27. Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Beth

I start to run, to make sure Rourke can't catch up with me. There are enough people around to make me hard to find. That's one of the benefits of being kind of short. It's pretty easy to hide in a crowd. Makes trying to avoid someone a little easier.

I wipe away my tears once I see the mall. It's open late and I can grab something to eat at the food court before I plan out my way back to Catherine's apartment. I can't go past the restaurant. I don't want to risk running into my ex.

What the hell is he even doing here?

He's supposed to be in a rich-ass little town somewhere, with an Omega fiancé picked out from an academy and a couple of businesses handed down from his father to run.

There's only one reason for him to come to Cressidan City.

He knew I was applying to the city's college.

He knew he would find me out here.

No. I can't deal with that.

He has no reason to want to see me.

And I have no reason to ever want to see him again.

If I could have him erased from my memories, I would.

Everything good we seemed to have was wiped out by how he pushed me away at the end.

It was all a lie. He didn't love me. He didn't think I was his mate.

He was just playing with me, manipulating my feelings.

I meant nothing to him.

I gave him my heart, and he set it on fire just to watch it burn.

When I get to the mall, I look back.

Just once. Just to check that I lost him.

I don't see him.

It's unlikely that he didn't follow me to respect my wishes.

Someone like Rourke doesn't care about a Beta's boundaries.

Whatever he's here for, I won't give him the satisfaction of breaking me a second time.

He doesn't get to play with the ashes that were left when he was done burning me.

I go into the mall and take my time heading up to the food court.

It's just as busy as it was at lunch time.

I head for the line at the pizza slicery.

Despite everything, I'm still craving pepperoni.

Men suck. Alphas and Betas, both. They're all the same.

Food is the only thing I want to think about from now on.