8. Leo

Chapter eight

Leo

I 'm down in the basement of the house, jabbing my fists over and over at a punching bag.

The basement is the pack gym, of course.

A gym that consists of one battered punching bag, a bench press, and various weights.

And it's the perfect place to vent my frustrations.

It beats killing Troy.

Many times, I have pictured his face on the old leather bag.

Many times, I have envisioned myself tearing him limb from limb.

He's the reason Belle left.

The reason why I have barely slept in days.

I swear, if we're lucky enough to get her back, then Troy isn't allowed anywhere near her.

He threatened her once and made her feel as if she didn't belong.

And he no longer has the excuse of keeping Rian safe because our Omega is now under the protection of Governor Gryphon.

Rian can finally stop pretending to be Beta and embrace who he truly is.

There is no need for him to hide anymore.

Troy hasn't spoken much since the night she vanished nor has he had a drop of alcohol.

He has been stone-cold sober, but it's not enough…

He still has a way to go.

Mostly, I'm angry at myself for ever reaching out to him. I was the one who saw that he was suffering.

Rian kicked him out of the pack, and so I reached a hand out as he had always done for me.

Yet he still betrayed me.

He betrayed us all.

Instead of talking it out with me, he turned to drink.

I'm so focused on punching the bag that I hardly hear the footsteps behind me.

I whirl around, coming face to face with that moody bastard.

Troy.

A low growl rumbles in my chest. "Fuck off."

The Alpha sighs, rubbing between his eyes.

A snarl ripples in my throat next, and I turn my back on the punching bag, aiming my fists at Troy instead.

"I said, leave!"

As I throw a punch at his face, he catches my fist, shoving it away from the pair of us as his eyes spark with that familiar energy.

Once, I considered us great friends.

We were as close as brothers, but I can't stand to look at him anymore.

All I can think of is Belle.

He let her get away.

He never cared about her…

My breaths echo off the walls as I step back, staring him down.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't beat the living shit out of you, Troy."

He cocks a brow. "Because Rian already did…"

I spy the fading bruises.

I suppose he has learned his lesson.

But he's still walking a tightrope.

I turn away from him and return to the bag.

He watches me punch a few times before I've had enough, whirling on him once again.

"Seriously, Troy. What the hell do you want?"

He folds his arms, and I notice the dark circles under his eyes.

He looks worse than I do.

Good.

He should look the worst out of the four of us...

"I came here to apologize."

I snort. "It's not me you should be apologizing to."

"I know, but you're the only one I can stomach looking at long enough. Rian keeps pulling away, and…"

I get it.

An Omega's rejection is hard on an Alpha.

It's usually the other way around. But Rian's rejection of Troy is taking its toll, and I almost feel sorry for the bastard.

I just hope that Troy is prepared.

He's in this for the long haul after all.

It's going to be some time before he's back in any of our good graces.

I stop punching, ignoring the cuts on my wrists.

"Well… let us hear it."

Troy sighs, barely meeting my eyes. "I'm sorry."

Yeah, I could almost believe it if he didn't sound so bored.

The Alpha is not used to sharing his feelings.

He has only ever been open with Rian.

Troy closes his eyes. "I should have stopped her from leaving…"

I scoff, brushing past him as I head up the stairs. He follows me.

"You only brought it upon yourself, Troy…"

He's silent as we climb the stairs.

I go on. "When and if we get her back… you should keep your distance for a while."

He doesn't respond, and it seems he agrees.

"Fine. I will go away…"

I turn. "I never said you had to leave the house. Just keep your distance. It's going to take time for us all to trust you with her again. How can you promise you won't hurt her?"

His eyes gleam. "I wouldn't. Not this time."

I move back up the stairs. "I saw how she used to look at you. She was afraid of you."

I can smell the guilt seeping from his pores.

We reach the kitchen, and I head for the fridge, grabbing a cool bottle of water.

I don't offer Troy one.

He has to earn it.

"You just better hope that Gryphon can get her back for us."

Troy meets my eyes.

My own flash. "Because if something happened to her, Troy… I will kill you…"

His face pales, and it doesn't feel so great to be threatened, does it?

The Alpha nods glumly. "I understand."

Well, I'm glad we're on the same page.

I finish my water, dropping the plastic into the recycle bin.

The whole time, I never take my eyes off him, and I can feel the Alpha shrinking in my presence.

I meant every word I said.

If Gryphon returns with bad news, Troy is dead.

The front door bangs open, and Rian bursts into the kitchen.

His eyes find mine. He barely even sees Troy.

My heart flaps in my chest. Rian has tears in his eyes…

Happy tears.

"Jeremy called. He has her. Gryphon found her, Leo…"

We don't speak. We just rush to the car.

Troy races behind us, but I stop, pushing him back. "No. You keep away."

The Alpha snarls, showing his teeth, and I expose my own.

"He's right, Troy. Belle will be vulnerable and frightened. You're the last person she will want to see given her circumstances."

There's no missing the hurt in his eyes, but when he doesn't back down right away, I release a growl.

Finally, he concedes, stepping aside.

I just hope he doesn't resort to drinking in our absence again.

Drinking never solves anything.

"Fine."

Well, that settles it.

Troy won't get to be a part of the happy reunion.

He made his bed, and now he must sleep in it.

It's everything he deserves.

Finally, we get into the car, and my heart won't stop pounding.

Belle is safe.

And I will get to gaze into those beautiful blue eyes again.