Nineteen

Chapter 19

Zachary’s POV

I was in my room pacing all around, restless and tension high. I was staring at the phone in my hand, breathing heavily.

“I know what I’m doing,” I muttered, staring at her name flashing on my screen. “And I don’t care.”

My thumb hovered over the call button again.

“You compared me to a worthless drunk,” I scoffed bitterly. “Me, an Alpha,” I muttered bitterly.

The alcohol burned down my throat as I took another gulp straight from the bottle.

“Pick up the phone, Livia,” I growled. “Pick it up.” I watched as the phone continued to ring, but no answer.

I laughed darkly. “Ignoring me? You think you can ignore me?” I said, expressing my frustrations and anger.

I dialed again after it stopped ringing.

“And don’t pretend you don’t feel this,” I slurred. “You don’t get to reject me like I’m some stray mutt.”

I own you, and you will always belong to me.

The ringing continued. “Answer me!” I barked at the empty room.

I threw my head back. “You are scared. That’s what this is. You are scared to admit you love me.”

Another call and another ring.

“You think I don’t see through you?” I continued, pacing unsteadily. “You think I don’t know that every time you look at me, you want me?”

I dialed again without giving up, as at the moment, nothing matters to me; all I want is just to speak to her.

“Say it,” I whispered harshly. “Just say you love me. Say you will rather be mine.”

The call finally connected as I put it to my ear to hear what she had to say.

I smirked instantly. “There you are,” I said and waited for her to speak. It was just all silence.

“Knew you couldn’t resist,” I teased. “You always come back to me.” I continued.

A soft laugh drifted through the speaker, but it wasn’t for me.

“Oh my God, Hayden…” her voice purred softly, breaking the silence that came after my voice.

My smile dropped immediately as soon as I heard the voices from the speaker.

“You look so sexy tonight.” My stomach twisted as I knew exactly that it must be Hayden.

“Livia,” I snapped into the phone. “What the hell are you doing?” I asked angrily.

A faint rustling sound followed. “You don’t have to rush,” she murmured breathlessly, but not to me. 

“We have got all night.” Hayden's voice sounded through the speaker.

My chest tightened. “Livia!” I shouted. “Stop playing games,” I shouted.

A low masculine chuckle answered her.

“You like that?” Hayden’s voice came faintly through.

My grip tightened around the phone. “Hayden?” I called, my voice high and firm.

“Don’t stop,” she whispered, and the cracking sound of something like fabric sliding.

A soft gasp followed immediately, and my vision went red.

“Livia!” I roared. “Talk to me!”

Nothing.

My voice wasn’t reaching her, as it seems they're already carried away by whatever they are doing.

I pulled the phone from my ear and stared at the screen and everywhere was muted.

“She muted me…” I whispered in disbelief as I placed the back of my ear.

Her soft moan cut through the line almost immediately.

“Hayden…”

The sound shattered something inside me.

“You are doing this on purpose,” I growled. “You picked up just so I can hear this,” I said as another breathless laugh followed.

“Right there” I heard Livia's soft moans.

“That’s enough!” I screamed into the phone.

But they couldn’t hear me. It made my chest heave violently.

“She’s mine,” I snarled. “She’s mine!”

Hayden’s voice murmured something I couldn’t fully catch, but her answering giggle stabbed through me.

“You don’t get to touch her,” I hissed. “You don’t get to breathe near her.”

A sharper sound escaped her lips and that was it.

“I’m going to kill him,” I whispered darkly. “I swear I will”

Another moan followed.

The phone slipped from my trembling hand.

“You think this makes you strong?” I shouted at it on the floor. “You think I can’t take you back?”

I picked it up again. “Livia!” I screamed one last time in frustration, but still no response.

I hurled the phone across the room in anger, and it smashed against the wall, shattering into pieces.

Silence overtook the room as no one even dared to approach me.

Only my ragged breathing filled the space as I felt like crushing anything around me at the moment.

“You don’t get to replace me,” I muttered hoarsely. “You don’t get to turn the tables.”

I sank to the floor.

“No,” I whispered. “I won’t let you.” I said in pain.

I was in pain, pained that Livia no longer regards me, and she feels she no longer belongs to me.

My head felt like it was splitting open. “What the hell?” I groaned, squinting against the morning light.

I looked around only to find out it was morning already as the brightness shone through the windows.

I was lying on the floor, surprise on my face, wondering how I got comfortable by spending the night on the floor.

My back and knees ache at the moment as I find it difficult to stand up.

I sat up slowly. “Why does it feel like I fought a war?” I asked, looking around my vicinity.

My eyes landed on the broken pieces of the phone scattered across the floor.

“Oh… hell,” I muttered as I rubbed my face.

“Tell me I didn’t do all these?.” I asked silently as I saw the mess I caused, and the memories of the night started flooding back in like broken flashes.

The way I was restless, how I called Livia several times, how she refused to pick up my calls, and the sound I was hearing when she finally decided to take my call.

“Shit,” I cursed under my breath. So she muted me…”

I swallowed hard.

“I sounded insane.” Yes, I could remember my desperation and obsession towards her the previous night.

I dragged myself off the ground, staggering toward the destroyed phone.

“You are an Alpha,” I muttered to myself. “Act like one.”

I crouched down, picking up the cracked screen as I tried to see if I could fix it back.

“Or maybe you acted exactly like what she called you,” I scoffed bitterly. “A drunk.”

I exhaled shakily as her words rang in my ears.

“I don’t even remember half of what I said.”

I stood up slowly, swaying slightly.

“I need my other phone,” I muttered as I noticed there's no way to get this phone fixed at the moment, as it looked beyond repair.

As I moved toward the door, it creaked open and Bella stepped inside.

“Well, look who’s finally awake,” she drawled, and I froze immediately.

She was dressed deliberately with tight fabric, bold lipstick, and heels clicking against the floor.

“What do you want?” I muttered coldly, staring at her from head to toe.

She smirked. “That’s no way to greet the mother of your child.” she said.

“Don’t start,” I warned, as I was not in the mood for any of that at the moment.

Her eyes scanned the room, landing on the broken phone pieces on the floor.

“Rough night?” she asked mockingly.

I clenched my jaw. “None of your business.” I snapped.

She stepped closer. “You were shouting her name in your sleep,” she said lightly.

My heart skipped. “What?” I asked in shock.

“Livia,” she repeated slowly, watching my reaction. “Over and over.”

“Shut up.” I ordered immediately.

“Did she finally replace you?” Bella taunted. 

“Must hurt. The mighty Alpha begging,” she continues with her mockery.

“I said shut up!” I snapped.

She laughed softly.

“You look terrible,” she said. “Hungover and heartbroken, not a good combination,” she smirked.

I stepped closer, my voice dropping dangerously low. “Don’t push me, Bella.” I was warned.

“Oh, I’m not pushing,” she replied smoothly. 

“I’m just observing. You lost control,”she continued.

“I won't lose control.” I rebuked immediately.

“You smashed your phone,” she pointed out. 

“You screamed another woman’s name while I was in the house,” she said bitterly as I could see the pain in her eyes.

I clenched my fists. “She won’t get away with this,” I muttered.

Bella raised a brow. “With what? Moving on?”

“She hasn’t moved on,” I said, trying to encourage myself that she still belongs to me.

“Sounded like she did,” Bella shot back almost immediately.

My chest tightened again. “She was trying to provoke me,” I said. “She belongs to me.”

Bella’s voice hardened slightly. “People aren’t property, Zachary,” she said.

“You’re not angry because she was with him,” she said softly. “You are angry because you couldn’t stop it.”

There was silence as it confirmed my fears.

“Enough of this,” I said, finally

 finding my voice.

Bella looked at me and hissed.

I studied her very well, getting angry at her for the way she dressed.

“Why are you dressed this way, and where are you coming from?” I asked with a strict face.