Chapter 125
125 - Sol - de - Althea ADAN STONE.
After the event outside the packhouse, Lucy and I excused ourselves so we could freshen up before
breakfast, as we promised my family that we would exin more while eating.
But since it was still early, we were nning to y hooky for a while in our room, but the n ended
abruptly even before it started, even before we could reach our room.
de cornered me in the hallway leading to the stairs and requested to speak with me alone.
From the expression on his face, I knew he would not ept a no, so I told my little bunny to go ahead
and wait for me in our room instead, and I went with de into my office.
T heard him lock the door as I made my way to my chair, and as soon as I sat down, he threw a thick
envelope on my desk.
"What''s that?" I asked as I leaned forward and grabbed it.I opened it to find stacks of cash inside.I
didn’t ask again, but I raised it and waited for his reply.
"For Althea." He answered in a cold voice.
"I’m not sure I understand,"I told him.
"I’m giving you back the money you paid me when I picked her up in the red mountains."
"Okay, but the fuck, man, I only give you a portion of this.This is ten times what I paid you."
"Use it for her.It’s my life’s savings since I started doing mercenary work."
I knew that when de left his territory, he didn’t take anything with him except his car and one duffel
bag.
His cards and cash were left behind, so everything in my hand right now was the money he earned in
thest five years, doing what he was doing.
"I don''t understand.If you want to give her money, why does it have toe through me? Can’t you just
give it to her?"
"I’m leaving."
"You’re what? We didn’t even have time to catch up."
"We don’t need to.I know you’re happy, that’s enough for me."
"And you? Are you happy? You know that I would never stop you from leaving, but I want to know
what’s going on.This is about Althea, right? Don’t tell me you didn’t talk things out until now."
"We did, but it’s going nowhere."
He let out a deep sigh beforebing his fingers over his short hair.
"Althea is not meant for me."
"For Goddess’ sake! She’s your fated mate.She will not be given to you unless she was meant to be
with you."
I told him firmly, without trying to raise my voice.
"And where does my first mate stand? She, too, was given to me and then taken away in the blink of
an eye.I''m not going to stand here and wait for the same thing to happen again.I need to walk away
while I still can."
"Who said it’s going to happen again?" I asked, frustrated.
"This is not just about Althea dying.It’s everything.I don’t want to feel any pain anymore.I’m done with
it."
"Don''t you love, or at least like, Althea?"
He didn’t reply, but I waited as he poured whiskey into an empty ss and drank it directly.I was never
patient, but I was trying, and his silence was pissing me off so much that I finally snapped.
"Answer me, damn it! Don’t you fucking love her?"
"I don’t love her! She’s too young! We will never see eye to eye!"
"de! At least give her a chance!"
"Do you hear yourself and how selfish you sounded?"
He mmed the ss on the table before turning around to look at me.
"Look at me, Stone! And look at Althea! How could a free-spirited, beautiful young female be mated to
a man who had nothing more to offer? She’s young and fresh, while life was sucked out of me years
ago.I had given everything to Sol.Althea doesn''t deserve to get just a remnant of what I was.I am just a
fucking waste of space now, waiting for the day I will just vanish on earth."
"Maybe I used the wrong term.Instead of saying you should give her a chance, I should be saying, give
yourself a fucking chance! You''re not giving yourself the credit you deserve! You’re a fucking Alpha! Go
take your pack back and im your female!"
"Did you know why I work as a mercenary?"
I didn’t answer, but I knew what he wanted — to wee death with open arms.But even if he wanted
to, he would alwayse out victorious, wounded but alive.
"Is that what you still want after you met Althea?"
He didn’t answer and drank the remainder of his whiskey before pouring another ss.
"You''re just confused right now.Go and think about it.Maybe you''ll miss her while you’re gone.Come
back when you’ re ready to face her." I added.
"I don’t want her to wait for me."
"Who said about her waiting for you? When you walk out that door and out of my territory, my loyalty
will shift from you to Althea.I will make sure this female will live her life without thinking about you." He
didn’t answer so I continued.
"So what’s your n after you leave?"
"Continue what I’d been doing.But what I do doesn’t matter at this point.I just want to make sure she’s
provided for.Buy her a house, a car, everything she wants, and as much witchy, crazy stuff as she
wants.Use it all on her.And if it''s not enough, just continue to provide for her, and I will pay you up to
thest dime that you will spend on her."
"Tell me you don’t love her." I scoffed, mocking him.
"I do." He paused, and I remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
"I don’t even think about Sol on some days, and it makes me feel guilty.Sometimes I wished, Althea
didn’te.I’m done with all the pain, Stone.I don''t want to experience it all again."
"You''re causing your own pain."
"How would you feel if the love of your life was taken away from you before you were ready? And then
another onees along, and slowly, she was ripping away all the pages and memories of my past
without even trying?" He spoke in a slightly higher voice before punching the desk in front of him.
"She’s too young and has a full life ahead of her.She’s better off without me.I don’t want her to wake up
every day thinking about who I liked more.She deserved a man who could love her and only her."
"You marked her," I growled lowly.
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"I wille back when she’s ready to give herself to someone else.”
"You know you will feel the pain every time she''s intimate with someone."
"I know...I’m prepared for it." He answered almost immediately.
"And you will hurt her if you do the same."
"I fucked around after Sol died, but after two years I got tired of it.I haven''t touched any females for the
last three years, and I don’t think I will in theing years.I can survive.I won’t give her that pain."
"Maybe Lucy and I can talk with Althea first.Don’t make a rushed decision." I didn’t want to give up, but
I saw in his eyes that his decision was final.
"Thanks, man, but no need.I made up my mind, and nothing she can say can make me change my
mind."
"What if she doesn''t want to stay here?" I asked him.
"I don’t know.You’re myst hope, so I’m putting my whole faith in you and Lucy to look after her.She’s
not a kid anymore, but...Forget it.If she doesn’t want to stay, then it’s up to her."
His mood suddenly shifted, which was nothing new. I was just used to it.
"I''ll do my best.But again, once you walk out this door, my loyalty will stay with Althea.You left her, and
whatever she decides to do, I will guide her and make sure it''s best for her, not for you, or anyone
else."
"And that’s exactly what I want you to do." Heid out his hand, and I stood up and took it.
We shook hands firmly, but a part of me was still not in agreement.
"Thank you," he said.
"If she looks for you, what will I tell her?"
"That I can’t do this with her.It’s up to her if she thinks I’m a coward or an asshole.And tell her I wish her
the best."
"I want to fucking punch you in the face."
"Be my guest." I chuckled and shook my head.
"I''m serious, hit me."
He walked closer and stopped in front of my desk.
"Fuck you."
My face turned serious.If he asked one more time, I might give it to him.
"I’m fucked up already.I just need one good hit and then I''ll be okay."
"Sometimes I don’t understand you."
"Same here.Sometimes I don’t understand myself as well.Now, go and hit me."