Chapter 44
(TYLER)
I stay by Lucia’s side. I keep my arm around her waist because I know she needs me by her side now. Sasha and Jericho are busy networking but she’s too frail for that. I know she shouldn’t be alone, and I am glad that I have to tend to her. Big crowds tend to intimidate me.
There are so many people I barely meet half of them. Lucia’s side of the family is just as huge as Mr. Adonis’. Most of them will be at the house meeting after the funeral, so I’m assuming I’ll get to meet them then. I’m not looking forward to meeting them. I’d rather hide in Sasha’s bedroom and take a long nap. I’m already exhausted as it is and pregnancy isn’t making it any easier.
After the lowering of the coffin, the visitors begin to leave at their pleasure. The guests make their way to the Adonis’ residence. I too would love to leave, but I can’t until Sasha and his family do. Right now Sasha is talking to another alpha a bit older than him. Their conversation seems pretty serious and I know better than to disturb him.
Lucia dabs her eyes with a handkerchief as she turns to me. “Did you meet Angelo yet p>
I scowl, knowing Angelo was the reason Sasha bit me,to begin with. I dont want to be the center of attention. I took Sasha’s warning quite seriously. I’m not sure I want to meet him.
Part of me wonders if Sasha was lying about the urgency to give me the bite. Was he just trying to use me? Because up until now Angelo hasn’t demanded to see the bite mark. If he hasn’t bothered to meet me, how dire was the situation really?
“I don’t think I have,” I murmur. “But there are so many people, maybe I already met him and just didn’t realize it p>
I hope Lucia doesn’t persist on me meeting Angelo. This crowd is suffocating me and I’m sure I don’t want to go about more introductions, hellos and hi’s. I just want this to get over with so I can go rest. She surely should be able to tell,right?
“You should meet him even if he pisses the living hell out of me and the family.” She glances around. “He was just here. Where’d he go p>
“Don’t worry,” I give her a dismissive wave hoping she lets it go already. “I know I’ll meet him in the meeting back at the house.” In all honesty, I’d rather meet Angelo with Sasha by my side. The very idea of him scares me. I’m not sure if I really want to meet him.
“Oh,” She spots him and waves her hands towards a group of men talking. “There he is. Angelo, come over here.” She waves him over. “Come say hi to Tyler.
One tall alpha leaves the group and approaches us. He has a burly physique and jet-black hair pulled back in a ponytail. He’s older than me. When his eyes meet mine, I’m on the verge of hyperventilating. His steps become suddenly slow as he inches closer to us, he looks at me disbelievably, narrowing his eyes.
Jake.
Dread slithers through me and I’m summoning all the cosmic forces I don’t believe in to not take off. The only reason I don’t run is because my feet seem cemented to the ground. Seconds later when the disbelief fades off his face, he advances closer to us. He looks malicious as he strides confidently toward us.
Why the hell is Jake here? Is Jake Angelo? I’m fighting the urge to puke when he stops in front of me. He purses, staring at me with his cold dark eyes.
Lucia seems to not notice that I’m having a panic attack. She seems completely oblivious to it when she calls him. ” Angelo, meet Sasha’s husband, Tyler p>
Angelo holds out his hand to shake mine. “It’s nice to meet you, Tyler p>
I can’t bring myself to shake his hand. I’m certain Lucia thinks I’m just being rude but in truth, I’m frozen in fear and fury. This fucker made me overdose and left me to die on a motel floor because a fucking condom broke. Granted, his suspicion was right. I’m pregnant with his child as we speak. That doesn’t excuse the fact that he tried to murder me.
I’m in dread because I can’t admit the child I’m carrying is his. Doing that would mean I’ll have to admit I’m a drug addict, plus it will come to light that I had sex with Angelo. How the hell is that supposed to go with this family?
I can’t bring myself to admit he is the father of my child. What will Sasha do to me then? What if he kills me? What if he thinks I knew this all along and I played him for a fool? I know for a fact that Sasha hates liars. He hates Angelo more. What if he shuns me? What if he kicks me out now where will I go? The people at the camp don’t want me around them. Sasha will definitely have no problem kicking me out when he learns the baby’s father is indeed Angelo.
Bite or no bite, that’s a chance I’m not about to take.
“It’s been a long day for Tyler,” Lucia laughs wryly. “He’s usually friendlier p>
“Is that so?” Angelo smirks then retracts his hand. “I have to admit though, Sasha has impeccable taste. You’re very beautiful, Tyler p>
The way he gawks at me makes my skin crawl. To date I still can’t bring myself to understand how I had sex with this monster. Words fail me, and my tongue feels stuck at the roof of my mouth.
Often times I had dreams of meeting Jake. I was brave in them. I faced Jake confidently and punched that ugly face of his and screamed obscenities at him. I gave him a piece of my mind. I gave him shit for trying to murder me. He’s now in front of me and all I can do is stare blankly. Frozen. Unable to think or process.
Lucky for me Sasha comes behind me and surprisingly, I lean into him. He is just as surprised at my reaction. He runs his hands in the small of my back. “I see you’ve met my husband.” He gazes at Angelo.
“He seems shy.” Angelo purses. “He hasn’t said a word since p>
“Oh, really?” Sasha quirks a brow. “Come on, Tyler. Say hi. Don’t be rude p>
I clear my throat. “Hello p>
“We should get to know each other later Tyler.” Angelo sneers. “Just you and me p>
So this slob doesn’t even feel slightly guilty that he tried to kill me? I’m mad with fury and all I want to do right now is yell in his face and tell him what I think. But I can’t. Instead, I glare at him.
I’m certain Lucia thinks I’ve lost my mind, and Sasha dismisses my glare because he thinks I consider Angelo our enemy. Lucia seems genuinely confused about my reaction.
“I don’t feel great,” I mumble. “I wanna go home, Sasha p>