*Omario POV*
I start pacing in my chambers the moment Terrence walks out.
What would Nina block Titan’s access to Abi?
Has she really had enough and shutting both of us out?
“Don’t worry Titan, I will fix this,” I reassure my dejected wolf before taking my phone and calling the human who picked Abi the night I helped her escape. He tells me everything I need to know. I jot down Abi’s address.
“We are going to find her as soon as the funeral is over, okay?”
Titan does not respond. It would be nice to know what he thinks but him and I are not so close anymore. I hope that will change when Abi is back here.
An hour goes by fast, I head out to the courtyard for the funeral procession. A lot of familiar faces, the families of dad’s friends are already standing outside. Some, including Olivia, are in tears. I don’t approach her. Very colourful words were said when we parted. I am certain that she hates me now and I don’t blame her. At least Loyd is by her side. He has not spoken to me since I broke things off with Oli. He is probably angry with me too but he will get over it eventually.
Shifting side to side on my feet, I feel out of place here. They are grieving but I don’t feel any loss. I waited and even prayed for years for dad’s ending. I would be celebrating with Terrence and the servants if this was not what is expected of me. Mom might also need me.
I look around for the completely covered figure in a horrible magenta colour with a crown on her head and find none.
The first thing I will do before handing over the crown to Abi is get rid of that stupid colour as the kingdom’s mourning colour.
I am starting to think Mom is not attending when our eyes meet and she is nothing like the mourner everyone expected her to be. The royal blue gown brings out her beautiful features. Her hair is tired up in a bun like she is going to prom. There’s no mourner’s scarf in sight on her.
I approach her and offer her my arm. “You go Mom! The bastard does not deserve a single tear from you.”
She laughs and pats my hand. “You are my son, alright.”
The nearby elders shoot us disapproving stares. They all act like they are here to bury saints when they know too well what monsters all the dead were.
One elder addresses everyone and explains the process of how we will all get vases with ashes to bury as our loved ones.
“You will carry it,” mom says.
“He was your mate, you carry it.”
“A horrible one. He was you dad, you carry him or I will intentionally drop that vase before we get to the graveyard.”
“Fine, only because I don’t want any drama,” I concede and she grins at me.
I just want this over and done with so I can go find Abi.
We walk into the courtyard and find all the vases on the sides, completely empty. What the fuck?
Now I have to waste my precious time finding out what happened to the ashes. The guards have no clue but deep down I know who would be bold and fast enough to pull this off. I get my confirmation when Terrence walks in. He looks at mom, avoiding eye contact with me but he can’t avoid me forever.
I know the moment he is in my head and ask him a direct question. I don’t know whether to laugh or be angry at him when I get the answer. Being flushed down the toilet is more fitting for the life dad and his okes lived.
Mom does not waste anytime to get out of here. Something has definitely changed with her.
Well, this is my cue to leave too. I’m sure that the elders can manage things from here. I am following Terrence out when I feel the most excruciating pain on my chest and tummy.
I hold on my chest, struggling to breathe and my nostrils starts bleeding.
Terrence is by my side the moment I hit the floor. Him and the guards carry me to my chambers, where I feel like I’m dying. Even breathing in is a painful mission. It’s like a sharp object is slicing my insides into tiny pieces while squeezing air out of my lungs.
The physician has just walked in when mom turns him away.
I look at her in disbelief. Can’t she see that I am dying?
“There’s nothing physically wrong with you. It’s your mate bond.”
Terrence shakes his head. “The nose bleed is not…”
I suspected the bond too when I first felt the pain but the bleeding changed my mind.
“If she’s a virgin, it is,”mom interjects and my heart stops. Abi did threaten to do this but I didn’t take her serious enough. I should have never let her out of my sight.
“Fuck! Shit!” Terrence repeatedly curses out. “Abi takes the bond very serious. You must have pushed her too far for her to do this. I warned you about this, man.”
Trust him to bring that up now.
Mom nods her her, agreeing with him. That’s not surprising, considering what dad put her through.
“Shut up and take me to her!”
I can’t believe that I am uttering dad’s words. What have I done?
I hope she is using dildo like mom did, not some random man like she threatened.
“I don’t know where she is.” Terrence responds.
“I do. Help me get up,” I command right before the intensity of my pain triples, knocking me off my feet to my knees again.
Terrence stands helplessly next to me while mom looks unbothered. She probably thinks I deserve it.
“Drag me to the car and take me to her!” I yell but Terrence does not move.
“I can’t drag you on concrete, are you crazy?”
“You are gonna have to because it’s only going to get worse,” mom says.
“Terrence please, I’m dying here, man and only Abi can make it stop,” I plead. He nods his head but does not drag me. He carries me over his shoulders instead and runs to the car. I am groaning in pain while he pushes the car to the utmost limit. I look at him with a warm heart. This, right here, is a good friend. He is mad at me for hurting Abi, who is his best friend, but he still helps me.
We are a few kilometres away from Abi’s address when I gasp and fear washes over me as I feel my wolf’s heart fading. He is in more pain than me, but I’m the one who fucked up. Is this what usually happens? Is this what mom meant when she said it’s only going to get worse?
“Titan, I am so sorry. I will fix it, I promise. I will listen to you from now on, I swear. Just stay with me, okay?”