Chapter 23 23
Xavier's pov
I stopped the car at a red light and slammed my fist against the steering wheel.
Father had rejected mother even after I told him not to! Even after I begged him not to.
A strain of curses left my lips and I dragged my hand through my hair. Something caught my eyes and I looked at the rearview mirror.
I stared at my own reflection. Only it wasn't really me. My hair wasn't long and wild the way I kept it now. It was short, cropped the way it had been in my early twenties. I blinked at the decade-younger version of myself and a shiver slid down my spine. This had to be a dream. It had to be. Because this was the night it happened, the night I took a life for the first time.
It was right after I left dad's birthday party, the party where he rejected mom and announced his new Luna in front of everyone. The worst thing was mom wasn't at the party and our new Luna, my mother, was his secretary.
I was so pissed that night I needed to bow off some steam so I called a few friends of mine and we hit the bar. After hitting on some cute she-wolves and getting their numbers, I'd forgotten about ever getting angry that night.
My friend and I had just left the bar when two flashy cars sped by. We'd laughed about it because hey, crazy rich kids loved driving around the city and I loved that — the adrenaline that came with it and the rush in my blood. I loved watching fast cars but driving them more.
I took a swig from my beer bottle and cheered with the guys as we got into our cars and started driving.
I didn't see him walk by.
I was so focused on my high, on driving fast and getting my frustration out in waves, that I didn't notice there was a person in the distance.
Only then, did my eyes meet the familiar pair of blue eyes and my breath got caught in my throat.
What the hell was he doing?
“Get out of the way!” I yelled from the driver's seat as I hit the brakes. They weren't working.
“Shit!”
I rolled down the window and tried to bring out my head but I couldn't risk it. I'd die.
I hit the steering wheel and floored the gas but nothing was working.
One moment, he was right there in front of me. The next all I heard were screeching tires and loud thud.
“Jason!” A scream tore through the air.
From my seat, I watched as the owner of the voice, a guy the same age as me, dropped to his knees.
“Jason, please…” His hands shook when they touched the face of the boy I had hit. The boy wasn't moving. He just laid there with his eyes wide open and his lips parted as if he wanted to scream but didn't get a chance to.
“Jason, wake up. You have to wake up, mom. It's me, Roman. I'm right here.” His voice cracked as he sobbed.
Nothing happened.
He pressed my forehead to the boy's, sobbing so hard I feared he could barely breathe.
“Don't leave me, please…”
I watched him beg no one in particular. I sat there in my car and watched tears dripping down his cheeks as if they could bring him back.
“Please. I can't…. Goddess, please, save my mom. You have to. I'll do anything you want, just bring him back!”
People had gathered around him and slowly, someone walked up to him.
He jolted. “Don't!”
“He's gone, Roman.” The person said. “I'm sorry.”
“I told you not to say anything!” The guy screamed.
Slowly, I opened the door and stepped out of the car. The boy was gone. I had killed him.
“Xavier!” My friends called after me but I didn't pay them any attention. All I could see was a grown man cry over his brother. The brother I had murdered.
“Xavier, come on!” A strong arm grabbed mine and ran.
We got into the car and didn't stop. We didn't even slow down to check on the victim and his brother. We just vanished into the night like his life had meant nothing.
“Xavier, are you okay?” A female voice called out, startling me.
I jolted awake and looked around.
I wasn't driving by the Angry Boar Bar like I was 10 years ago. I was in a…. The acrylic painting of Kylie stared back at me and I instantly knew where I was — in the PackHouse.
I dragged my hand through my hair. Why the heck was I dreaming about that now? It'd been years since that incident happened and I haven't had any panic attacks since then. Why start now?
My questions didn't get their reply because a voice from earlier called my name again.
“Xavier?”
I tilted my head to look at Kylie.
She was dressed in tight black shorts and a fitted blue sports bra that clung to her chest like a second skin. With her makeup free face and styled hair, she looked like she was getting ready for her morning run. It was this ritual she always had. She wouldn't miss it even if she was sick.
Our eyes locked and she tucked her phone back in her armband and removed her earbuds.
“Are you alright?” She took the empty side next to me on the bed. “You fainted.”
My brows furrowed. “I fainted?”
“Yeah,” she sighed. “It was the stupid news. They said you committed fraud and now, every investor we have is pulling out. With all that mounting pressure, you … passed out in your office. Your secretary brought you here and made sure the pack healers looked at you. He's a kind one and hot too.”
Suddenly, it came back to me. The meeting with Miss Thompson at the restaurant, the notification I'd gotten on my phone, the news, my team.
“Fuck!” I pushed back the bedcovers and turned to grab my slippers.
“Where are you going?” Kylie said with panic in her voice.
“I need to head back to work, Kylie. Unlike you, I have an actual job.” I hissed.
Call it a low blow but I wasn't lying. The company is falling apart because of her. She pressured me into stealing from our own funds to maintain the life she thought she deserved. Now, we're swimming in bankruptcy.
I walked past her without sparing him another glance.
“Aren't you going to tell me where you were? It's 5 in the morning.” Kylie repeated, stopping me in my tracks.
I didn't look at her when I replied. “I’m going out.”
“Out?” She scoffed. “You just woke up. Won't you take it easy on yourself? Your company isn't the only thing that should be your main concern. What about our pack? What about me and Howard?”
“I'm not doing this with you, Kylie.” I clenched my fists and kept walking.
“Xavier!” She called after me and I stopped again.
“What is it?!”
She came in front of me, brows knitted in a frown. “Why can't you just listen to me for once?! What is going on with you?” She lifted her hand to my cheek but I slapped it away.
“Fine! I'm sorry for caring.” She scoffed and crossed his arms over her chest.
“Are you done? Because if you are, then I'd like to leave.” I said.
When I mentioned that, her mouth parted and her eyes widened.
“You're leaving?” She yelled.
“I'm going back to the office. Didn't you hear that the first time?!” I snapped. This time she was really starting to piss me off.
When she tried to touch me again, I shoved her arm again. I might have pushed her hard because Kylie slipped from my arm and crashed to the floor.
Damn it.
My fingers ached to lift her but I held back, not wanting to touch her.
I gritted my teeth and said. “Tell Howard I won't be home for a while.”
I turn around and walk away like she didn't exist.
When I got into the backseat of the car and ordered Rayes to drive, only one thing formed in my mind : why the heck did I dream about what happened that night and how the fuck do I save my company?