Mated to my Alpha's Rival

Chapter 27

Ryder's POV

2 weeks earlier

"I love you," the words leave my mouth before I'm able to stop them. Elias' body comes to a halt in my bedroom's doorway.

Please turn around. I silently beg of him. Please don't leave me here.

I wait for a response.

For anything.

I stare at the back of my mates head. Elias stays still, and most of all silent. I hold my breath, while I wait. But he doesn't turn around. Instead, Elias continues to walk away from me, leaving me.

The front door shuts, causing the sound to echo throughout the empty house. I struggle to keep the lump in my throat from escaping me as I fall onto my knees in the spot Elias' has left me in. My head falls into my hands as I cry out in pain. I can feel the physical strain on the bond since I marked him. But that pain is nothing compared to what my heart is feeling right now.

I couldn't control myself earlier. All I could feel and see was red, lust, and need. I needed to mark him. But I should've been strong enough to resist that pull. I fucked everything up.

I marked my mate without his consent. How can I live with myself?

My right hand rests on my chest as I choke on my own tears. I haven't felt this vulnerable since my parents and brother passed away. I haven't felt this anguished since that Tuesday.

Tears continue to fall off my face and onto my bedrooms carpet as I try to gather myself. Eventually, without thinking, I push my body up, and walk over to my wardrobe. I pull out a duffel bag and begin shoving clothes into it, not really focusing on what I'm shoving into it. Next, I walk into the bathroom, getting my toothbrush and toothpaste, chucking them into the bag.

I wipe the tears off my face, as I walk through my house, towards the front door. My brain is no longer functioning properly because before I know it, I'm in my car and driving onto the freeway with only one destination in mind.

*

By the time I enter the cold, dark cabin, it is midnight. I flick the switch on, lighting up the small cabin. The wooden floor boards creaks under my heavy boots as I walk further into the lounge room, which has the kitchen connected with it. I run my finger along the round kitchen table in the middle of the room, making a trail in the thin layer of dust which has collected there.

No one has been here in awhile. I haven't been here since they were still alive. The photo frames hanging up on the walls show a much younger version of myself, with my brother and parents. We were all so happy together. As a family.

My family.

I walk over to the next photo hanging up on the wall. It's of my older brother and I. My brother, Tyler, is lying down on the couch, with his belly flat down. While I'm lying belly flat down on top of him, my head resting on top of his. We are both looking towards the camera, which my mother is behind, grinning widely with our teeth showing. I remember that day like it was yesterday. The memory of it brings a smile to my lips.

Turning my head, I look towards the next photo on the wall. This one is of my parents. Just the two of them. They were young, probably eighteen when this photograph was taken. My mother had curly dark brown hair, with light freckles covering her face, while my dad had light brown wavy hair and round glasses. My dad's arms are wrapped around my mothers waist, as he stood behind her with his chin resting on her left shoulder.