Third Person Pov:
It had been a week since Ryder and Bella were torn apart from their hidden romance. Neither of them took it well, but Ryder was worse. He skipped classes for the entire week, locking himself in his room, drinking day in and day out.
The twins, who had sworn off Ryder, felt bad for him. Although they hadn't been in his room for a week, the fact he wouldn't leave bothered them.
"We should probably check on him," Kai suggested. Finn, who had been immersed in video games the entire day, tossed his phone on his chest with a groan, then sat up straight on the couch.
"Probably. He's been in there for a week," he replied. They both got to their feet and walked to Ryder's door, knocking softly.
Ryder, who had drowned himself in tequila all night, groaned loudly from the bed. "What do you want?" he asked, pulling a pillow over his head.
The guilt from betraying his brothers weighed heavily on him, and the pain of losing Bella was unbearable.
"Are you okay in there? It's been a week, and..."
"I'm fine," he replied flatly.
Finn pushed the door open without permission, his jaw dropping as he saw the room littered with empty bottles and cigarette.
"How blind have we been?" Finn muttered, glaring at Kai.
They both walked into the room, which was a dump with clothes and trash scattered around. It had only been a week, but the room looked like it had been abandoned for months.
"Ryder, come on. You can't continue like this..." Kai began, but Ryder cut him off.
"I said I'm fine!" Ryder turned away, pressing the pillow harder over his head.
He didn't want help from them because he felt he didn't deserve it, but the twins weren't about to give up on him that easily.
"Come on, bro. You're going to kill yourself at this rate, and then it wouldn't be worth it, because she'll belong to someone else," Finn said.
Ryder opened his eyes beneath the pillow.
He hadn't thought of it that way, but even after considering it, it barely changed anything because Bella still hated him, and he knew it would take a lot to get her to speak with him again.
"What do you even care? I broke your trust, and I don't deserve to be called a brother. I haven't acted like one, so it would be better to leave me to my misery, please," Ryder said.
Finn and Kai stood there with arms crossed, watching him rot in bed. A wave of anger surged through Finn, and he rushed to the bed, yanking the pillow away.
"Leave me the fuck alone!" Ryder growled, clawing at Finn's hand, causing it to bleed.
Sensing an impending fight, Kai grabbed Finn's hand, pulling him away. He was about to speak when they heard a knock on their door. Fearing Ryder would be penalized for his room, they shut his door before walking to the main entrance, opening it slightly. "The Alpha would like to speak with his son," a porter said, and they shut the door. Finn, whose hand was still bleeding, went over to the living space, sitting on a couch while he held it as it healed slowly.
"You can give him the news, but there's no way I'm going in there," Finn said.
Kai delivered the message.
Ryder knew he had no choice, so he jumped out of bed and dressed as best he could with a hoodie and shades.
**
Shortly, Ryder left the dorm to meet his father, who was waiting on a bench in the parking lot. When he got there, he saw Evelyn, his stepmom, yelling at Bella.
"How in the world did you get a C in five tests? Five, Bella!" Evelyn's voice echoed through the car park while Bella stood there, unfazed.
She had been through worse and had finished mourning her test results long ago.
Evelyn ran her hand through her daughter's hair and over her lips before grabbing her hand.
"And what's with the hair? The heels, the nails? Have you been drinking? Your father says you've been taking an awful lot from the card."
Bella's nostrils flared with Ryder's scent, and she felt her bottled-up anger resurface. She wanted to leave.
"I'm fine, Mum, and if you'll excuse me, I have something better to do!" she yelled, attempting to leave, but her mother grabbed her hand.
"Oh, no, you don't!" Evelyn shot her a serious look. "Would you prefer being driven from home and monitored closely? And why have I heard reports of you coming in late at night? When did you become friends with the sisters? Answer me, Bella!"
Ryder, engrossed in the argument, barely heard his father speak.
"Answer me, young man! Why are your grades flat? Do you not see yourself in college next year?" the Alpha raised his voice, pulling Ryder's attention. "And what's with the sunglasses? Why do you reek of alcohol? Have you been smoking again? Can either of you not do anything right?"
That last question stung Bella, too.
"Well, if you want to know what happened, maybe you should ask your golden son. The one you would fight with me to protect." Her tone was heavy as she yanked her hand away from her mum and walked off.
Ryder felt the same stabbing sensation that had been in his chest for a week intensifying. He wanted to hold Bella, caress her face, and tell her it would be alright, but he couldn't, and it hurt him deeply.
"I'm sorry, Dad, but I can't have this conversation with you. My grades will improve, but
I need to leave right now," he said, walking away.
He clicked the button on his keys, causing the car lights to flicker.
"Oh, no, you don't. Come back here!" Alpha Fred yelled, but Ryder didn't look back.
He got into his car and sped off.
Both Alpha Fred and his wife stood still, watching without a word. They didn't want to get violent with their children, at least not in public.
"We have failed as parents," Evelyn muttered, breaking into tears while Fred wrapped his arm around her.