Chapter 4. Sets POV

Repetitive banging jolted me from my slumber, my heavy eyelids fluttered open to the starkness of plain white walls. A damp, cold pillow clung to my cheek, heavy with the weight of restless nights.

I knew I needed to answer the relentless knocking on my door, but my body refused to move. Heavy and numb—like a corpse stripped of spirit or energy.

The encounter from almost a week ago replayed in my mind, memories reminding me of my fate. By someone like you? Your scent is like vomit. Get lost. His voice echoed in my head just as much as the vivid images of his scowl did.

The thought of possibly facing a life without a mate stung like a fresh wound. I sighed deeply, pulling the blanket over my head, as if it could shield me from my own eternal cage. The banging behind me persisted, relentless and demanding. Each thud vibrated through the blanket, through my skull.

Then, silence. Just as I dared to hope for peace, the door burst open with a crash. Heavy footsteps stormed in, echoing in the emptiness of my room.

“Set, I don’t know what the deal is, but get the hell up! “ His voice sliced through my fog. “You’ve been holed in here and missed nearly an entire week of classes.” Frustration poured from him.

Ignoring him, I sunk deeper into the warmth of my blanket. But in one swift motion, he ripped it away, exposing me to the chilly air. A firm hand gripped my ankle, dragging me toward the edge of the bed.

I knew he would come marching in eventually, this wasn’t me. I wasn’t the type to hide away in my room for longer than a day. But my run-in with Ace had left me feeling lost. Lori also hasn’t responded to me since and has gone dead silent as well. I could feel her doubts, her belief that she wasn’t good enough for her mate. His words had struck her even deeper than I thought.

“Ew, you reek of sweat and sadness.” He grimaced, covering her nose with his forearm. “Go have breakfast, get ready and get your ass to the car.”

I shot him a glare, my blood boiling with irritation. How can you even smell sadness? Even if he could, in times like this, older brothers ought to be more gentle when they know their baby sister is going through something. I guess Winter hasn’t rubbed off on him enough.

“I’ll get up when I get up. Now, get out already. "It’s too early for your crap,” I snapped back, my voice laced with defiance, as I attempted to roll back over.

“Who the hell do you think you're…” Before he could finish, he yanked me up, his strength nearly winding me as he tossed me onto his shoulder.

As he walked me out of the comfort of my room, I dangled over his shoulder like a child. Maybe if I bulked up, he wouldn’t be able to pick me up at all. I scoffed at myself. Keep dreaming. If he had no problem picking up a limp drunk Jay, he'd still pick me up without breaking a sweat. I sighed inwardly.

He placed me onto the couch. The early sun streamed through the half-naked trees that guarded our windows. I squinted. What time was it? I doubt it was even eight yet. Then, the smell of bacon slammed into me like a train. My stomach grumbled in response. When was the last time I ate something substantial? Potato chips and water have been my only companions lately.

Zakyrius slid a plate in front of me on the small wooden table, then sat opposite of me. Pancakes, bacon, eggs and toast. My mouth craved a bite, but my stomach was firmly against the idea. Food didn’t seem appetizing at all right now.

“So, why are you being a brat? Are you going to tell me what’s been going on or am I going to have to force it out of you?” He said with a firm voice. I noticed the tension in his posture; he was ready for a fight. “I’ve been patient, waiting for you to come around. But there’s a limit to how far my patience runs.”

I understood his frustration. Normally, I spill my thoughts when something bothers me. It was like an unspoken vow between us. But for some reason, shame tangled in my chest. Feeling rejected and actually being rejected were two completely different things. I felt like an idiot, but I knew he’d try to understand where I was coming from.

I sighed, dragging my hand over my face to avoid his eyes that weren’t going to budge anytime soon.

“I found my mate,” I finally said. Surprise flickered in his eyes, his eyebrow arching high.

“And… What happened? I doubt it’s because you don’t like who it is. You’ve been eager to find your mate for years now.”

“Well, turns out he’s just a huge assh*le. "I would’ve probably been rejected on the spot if I hadn’t left when I didn’t.” Fresh tears threatened to resurface as I admitted it out loudly.

Silence hung in the air, the only noise was his teeth grinding in anger. His knuckles turned white as he clenched them in his lap. He knew as well as anyone the damage rejection of one's mate could do.

“Who’s this bastard? I’ll rip his esophagus out, strangle him with it and then shove it back down until it comes out of his —”

“Ky. Calm down, it’s okay.” I cut in quickly, raising a hand. “Honestly, I was just being a bit dramatic. I’m sure we’ll work things out.” Yeah, right. I knew he believed those words as much as I did. But it was better than him running around interrogating every pack member he ran into.

After a few minutes of trying to convince him I was fine and wasn’t going to go back into hiding, he finally relented. Relief washed over me. We could finally get ready and head to the pack house.

As we pulled up to the mansion-like structure, I noticed the excitement buzzing in the air. Others were already here, bustling around to set up. Members of our pack mingled with others, their energy infectious, everyone was eager for tonight’s event.

We made it clear—Alpha Aaron, Luna May, and the twins did not touch anything. Their roles were limited to planning the layout or enjoying a leisurely afternoon out.

As Zakyrius split off to help outside, I wandered through the seemingly endless hallways to find the kitchen. The air felt alive with anticipation. I’d much rather help with food prep than heavy lifting.

The walls were adorned with paintings of all kinds. Sceneries that invited daydreams, portraits that seemed to watch you, and abstract colors splashed across canvases, each telling a story. I found myself lost in their beauty. My mind drifted.

Where was the kitchen again? I shook my head, focusing my thoughts. I needed to contribute. As I continued, excitement built within me.

Turning a corner, my eyes still mesmerized by the vibrant paintings, I collided with something solid. A brick wall? No. The smell that engulfed my every sense was too much to be called a brick wall.

I looked up, tracing the tall figure. His white shirt clung to every muscle of his chest and shoulders, the fabric almost glowing under the lights. It was the first time I had ever seen him wearing something other than his black shirt. And then, I met those perfect shades of blue.

At that moment, the days of hurt melted away. Lori stirred, recognizing her mate. A whirlwind of fear, anger, and desire surged within me at the sound of his voice.

“Sorry, are you okay?” Those words echoed in my mind, soft and melodic, just like in his videos.