KESTER.
My chest kept constricting no matter how hard I tried to clear it out. I’d been at the convenience for a moment now, but I still didn’t feel well enough to step out, even to face Kasmine. Not after how I had yelled at her.
I braced my hands against the sink, fingers curling against the cool porcelain as I stared at my reflection. My eyes were hooded from exhaustion and frustration. And a touch of guilt.
I had let the pressure, the fucking weight of everything, spill over onto her.
My reflection blurred as I closed my eyes.
“It’s going to be fine.”
I whispered the lie under my breath.
Repeated it.
Like some desperate fucking prayer.
But the words felt so empty and unreasurring. And no matter how many times I said them, they did nothing to stop the sinking feeling that I was losing control.
That I was already trapped.
I pushed the door open and stepped into the cabin but froze immediately.
She wasn’t there.
The seat beside mine was empty, her blanket neatly folded. The reclining bed was untouched, and the champagne glass on the tray was still full. I felt a sharp prickle of panic.
Where the fuck was she?
My gaze swept the cabin. No sign of her. My pulse ticked up a notch as I turned toward the flight attendant stationed near the entrance.
“Where’s Kasmine?”
The hostess blinked at me, momentarily taken aback, before offering a polite smile. “She walked out a few minutes ago, Alpha Kester.”
Walked out?
The pulse at my temple throbbed. “Where to?”
“I believe she went to the economy section-”
I didn’t wait for her to finish.
I was already moving.
My strides were extremely controlled, but rage burned my insides. Kasmine had no fucking business being in economy where I wasn’t with her to protect her. What if someone hurts her? What if…
Wait. What the fuck?
The moment I stepped into the economy section, I saw her.
Sitting there.
Laughing.
Her head tilted slightly with that familiar smile on her lips, the one she always reserved for people she liked. And right beside her was a young man-early twenties, maybe three years older than her-leaned in, his arm casually draped over the armrest, his fucking hand resting on her thigh.
On her bare thigh!
Because she was wearing that damn short I picked for her to wear because I liked it, and we would be staying in the first class cabin together, just the two of us.
Was this not the same man I thought I saw her smile at while we were ready to board? Oh… I had seen correctly, after all.
Something inside me snapped, and the world blurred.
I didn’t think. I just moved.
One second, she was laughing, oblivious. The next, I was there, grabbing her arm and yanking her up.
She gasped with eyes wide open, flinching before she even registered who had touched her.
The cabin went silent as small chatters from passengers died down the moment they took in the sight before them.
But who fucking cares?
The young man she was speaking to shot up from his seat immediately, straightening his posture before lowering his head in respect.
“Good day, Alpha,” he greeted me, but I did well ignoring him. My eyes were still glued to the girl, who would never listen when you asked her to.
Then, the dimwit went ahead to sign his death wish by asking, “Is there a reason you just yanked her up like that? I mean… You attracted the attention of almost everyone.”
I didn’t fucking answer. Didn’t even spare him a glance. I knew when I’d answer. And when the time came, I hoped he’d be in the mood for this conversation.
My grip tightened on Kasmine’s arm, “Let’s go.”
She swallowed, shock and embarrassment still flickering behind her eyes, but she didn’t fight me.
She wouldn’t even dare.
She only muttered an ‘I am sorry’ to the bastard who would be joining his ancestors soon.
Without another word, I pulled her away back to where she belonged.
*
The second we stepped into our cabin, I let go of her. Slamming the door shut behind me and locking us in.
I turned to face her ever so calmly, but the storm inside me was anything but calm.
“Who the fuck was that?” I asked her in an even voice. Too even she should be worried.
Kasmine didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she had the fucking nerve to lift her chin with her eyes flashing with anger.
“Why would you embarrass me in that manner in front of everyone?” She had the nerve to ask me.
My hands trembled. Fucking trembled. But I shoved them into my pockets before they betrayed me.
She knew how to push me. Always pressing on the nerves I fought to keep buried. Always stepping on that thin, dangerous line.
I exhaled slowly. “Who was that, Kasmine?”
This time, I spoke even calmer than before.
She should have known by now-when my anger was loud, it was dangerous.
But when it was quiet? It was lethal.
If only she knew the shit I was in… The war I was fighting just so we could be together, she wouldn’t push me this much.
Kasmine’s throat bobbed. Her arms folded over her chest as if shielding herself. “He’s my ex, Shawn,” she said, walking past me to sit on the bed.
The words were soft and quiet. But they detonated inside me.
Her ex?
Kasmine fucking had an ex?
Even after I did everything possible to make sure she was never around any boy?
My jaw clenched so tight I felt the pressure in my skull.
I slowly walked to where she sat and crouched beside her… Close enough to feel the shallow hitch of her breath.
Close enough to see the realization dawn in her eyes.
The way she stiffened. She knew she had fucked up.
I reached for her hand. Gently. Caressing her palm with my thumb, almost tenderly.
I took in a deep breath to calm my rage because I already felt like breaking something… Or someone.
“What did you just say?” I asked almost in a whisper.
She wanted to pull away, but I held her hand firmly, my eyes locked on hers. “He’s your ex?” I asked, just to reconfirm.
Her breathing was uneven now.
She wasn’t dumb.
She knew what this calm meant.
“He was nothing, Kester,” she rushed out. “Nothing happened between us, I swear. He wasn’t important-”
I smirked.
Slow. Cold. Menacing.
Then, I leaned in, pressing my lips against her forehead. “Get some rest,” I murmured against her skin. “You’ll need it.”
Then, I stood and walked away.
Because her ex?
He wasn’t safe anymore.