I stayed silent, wrapped in the sheets until he put his hands on my shoulders. As soon as his skin touched mine, the tears shook loose. He cradled me in his arms as I wailed, unable to understand the pain that tore my chest into shrapnel as Jared cackled in the background.
Chapter 27
Wes
Jen was perched at the end of the bed facing away from Jared. Thinking about their loud love making was causing acid to rise in my throat.
I spoke first. “Did you tell her about us?” Jen turned towards me, confused.
“Not that it is any of your business, but no.”
I winced at Jared’s flippant attitude. I was very clear about my feelings for Jen. At the same time, I knew Jared wanted every woman for himself and he’s the alpha. It was an impossible situation. Jared crossed a line, but I knew his lines were irrelevant. I put my head in my hands. “We’re done.”
“I am sorry?” Jen chirped.
“I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to him.” My laser-like gaze was fixed on Jared.
“Done? You think this is something you can opt out of? We’re blood. Don’t be stupid.”
“Blood’s got me nothing but strife. Power’s gone to your head. You’re cruel, selfish, and insane.”
“You might have a point, but that stuff doesn’t change the fact that we’re brothers.”
“I want out.” I spat.
“Out? You know the rules. Challenge me or you’re here to stay.”
“Challenge?” Jen had no idea what was happening.
If he was going to hold me to our rules, we were never going to get to an agreement. “Can I talk to Jen alone?”
Jared waved his fingers at me. “If you want to talk to her, you’re more than welcome. But not in here. This is my room. I’m absolutely exhausted and I want to take a nap.”
I imagined wrapping my fingers around his throat and choking him unconscious. Jen still pressed the sheet to her chest.
“I’ll meet you outside.”
She didn’t add the part about her needing to put clothes on because she was fucking my brother. Not wanting to spend another minute looking at Jared, I went into the living room. I couldn’t bear to sit down, so I simply paced back and forth. This apartment used to bring me comfort. The bare walls, minimalistic furniture, even the smell of the stupid incense Frank burned on occasion. All it did now is make me feel like I was in prison. After a few minutes, Jen entered. She never looked more beautiful. Her face was flushed, and her hair mussed and damp at the roots. My stomach churned at the thought of how it got that way.
“What’s up Wes?” her tone was nonchalant. I knew she was sending out a feeler, unsure of how angry I was. She was used to anger, as much as she despised it.
“I’m not sure about anything right now.” I wanted to be angry at her for fucking my brother. I wanted to scream and yell and tear this apartment down. I wanted to bash in my smug brothers face, but I wasn’t capable of any of it. I loved them both too much, and that love tempered my anger.
“I’m not angry with you.”
She looked surprised. “You’re not?”
“I’m not happy about it. But, you’re free to do as you like. I don’t have a say in your life.”
Instead of looking relieved, she looked concerned.
“But I’d like to.”
Jen wrapped her arms around me. “I’m usually not like this. We were drinking and he started this whole game about killing Tim and becoming his mate or something and he was being so damn charming.”
My gut curdled. “He said what?”
“He was talking about killing Tim and me becoming his mate. He was acting really strange.”