The Alpha of Alphas: Apollo (boyxboy)

Chapter 37

Joseph walked in the room, eyes a little red. I quickly pushed the photo back into the file and stuffed the file in my bag. Joseph didn't even seem surprised by my actions, just seemed a bit in his own thoughts.

"Did you want to see the basement?" I asked softly, knowing the answer already. He nodded slowly but without hesitation. I walked past him to the cellar entrance, one that we were extremely familiar with. I took a deep breath before pulling open the old wooden door.

Even with my enhanced vision, I couldn't see very far in front of me. Joseph patted the walls until he found the light switch. I wish he hadn't found it. The cellar in the light was so much worse than the darkness that had swallowed it.

I walked down the creeping steps one by one, trying to ignore the smell. Our scents were still distinct in the room, and judging by all the blood stains on the concrete, I wasn't surprised.

At the base of the stairs, all I did was stare at the small jail cells that we used to call home. I stared blankly, not sure on how I should feel. Sad? Angry? Pitiful? I didn't feel any of those. Strangely, I just felt calm. It's like I knew I'd get my revenge. I knew I had nothing to worry about. I had to save all my anger and sadness for when it was my turn to torture them instead. And the council once I fully understand their involvement.

Joseph's hand grazed my back in an attempt to comfort me, but I just flinched away. Ten years ago I would've found it soothing. Now it just felt like an irritating reminder of how weak I am.

We didn't stay for long. After only a few minutes, the scent began to overwhelm us. Joseph gazed his hand upon the blood stain where we each wrote our names on the cement before following me up the stairs.

Joseph released a long breath when we opened the door to the outside. I glanced at him, unsure of how to comfort him, or even if I should. I was about to say something, anything, when Joseph's staring caught my attention.

There was a tree with claw marks and blood splattered in it. My blood from when Vance slit my throat. Joseph studied the tree for a moment before turning back to me.

"I never asked you how you survived," he commented, and for the first time all day, he made steady eye contact with me.

I don't keep his stare for very long as I open the door to the car we came in. It was a question I had been afraid to be asked. Though for years I chose to ignore the answer, it stared me dead in the eyes today. Those pictures were clear and confirmed my suspicion. I gave him one blank look before responding honestly. "I didn't. I died."

...

Lyle called me minutes after dropping Joseph off at his own home. I could feel Joseph's exhaustion through our link. He had absorbed a lot of sexual energy from Ace yesterday, then continued to drain himself mentally by coming here with me. He gave me pity looks on the way to his house, but I mostly ignored them.

Now driving to the hotel where Lyle is staying, I didn't know what to do. I felt terrible that he was going through heat being unmated. I've heard it's very hard and painful. It would be my first time seeing him since he left me in the dust. I wasn't even sure how to feel about it. As if this whole day hasn't already been bad.

At a red light, I just rested my head on the steering wheel and breathed, trying to calm myself. What do I do when I get there? How do I act around him? I felt uncomfortable touching him, but I kinda had to.

Let's get him food. He's bound to be hungry. Heat makes you hungry and it's around dinner time now. Let's get from that pasta place Fallon likes. Apollo pitched in unexpectedly. I was surprised that he even spoke, he rarely does, but I could tell already that he is attached to Fallon.

I sighed, glancing at the clock. It was almost six, and the sun was going down. I was hungry, I couldn't argue with that, so I took a detour to the Italian restaurant in no man's land that we have ordered from before. I got Lyle's favorite, which I was pleasantly surprised I remembered such a trivial thing.

As I drove towards the hotel, now with food, I felt numb. Even in the parking lot outside of the building, I just felt like ice had been rubbed on my brain for way too long. I took a moment to collect myself before leaving the car.

Forget everything that happened today. Focus on your mate who needs you. We can deal with the other bastards later. I promise you, if you want someone dead, I won't hesitate to kill them. Apollo's words were oddly comforting and loving. I always knew that he'd do anything for me. And he's proven that several times. But hearing him say it hit differently.

I don't need you to kill them. I want to do it myself. I responded, but it was something he already knew. He growled in my head, sounding proud of my answer.

One last deep breath and a small nudge from Apollo, and I was off to see my mate.