Chapter 25 The Second Time

Chapter 25 The Second Time
Knox suddenly moved in front of me, his body shielding me from Alpha Karl and Kyran.

"Since when was it our responsibility to keep tabs on Alpha Eros? He is not just some omega werewolf that can be easily subdued. He is a hybrid alpha. Why come to us if he is missing?"

Alpha Kyran's brow raised, and before Alpha Karl could do something, he moved between them. It all happened in a flash, and I watched in horror as Alpha Kyran's fingers laced in Knox's hair, and he bashed his head straight into the nearest seat.

Knox's scream filled the entire dining room, and Alpha Kyran ungracefully let him go to the floor.

My hands slowly covered my mouth as I took Knox in. His face was bloody, his left hand resting on the floor, his right hand still trying to shield me.

Tears immediately filled my eyes as I pushed myself to where he was lying, my hands wrapping around his head.

"Please," I said, my eyes flickering up to the two of them. "Please. The last time I spoke to Eros was last night. I swear I do not know where he is. I swear."

Alpha Karl started to move, but Alpha Kyran held him back, stopping him from doing something else.

"Let him be. We need to find Eros. You know what happened the last time he went missing."

Alpha Karl moved away, turning to face Alpha Kyran. 

"I genuinely don't give a fuck who dies this time. I didn't care last time either. I just need to find Eros. That's all I care about."

My heart sank as the meaning of his words registered with me, my heart breaking a little. Valerian.

With a hiss, Alpha Karl turned and walked away. 

Alpha Kyran turned to me and Knox, who was passed out on my lap now.

"Leave Eros's house. Every single time one of you omegas leeches onto him, you cause him to spiral. I will not go through this again."

I nodded, my hand tightening around Knox.

Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving us lying on the floor, blood and tears painting the floor, the dining room silent.

I pulled Knox to the school's infirmary all alone, amidst the hushed whispers of the other students.

"I didn't know that bastard Knox was gay. And the new student? You never know a person, I guess."

My eyes closed as I pulled him, tears threatening to rip me apart.

I finally walked into the infirmary, and a male nurse took Knox from me.

I sat on the metal chair outside the waiting room, my heart feeling numb. If I let myself feel, In between the guilt I felt towards Knox and Eros, the shattering pieces I am getting about Valerian, and the pain of Eros's loss, if I let myself feel all of these vortices, I will break apart and nothing would ever be able to fix me.

I sat there, staring at the wall. There was a large gold plaque that held a few inscribed words; Courtesy of the Dionte family.

I closed my eyes. Where could he be?

Yesterday, when he asked me where I was, had he already seen those photos? Did he already know I was lying to him? The way he kept asking me... were those chances he was giving me to come clean that I foolishly missed?

I thought I was protecting Knox. Now I am here, with Eros missing and Knox in there, his blood all over my shirt.

I leaned forward, my hands covering my face, tears running down my cheeks in groups of threes and fours.

I should never have put Knox in this situation. I should never have.

"Excuse me?"

I looked up to the nurse. "He needs a stitch on the nose, but apart from that, he is fine."

I took in a deep breath. "Is he awake? Can I see him?"

"Yes, you can."

I immediately ran towards the door but stopped as my hand touched the doorknob.

This is my fault. He wouldn't be here if I hadn't let that kiss happen. He wouldn't be here if I hadn't used his name to lie to Eros. He wouldn't be here if I had told the truth.

I turned, letting go of the doorknob.

"Kian?"

I froze, tears filling my eyes again. I turned back slowly, then opened the door.

He was lying on the bed, his eyes wide with expectation despite the wounds around his lower lids.

His deep blue eyes still shone with relief when I walked in, and he smiled.

"Were you going to leave?"

I bit down on my lips. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have..."

"Please don't regret it," he said, cutting me off. "I don't."

I closed my eyes, guilt threatening to suffocate me. "How.. how do you feel?"

"I could run," he said, laughing a little.

I caught the wince that he tried to mask, and it only broke my heart a little more.

"Thank you for being better."

He laughed, then leaned back, his eyes holding mine. "Why do you think they believe Eros disappeared because of what happened at the lake?"

I blinked, air leaving my lungs. What am I supposed to say? That I was Eros's mate, and we had kissed just a few hours before the lake incident? That in the end, I knew... that he was a front to hide away from what was in front of me?

Knox gave a small laugh. "He... is there something between both of you?"

I swallowed hard. "I... maybe because I was his roommate, and we had a pretty ugly argument before you came."

He looked at me, and I could see it in his eyes that he wasn't buying it.

It was Alpha Eros we were talking about. A silly argument wouldn't make him go missing.

"Was?" He asked finally, leaning closer.

"I got kicked out," I said, chuckling a little. "I wouldn't have it in me to go back there anyway. I could go back to the library or..."

"I am sorry," he said suddenly, reaching out for my hand.

His touch was warm, delicate.

"I will find something for you. I won't let you go back to the library."

I gave a small smile, then shook my head. "I am fine. I will just..."

"Please, Kian. Let me."

I averted my gaze, then slowly nodded, letting the topic fade away into the silence.

"Something bad will happen," Knox suddenly said, letting out a sigh.

"What do you mean?"

"This is the second time Eros has gone missing."

I bit down on my lips, remembering what Alpha Karl had said earlier. "When was the first?"

"I am not sure what happened to prompt the first one, but Valerian died the night he returned. It's good you got kicked out, Kian. I don't want to risk it."