Page 98 of His Forsaken Alpha

“Of course, Mr. Jaymes. We still have a few hours yet. I’ll call something in.”

“Thank you,” he whispered before retreating back into the bedroom, locking the door, and lying across the bed.

He must’ve drifted off. Another knock awoke him. When Wynter opened the door, the man rolled a silver cart in with water, a sandwich, and a bowl of broth.

“Thank you.”

“Of course, Mr. Jaymes.”

Wynter sat down on the corner of the bed to eat what little his stomach would allow. The broth was okay, but he only managed a single bite of the sandwich. He drained one glass of water and sipped another before returning to bed. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed before another knock awoke him. His belongings were collected, and he was driven to the airfield.

Remembering the spray, he dragged it out of his tote and spritzed himself, hoping the scent didn’t cause his stomach to revolt and violently lose the little food he’d managed to force down. Once at the airfield, he boarded the helicopter with hisbeta babysitter as the sun set. He closed his eyes and feigned sleep so he’d not have to speak to any of them.

Nearly two hours later, they landed. A dark figure stood at near the landing zone. Likely their driver, awaiting his return.

“I’ll have your bags taken to the car,” the beta said before Wynter exited.

The slowing propellers cast his braided hair and wisps about. He focused on placing one foot in front of the other to get from under the currents of air. As he neared the waiting figure, he realized it was Warden. He’d have preferred the driver.

“I’m so glad you’re safe.” Warden drew Wynter into a firm hug, surprising him. He heard the man scenting him and hoped the spray did as his papa claimed. A part of him didn’t care if Warden knew. End the ruse then and there.

Wynter frowned, thrown by the sincerity in Warden’s voice.“You’re glad?”

Warden pulled away, what looked like real sorrow in his eyes. “Of course I’m glad, Wynter. Do you really think I’mthatcruel?”

Yes. Yes, I do.

“How are you?” Warden asked as the helicopter’s blades stilled. His body language and tone indicated sincerity. It was almost as frightening as his papa’s malevolence.

“There’s no one to hear your performance. You don’t have to pretend on my account.”

“It’s one thing to be angry at one another. It’s something else to think I lost you.”

Wynter stared at the alpha, unimpressed. The beta walked past with his bags, giving an odd look.

One of papa’s spies.He’d need to give a performance himself.

“I’m a bit shaken,” Wynter replied. It wasn’t a lie, though the shaking was more than a little. He’d glimpsed the future he should’ve had and had it yanked away. His heart was breaking. “I’ll survive.”

Would he?

“You look like you’ve been crying,” Warden said, cradling the side of Wynter’s cheek.

Wynter wanted to pull away but forced himself to remain still. “Allergies. Exhaustion. It’s been a very trying few days, and I’ve slept little. Altogether, it’s left me overwhelmed, to say the least.”

“Of course.” Warden searched his face again. “I can’t believe you went through all you did and survived. Living through the train attack untouched was a miracle in itself. Getting away from the Wildlings and running through the woods, in the snow on top of that? Good thing you found that abandoned cabin, hmm?”

Wynter blinked a few times, forcing his expression to remain numb. “Fortune smiled on me,” he said through clenched teeth.

“And then you had to deal with a heat—all alone—on the heels of all that. Although, it is good your papa was able to deliver you to the spa before it was completely over.” Warden sighed. “I’m sorry I sent you away. I feel like this is all my fault.”

It is all your fault. If you hadn’t been there that night five years ago, I’d be free to love my alpha right now.Wynter closed his eyes. Yet had Warden not sent him away, he’d have never had one week in the arms of his alpha.

He’d returned to hell. Left to live his life with the wrong alpha.

“How was it? Did the spa help as they professed they would?”

Wynter toyed with the bottle of pills in his pocket. He hated the idea of using them, but he had little other choice. Hopefully, Warden wouldn’t try to send him away again the following cycle. One more lie, added to the pile he’d been forced to tell. “It was fine.”

---