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Chapter 58

I stared at my blank wall for hours, sitting on the floor doing nothing. The air around me was silent, the only thing I could hear was my slow breathing. I would zone out for a while before coming back to reality. Everything around me was a blur. I wasn't concentrating on anything nor the people outside my door that would check up on me every once in a while.

Ameer and Lina came by, trying to convince me to open the door but I wouldn't budge. I would just stay silent and ignore everything, zoning into my little world all over again.

I felt numb. I felt like I was in some kind of dream, a nightmare. I felt like I was in those dreams where the dead comes back to life. That's how I was feeling. As Zander came back into my life, it was like all the nightmares I've been through came back, hitting me like I was splashed by cold water.

The pain came back and the memories. Unwanted memories that I trapped in my heart for two years. Memories of when Adam was attacked, and the feelings of guilt that overcame me every time I remembered it. I blamed myself for Adam's injuries. I blamed myself for when Adam went into a coma for a week. Even when he woke up, I still blamed myself.

Memories of the heartbreak that I went through for losing my mate. I hated him, but I felt like a piece of me was killed at his betrayal. I felt like he stabbed me in the back for trying to harm someone so dear to my heart. I felt even more betrayed that he lied to everyone, especially me that he was dead. Because of him, I went through hell.

How was he able to live these two years knowing that I thought he was dead and still stay away from me? How and why? Did he care about his safety more than his mate's feelings? Clearly not. I loathed him right now, I loathed him back then and now. I want him away from my life.

Away from our life.

I was stupid for trying to resist the mate bond because of my fear that I'd get attached to Mason then be stabbed in the back, the same way Zander did. I was pathetic for believing that. Mason is nothing like Zander, and I realized that too late. If it weren't for my stubbornness, we would have been together a long time ago.

I knew that Mason was hurt, that I chose to speak with Adam over him, but I needed to talk to someone that went through my pain. Someone who experienced my pain like it was theirs. I wanted to talk with Mason, but not now. I need to talk to Adam first.

A loud knock on my door aggressively tore me away from thoughts, making my eyes wide. I whipped my head over to my door and waited for someone to speak. Taking a whiff of the air, I knew it was Adam.

"Tiana," Adam spoke from behind the door. "I'm here. Please, open the door."

I stood up immediately, placing my hand on the wall as my head started to spin. I shook my head and ran towards the door, opening it to see Adam looking at me with nothing but worry in his eyes. He stepped closer to me and engulfed me in a huge bear hug, wrapping his strong arms around my waist.

I wrapped my arms around his body, digging my nose into his shirt, inhaling his familiar scent. I felt my eyes water at his presence. I missed him even though it's been three days since I last saw him. I held back the tears as he pulled away from the hug and stared down at me with a sympathetic smile.

He softly tugged me into the room and closed the door behind him, looking at me.

"Tiana," he whispered, grabbing onto my hand. "I missed you, Princess."

I sucked in a breath and nodded. "I missed you too," I croaked out, my voice raspy.

Adam tugged onto my hand and pulled me towards my bed. We sat down and he stared at me with a sad frown. "Mason told me everything," Adam whispered, clenching his fist as his eyes darkened, severally. "He also said that you wouldn't speak to anyone. So he ordered me to come."

I glanced at my hands, biting my lip as I felt my eyes blur. Looking up at Adam, I pulled him in for a hug. We hugged for the second time today as I whimpered. His arm tightened around me.

"Adam," I whispered. "He's back. He never died." By now a couple of tears fell out of my eyes. Adam pulled away and wiped those tears off my wet cheeks. He nodded and a low growl emerged from within his chest, trying to not growl out loud.

"I know," he said lowly. "I'm so sorry, Tiana. I'm sorry that you have to go through this. I wish he died that day so you wouldn't have to go through the pain all over again." Adam pulled me back to him so I was laying my head against his chest. I whimpered and shook my head.

"What is he doing here? What is he doing back in my life?" I cried. "Why did he have to show up after everything?" Adam's arms tightened around me as he whispered soothing words into my ear.

"Shh. It's ok, Tiana," Adam whispered. "He won't be coming back into your life if you don't want him to."

I looked up at Adam and frowned. "Of course I don't want him back in my life. Not after I found Mason, not after everything," I exclaimed, making him smile softly at me. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and nodded.

"Don't let him get to you. If you're happy with Mason then don't let him affect your relationship, dead or alive," Adam spoke softly, staring down at me with sad, yet comforting eyes. I smiled a small smile and nodded, wiping the tears from my cheek.

"You're right," I agreed softly but looked at Adam in confusion, my brows furrowed. "Did Mason tell you why he came to the pack?" I asked.

Adam nodded.

"Yes. Zander is a member of the Black Blood pack. Alpha Alex sent him here to check up on Mason after he heard that he was attacked by a vampire," Adam responded, making my eyes widen. He's a member of our allied pack? "But don't worry, he's gone now. I'm going to make sure he doesn't step foot in this pack ever again." He smiled down at me, making me return that smile.

I soon frowned as I thought about Mason. I bit my lip then sighed. "How's Mason?" I questioned, sadly.

"He looked horrible when I saw him. I think he thinks that you're going to leave him," Adam responded, making my mouth hung open. I would never leave him. He's the best thing that ever happened to me.

"What?" I gaped. "He thinks I'm going to leave him?"

Adam nodded, staring down at me with a sad gaze. "Yes. What else do you expect him to think? You never told him that you had another mate and out of nowhere, he shows up. You both barely got together so he thinks that you'll leave him without a second thought. Well, that's what I saw on his face," Adam explained.

I frowned and stood up, staring at Adam in shock.

"I.." I breathed out. "I can't let him think like that." Adam smiled and nodded, standing up as well.

"Then don't. Go tell him everything," he whispered. "Go tell him you love him." I smile up at him and nodded, pulling him in for a hug. He wrapped his arms around me, digging his nose into my hair and inhaling my scent. We soon pulled away and I could've sworn I saw a sad glint in his eyes, which made me confused.

Ignoring it, I stepped back and gave him another small smile. "Thanks, Adam. I knew I'd feel a lot better once I talked to you," I murmured. He smiled down at me and offered me a boyish grin.

"Of course you would. Did you forget that we're best friends?" Adam questioned, making my smile grow.

"How could I?" I asked and took a step back. "I'll see you later. I'm going to go find Mason." Adam chuckled and nodded, shooing me with his hands. I gave him one last smile before I ran out my room and towards Mason's. I ran up the stairs and down the hall.

As soon as I was in front of the door, I heard a soft whimper. My eyes widened and I felt my heart fall down to my stomach. I then heard soft cries which made my heart stop beating. Gulping, I placed my hand on the doorknob but stopped mid-air as I heard Mason say something from inside his room.

"She's going to f*cking leave me," he yelled, his voice cracking at the end before a sound of things drastically falling to the floor echoed around the room and right outside the door. "She's leaving me.." His words turned into soft whispers, which made the air in my throat get stuck. I felt a lump in my throat and swallowed, opening the door. I was met with darkness as his room was a complete mess. His bedroom curtains were sealed shut, preventing the sunlight from entering.

My eyes widened as I laid eyes on a broken Mason. His head snapped over to me, making me see his red, puffy eyes that were filled with tears. My heart fell at the sight of him. His eyes immediately widened and he stood up, staring at me with shock. I entered his room, silently, closing the door behind me.

"Mason," I whispered, stepping closer to him.

"Tiana," he spoke, running up to me. Within a second, his strong arms were wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to his chest. His nose automatically dug into my neck as he let out muffled whimpers. I wrapped my arms around his neck and tightened them.

"Tiana..." His voice cracked. I felt something wet touch my neck, making my eyes widen. My arms tightened as I heard his soft cries.

He was crying.

"Don't leave me," he stated, tightening his arms around me. "Please. I'll do anything." A couple of tears fell out of my eyes at this moment. His cries were something that broke my heart. It was a sight that I couldn't handle. I never wanted to see him like this again, ever. I never thought Mason was capable of crying, but it looks like even the toughest people in this world can shed a tear.

And it isn't something to be shameful about.

"Shh.." I whispered, running my hand through his hair. "I won't leave you. I never will." His soft cries decreased and he raised his head from out of my neck, so he was looking down at me. His eyes were filled with unshed tears, as his cheeks were filled with tears. I raised my hand and gently wiped them away, staring into his beautiful orbs.

"You won't?" Mason asked, staring at me with wide eyes. I smiled softly at him and nodded, placing a kiss on his lips. Right now, Mason reminded me of a broken child who only seeks comfort. A child seeking for someone to love him.

"I won't. Mason, I love you and I'm never going to leave you," I answered. Mason closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Once he opened them, he pulled me towards him once again, tightening his arms around me.

"I-I thought you'd leave me," he croaked, inhaling my scent. I shook my head and placed another kiss on his lips.

"I'd never leave you," I whispered. He looked down at me with sad yet relieved eyes.

"What about your first mate?" He asked, his frown deepening. "You'd pick me over him?" I bit my lip and nodded.

"Yes, I would. I'm sorry that I never told you about him. I just didn't think I was ready," I responded. "Zander is my angel side's mate. And two years ago he tried to kill Adam. I always felt like he was crazy. The Alpha lied to us saying that he was dead but it turns out that he never died. The Alpha sent him away to the Black Blood pack since he was the beta's son."

Mason looked down at me with wide eyes. I sighed out and ran my hand through his hair, looking up at him. "I'm sorry that I shut you out and didn't talk to you sooner. I was just in a state of shock. I don't ever want to see him again. He wasn't the mate he was supposed to be and he ruined my life," I explained. "And I love you, not him."

Mason nodded.

"I won't let him step foot into this pack. I won't let him take you away from me," he promised, clenching his jaw as he said those words. "You're the only thing that I have left and I'm not going to let someone take you away from me." I smiled up at him and nodded, kissing him on the lips.

"Don't," I whispered against his lips. His hands tightened around my waist as he kissed me again, but this time full of passion. As soon as we were out of breath, we pulled away and he stared into my eyes, smiling down at me.

"I love you, Tiana," he whispered softly. My smile grew and I placed another kiss onto his lips before looking into his eyes.

"I love you, too."

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