Seth's POV
The mate bond—severed.
It wasn't the kind of pain you could grit your teeth through or distract yourself from with a drink or a fight.
No, this was deeper. A tearing agony that felt as though my soul had been wrenched out and left to bleed.
I had held my head high when I was talking to Reese but only if he could see beyond my façade.
As I turned my back to him, hiding my tears, he asked the most heartbreaking question,
"Did you ever even loved me a little?"
I did, I had fallen for him, even before he called me mate.
But I knew what was truly at stake if I didn't do this.
I couldn't risk his life for it. I couldn't let anything happen to him.
I would protect him no matter what even if it costs me my life.
I had walked away, not daring to look back and see the pain in his eyes.
It would kill me.
It hadn't been Reese's fault. Hell, it hadn't even been mine either.
I hurriedly entered the bedroom and dropped to my knees as I could no longer hold the pain in.
My chest had felt hollow, as if someone had scooped out my lungs and replaced them with icy nothingness.
I'd never known anything could hurt this much. Not physically, at least.
But this? This was a torment beyond the physical.
I lay there on the cold floor, listening to the almighty Alpha Reese groan in pain because of me.
Tears streamed down my face, not from the pain I was feeling, but for the grief and pain I made my love go through.
After a long while, I heard ruffled noises and the door slamming shut afterwards.
I knew he had left, forever, probably.
I had lost him.
Anger replaced the pain almost immediately, and I hurriedly stood up, entered the shower for a cold bath.
I needed a clear head when confronting my father at least.
He would be expecting me tonight.
**********
My car screeched to a stop as I arrived the Kingston villa.
My mind was a whirlwind of various emotions as I stumbled through the hallways and marched down to my father's room.
I finally arrived at my father's room the heavy oak doors looming treacherously at me.
Alpha Finn Kingston's domain.
The man who called himself my father, but rarely acted like one.
His shadow stretched long over my life, suffocating and cold.
And now, he was the reason I'd lost the only person who made me feel alive.
I shoved the doors open without knocking, my hands trembling from the effort of holding myself together.
He looked up from his desk, his piercing blue eyes—the same as mine—devoid of any emotion, locked onto me with the precision of a predator.
"Seth," he drawled, his voice calm, controlled. Too calm.
"To what do I owe this… dramatic entrance?"
I didn't bother with pleasantries. My voice was hoarse, almost a growl. "Why?"
He leaned back in his chair, studying me with that detached air he always wore like armor.
"Because it was necessary," he said simply. "Elite Group was a threat. I needed to put him in his place. He is just a mere cub who thinks he can rule the world of business" , he added
"Did you know he was my mate?" I asked him, trying to see if I could catch a glimpse of any emotion or compassion.
He didn't flinch, didn't even blink.
"Really? I bet that was why you carried out the task perfectly! Weldone son." He said, sipping from the glass of whiskey in his hand.
"Do you have any idea what you've done?" I almost yelled, angry at his lack of emotions.
"The bond—" My throat tightened, the words choking me. "It's gone. Severed. And for what? So you could play your power games?"
Father's gaze didn't waver. "What's ruined, Seth? Your little fantasy of a life with him? That bond was a liability. It made you weak."
"Weak?" I laughed bitterly, the sound hollow even to my own ears.
"Is that what you think? That love is weakness? That caring about someone makes me less of a man?"
His jaw tightened, but his voice remained cold.
"Love blinds you. It clouds your judgment. I've spent years teaching you to be strong, to be ruthless. And now you want to throw it all away for some fleeting emotions?"
"Wake up Seth! The world is ruthless, and you won't survive a day out there being this weak!" He added, his voice rising.
"Maybe it's better than living like you!" I shot back, the words spilling out before I could stop them. "Cold. Heartless. Alone."
The slap came so fast I didn't see it coming.
The sting of his palm against my cheek was nothing compared to the rage that flared in my chest.
I stumbled back but didn't look away, meeting his gaze with all the defiance I could muster.
"Don't test me," he said, his voice a deadly whisper.
"Kingston Enterprises is going to be stronger than ever. This is how the game is played, Seth. You can hate me all you want, but one day you'll understand."
"I'll never understand," I said quietly, my voice trembling with restrained fury. "You've taken everything from me. Reese… he'll never forgive me for this. And I don't blame him."
"Get out," he said, turning away from me.
I didn't move. "Promise me you won't hurt him. I did everything you asked so you have to keep to your own end, Father".
He didn't answer, and the knot in my chest tightened.
"Promise me!" I yelled again, louder this time.
His shoulders tensed, but he didn't turn around.
"Fine," he said at last, his voice clipped. "I'll back off. For now. But don't think for a second that this is over."
I stared at him my jaw clenched tightly in rage. "If you as much as lay a finger on him, I promise you I will never forgive you.
And I will hunt you till my last breath." With that I turned and walked away, slamming the door shut behind me.
As soon as I was out of earshot, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.
If my father thinks he is the only one who can play this game, then he has something coming for him.
"Hello" the voice on the other side answered.
"Did you prepare what I asked for?
"Yes sir. It's ready".
"Good. I'll be there shortly!" I replied curtly and ended the call.
With that I entered the car and zoomed off with only one destination in mind.