Chapter 139: He's in a Bad Mood Lately
Evelyn's POV
"Is this how you treat everyone?" I asked as I hopped down the porch steps, easily sidestepping Robert. "Snapping at friends for no reason?"
"Sorry," he muttered, his attention clearly elsewhere. "Let's go. They're waiting."
I deliberately quickened my pace, pretending to know our destination, which forced him to catch up and guide me. His car sat in a secluded lot nearby - the location seemed too carefully chosen to be random.
Peter and Brandon were already waiting by the car. Brandon sat in the driver's seat, his intense stare following us as we approached. When Robert moved closer to me, Brandon's expression darkened noticeably.
"Get in," Brandon said sharply. "We've wasted enough time."
Peter slid into the back seat and gestured toward me. "Come on, princess, your special seat awaits."
I rolled my eyes and climbed in. Before I could close the door, Robert squeezed in beside me, wedging me between himself and Peter. Their body heat pressed against me from both sides, making me uncomfortably aware of how little space I had.
Brandon slammed the accelerator, and the car lurched forward with screeching tires. I grabbed the seat to steady myself as we shot down the road.
"Hey! Take it easy!" Peter protested as he was thrown sideways. "We're not racing to a fire!"
Brandon ignored him, just glared at the road ahead, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.
"So," I said, trying to break the suffocating tension, "anything special tonight? Or just the usual?"
"Same as always," Peter answered, then whispered, "Ignore him, he's been in a bad mood lately."
Brandon suddenly swerved, tilting the car sharply and throwing me against Robert. After that, he drove in stony silence, the atmosphere in the car growing heavier by the minute.
When we finally reached our destination, I practically jumped out, grateful for fresh air.
"Finally," I said, stretching my legs. "Honestly, Brandon, your driving could use some work. Thought we'd hit a tree back there."
Brandon got out and looked me over with an uncomfortably appraising stare.
Robert touched my shoulder lightly. "Come on, let's set up. Supplies are in the trunk."
We unloaded picnic baskets, coolers, and firewood while Brandon stood off to the side, barely helping, just watching our every move - especially when Robert came near me.
"Brandon, want to help with the bonfire?" I asked, trying to ease the tension.
"You handle it," he replied flatly. "I need to check the perimeter."
He walked into the woods and disappeared. After we finished arranging the bonfire, he suddenly returned, his expression dark.
"We need to head back," he announced with finality. "Ruby's already at the meeting point. She hates waiting."
"We just finished," Robert said, dusting off his hands.
"You two drive her back," Brandon ordered. "Meet at the school gate at six."
Without waiting for a response, he sprinted into the forest in the opposite direction from campus.
"Where's he going?" I asked, staring after him.
Peter shrugged casually. "Don't worry about it."
"Easy for you to say," Robert muttered. "You're not the one he's taking it out on."
"Are you okay?" I asked quietly, noticing how pale he looked.
He moved closer, his voice barely audible. "I'll be fine. It's been a rough few days." He looked directly into my eyes. "She's been particularly bad lately."
I immediately knew he meant his mate. His pain was obvious, but somehow seemed connected to me.
"Does she know you spend time with me?" I whispered. "Is that why?"
Before we got in the car, Robert nodded. "Yes. I'm not sure whether it's her or him who wants to hurt me more."
His pained expression stirred my sympathy. No one should suffer like this, especially from a mate bond.
We returned to the car with Robert driving, me in the passenger seat, and Peter in the back. The mood remained somber until Robert broke the silence.
"Peter, did you have to piss him off like that?" he asked, eyes fixed on the road.
"If it were reversed, he'd do the same," Peter replied with a shrug. "I don't care what he thinks, and neither should you."
The rest of the drive passed in silence. Since we were early for our meeting time, we stopped in a small grove at the edge of campus. Robert and I sat on a flat rock sharing convenience store snacks. I sipped heavily sugared coffee while Peter had black coffee, sitting apart from us.
We avoided mentioning the awkward incident at the bonfire site. Sunlight filtered through leaves, casting dappled shadows that made the earlier tension seem distant.
"You're really staying for summer courses?" Peter suddenly asked.
"You too with this question?" I sighed. "Robert's already hassled me about it. But what else am I supposed to do? I need to work, and we don't have travel plans. Might visit some friends we met. Aria wants to know the area better before deciding to stay. Nothing's set in stone."
"You're actually coming back here to continue studying?" Peter's tone carried something I couldn't place - concern? Worry?
"It's not entirely my call," I shrugged. "Honestly, I don't care where I go to school. Aria's looking for her mate, which is partly why we came. It depends on her decision and Conrad's."
"You two are still fixated on finding mates," Peter said with clear disdain. "Why are you so eager to find your destined partner?"
"I could ask you the opposite - why are you so against it?" I countered, watching his expression. I understood Robert's aversion since he suffered daily from his mate bond. Somehow I'd become part of his pain, though I had no romantic feelings for him. I wondered who his mate was, wishing I could convince her to stop hurting him.
At this thought, Robert chuckled. I turned to him quickly and found him trying to suppress his laughter.
"What's so funny?" I asked directly. "That woman is deliberately using some Beta to hurt you, just to satisfy some twisted need for revenge."
"Nothing can really help me," he sighed. "I can only accept reality and keep living."
I held his hand as we walked slowly. In Polaris City, I'd seen this kind of suffering - mates rejecting each other without completely severing the connection, leaving both in endless torment.
"That's exactly why I'm against it," Peter said darkly. I realized then our conversation wasn't entirely private.
"How did you learn about this? Why would anyone be so cruel?" I asked, shocked by such malice.
"Because they're all sick bastards who don't care about others' feelings," Peter's voice was ice-cold, his eyes flashing with fury. "This is the leadership and power we've seen. Your beautiful fantasies about mate bonds are just wishful thinking. The real world doesn't care about mates' feelings, or how else could someone hurt their destined partner like this?"
The hatred in his tone sent chills down my spine, and an ominous feeling crept into my heart.