breath and scrubbed his face with his palms. It felt strange seeing Alec out of his composure like this. Taeyong realized that not everyone could always put on a calm façade.

“Alec?” Taeyong called, bringing a cautious hand to the man’s shoulder.

Alec flinched and turned around to face Taeyong. “I’m sorry,” he said steadily, sounding like his usual self again. He looked at Jaehyun and apologized again. “I’ll wait in the car.”

“No,” Jaehyun spat. “You just… exploded in there… What happened?”

Alec shook his head and swallowed hard.

Taeyong licked his lips and turned to Jaehyun. “Can you go and get the stuff?” he asked, hoping that Jaehyun would understand and would not protest.

Jaehyun frowned at him, but he nodded and sighed. “I’ll be right back,” he told Taeyong and disappeared into the store again.

Taeyong lightly took hold of Alec’s arm and forced the man to meet his gaze. Alec’s bloodshot eyes were reluctant. “What happened in there, Alec?” Taeyong asked gently. “I just want to know that you’re okay.”

“I’m not,” Alec growled and Taeyong winced. He had never thought he’d say this side of Alec and now that he had, he wondered how much of Alec’s life was just an act. How hard his struggles were.

“You know him?”

Alec gripped his jaw. “Not until Jaehyun talked to him… Fuck!” He dropped his head in his hands and clutched at his hair. Then breathing calmly again, he straightened up and blinked his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. It’s okay… But you just… attacked him out of nowhere. Did you even look at his size? If he had hit you back—”

“The bastard deserves that and a lot more. I hope he dies the worst kind of death or better yet, I hope he lives the worst kind of life.”

Taeyong’s jaw fell slack. Alec spoke with such resentment and repulsion that he almost took a step away from the man. “What did he do to you?” he gasped, blinking his eyes in disbelief.

Alec started towards his car without an answer.

“Alec!” Taeyong cried and ran after him.

“He was the Alpha,” Alec snarled, turning to Taeyong before the latter could catch hold of him. “of the pack that killed Daehan in the ambush in Itcara.”

Taeyong’s eyes widened and mouth fell open. “Alec…”

Alec’s face wilted, anger now overtaken by grief. “He ordered… He was in charge… at that time. He directed all the attacks on Pantherinaes… He killed so many of us. He…” he trailed off, gulping the sob that shook his voice.

“Oh, Alec,” Taeyong let out and leaned his forehead against the man’s arm. “I’m so sorry.”

“And I still can’t do anything about it… Helpless as ever. All my years of suffering… While he lives. He continues to live happily with a family and…” Alec exhaled, snivelling. “He destroyed mine.”