Chapter 42: 42: An Alternate Reality
Sunlight streamed in through the room at the first crack of dawn.
The curtains weren’t drawn, and it allowed a straight path for the golden light to shine on my face. It served as a perfect wakeup call.
I blinked drearily, moving slightly to avoid the light in my eyes, only to realize that there was a weight resting on my body. One look to my side nearly scared the living daylights out of my soul.
Rowan Hadeon was fast asleep. We were sprawled over the rug on the floor, right in the middle of Rowan’s office. There were items scattered everywhere, from documents and books to pens and other stationery.
My cunt was pleasantly sore, a reminder of everything that had happened last night. Rowan and I ended up venting all our pent-up sexual frustration on each other’s bodies, going at it nearly through the whole night. I had passed out sometime after, but the last I remembered was that I was pressed against the cool glass panel of the window.
Across the room, where the window was, my lacey lingerie bra was in tatters on the floor, evidence of last night. I could still faintly remember Rowan ripping them into shreds, and in shreds they lay. There was no using them again, that was for sure.
I was curled up in Rowan’s embrace, my head resting on his biceps. His other arm was slung over my waist as he peacefully slept.
He had let down all of his guard. Perhaps the sex had spent all his energy. In his sleep, he looked peaceful. All the years and stress that he often wore on his face in the form of wrinkles and frowns had smoothed out, revealing the visage of a young man underneath.
Rowan, just like his other brothers, was handsome to a fault. He was beautiful, a work of the Moon Goddess herself. It was a fact that I couldn’t deny, no matter my feelings for these men.
They were popular for a good reason. There were many packs who have tried to send their daughters to at least one of the Hadeon brothers in hopes of a marriage alliance. Those daughters, more often than not, were very willing. After all, everyone on the continent knew or at least had heard of them, and the young women, especially, had heard rumors or seen for themselves the devastating beauty of the triplet Alphas.
Even I was no exception. It was factual that they were good-looking, and pointless to argue against it. And now that Rowan was peacefully sleeping, embracing me as though I were a cherished treasure, I couldn’t help but allow myself to turn delusional for just a fraction of a second.
I slowly and carefully raised a hand to comb a strand of his hair out of his face.
How nice it would be if Rowan Hadeon were actually a loving and kind man. The Moon Goddess had blessed me with three beautiful fated mates, but she had also cursed me to have them hate me so.
I had to remind myself that Rowan and his brothers were like the blazing sun― they shone brightly in all their glory, but I had to be careful not to fly too close, in fear that they would incinerate my heart.
A sudden discomfort surged through me. It started out faint at first, but the rolling and churning feeling in my gut built up within a matter of seconds. I felt pressure in my throat and chest, and the nausea quickly sent me panicking.
Without thinking, I grabbed the blanket that had been strewn over us and rushed out of the room. I pushed against door after door, hoping they would open to reveal a bathroom, but none of them did.
Eventually, I found one, and immediately hunched over the toilet bowl to spill my guts out. I coughed and gagged, the searing sensation of my stomach acid burning through my throat. I didn’t eat a lot for dinner, and what came out was mostly just water and stomach acid.
Even after I was done, I remained in the same position, my whole body suddenly weak. I struggled to breathe, and the world around me spun dangerously.
"Briar?" Violet’s sound suddenly came from above me, and a rush of adrenaline forced me to swivel around in surprise. Her eyes were wide. "Are you okay?"
I resisted the urge to frown. It almost sounded as though she cared. Between the concern in her voice and the fact that I actually woke up with Rowan just now, I would’ve thought I had entered an alternate dimension.
"I-I’m fine," I said. I gripped the edge of the porcelain bowl, using all my strength to push myself up. Then, I staggered to the sink to rinse my mouth free of the bitter taste of bile.
"You look a little pale," Violet continued. "We got worried when you didn’t return to the room last night."
I stiffened.
"Where did you and Rowan disappear off to?"
I wasn’t in the mood to chat, especially with Violet of all people. A creeping sense of contempt filled me.
Tossing a look over my shoulder, I taunted, "Wouldn’t you like to know?"
Without waiting for Violet’s reply, I sauntered out and back towards my bedroom. As such, I didn’t manage to catch sight of Violet staring after my retreating figure, her hands clenched into fists so tightly that her nails drew blood from her palms.
***
When I returned to the small room I called home, I slammed the door shut and leaned against it.
Last night felt like a fever dream.
My entire body still felt heavy, and soreness was starting to settle into my muscles. I badly needed a hot shower, and after that, I wanted nothing more than to catch some sleep before Violet and the triplet Alphas decided I had another task to finish.
However, the moment I opened my eyes again, I was greeted by the sight of Jessie, sitting at the edge of my bed. Her eyes were wide as she stared at my carelessly dressed figure, still wrapped in a thin blanket and nothing more.
"Where have you been all night, Briar?" Jessie asked, standing up. "You look horrible!"
