Chapter 119

Chapter 119: Theo Briggs found me in the same place I went the last time I walked away from my mate.

I had torn the gym apart. Punched holes in almost every surface. I was currently still punching the bag despite my hands being bloody pulp.

“Theo,” Briggs called to me.

I didn’t listen. I wouldn’t listen.

“Theo, stop.

”

Still no response. No acknowledgment.

“Damn it, Theo.”

Briggs‘ arms went around my shoulders, holding me still. It was enough for everything to take over. I didn’t stop the thundering roar that exploded from me. Knowing it wouldn’t be enough. The yell turned into sobs as my knees hit the floor.

“I know, man,” Briggs said quietly, maintaining his hold on me. “I know.”

He let my emotions run their course. Sitting with me as I felt my world slipping away from me. All I could do was keep telling myself Ayla was safe now. Over and over. My mate was safe. That’s all that mattered now.

I slowly calmed down. But I still didn’t feel like I was there. My mind. was still floating over everything that had happened that day.

“We never even got to see her,” I whispered.

“What, buddy?” Briggs asked.

“Dasha,” I replied. “Ayla got her back. Kieran never got to see her.”

Briggs sighed sadly. “I’m sorry, Theo.”

I heard the door open and close behind me, and someone approached us. It wasn’t until Mina sat on the floor in front of me that I looked up at her. Knowing she probably hated me again. Her face was flushed and her eyes were red and puffy. She had been crying too.

“Mina, I’m sorr...”

“Shut up,” she interrupted. “If you say sorry to me right now, then it means you’ve given up on her, and there’s no way in hell I’m letting you do that.”

A jolt of energy shot through me that she would even dare think I was giving Ayla up.

“I’ll never give up on her,” I growled. “I don’t care if you hate me for doing this to her...”

“I don’t hate you, Theo,” Mina insisted. “You know she’s the best thing that ever happened to you. As her cousin, that’s all I could hope for. But, believe it or not, you’re the best thing that happened to her. You‘ re good for her, Theo.”

“Mina, stop. I don’t need...”

“Shut up,” she said again. “You do need to hear this and you’re going to listen. Because she needs you. And you are good for her. Even in some twisted way, you rejecting her was good for her.”

I couldn’t control the growl that started.

“I said shut up,” she instructed. “Ayla was a slave to her family. Yes, they allowed it, but it was her own doing. She let her role consume her. Had you managed to reject each other successfully and truly broken the bond, she would have continued on like that. She never would have left the pack. She never would have left her mother. And she would have watched her sister live out her life with you. And it would have destroyed her.”

I shook my head. “She would have figured something out.”

“No, she wouldn’t have,” Mina argued. “Because she didn’t see how wrong her life was. She was supposed to take care of her family. That was her purpose. Because of their reliance on her, and their selfishness, she never would have questioned whether she was meant for more. And we all know she was meant for so much more than being Marie’s nursemaid for the rest of her life.

She deserves more than that. She deserves someone who not only sees who she really is but who allows her to be that person.”

“And then her mate comes along and rejects her for doing the exact opposite,” I grumbled, her words reminding me of my stupidity.

“How many times have you seen Ayla cry, Theo?” Mina asked.

It was like a punch to the gut. It felt like half the time I had spent with her, she was crying. Often because of me.

“Too many,” I replied, hanging my head.

“I’ve seen her cry once.”

I lifted my head.

Mina continued. “I’ve seen Ayla cry once in my entire life, and that was the night her father died. She cried for ten minutes before she realized we would need her, and she had to be strong for us.

No one else has ever seen her cry.” Mina reached out and rested her hands on my arms. “Ayla can cry with you, Theo. Because she feels safe. Because she knows down to her bones that you will be the strong one when she needs it. Because you’re her true mate. You gave her the purpose she’s been searching for her whole life, Theo.”

“She told you that?”

Briggs chuckled next to me. “She didn’t have to tell anyone, man.”

“And Kingston never came close to that,” Mina added.

“But that’s all gone now,” I replied, my chest constricting again.

“Yeah, because some assholes are trying to take that from her,” Mina snarked. “You’re her mate. It’s your job to not let them. So, I need you to get your ass up and get to work at finding these bastards. You made her a promise today. You better fucking keep it or die trying.” Mina stood up and offered me her hand. “Or else I really will hate you.”

I took her outstretched and let her pull me up.

“Geez, Theo,” Mina said, looking at the damage I had done to my hands. “You need to get these cleaned up. And change. You’re covered in blood again. I swear. Ayla would kill me if she knew she wasn’t even gone a day before her mate was ruining everything.”

Something Mina had said struck me.

“What did you say about me being Ayla’s mate before?” I asked.

“It’s your job to stop these jerks?” Mina stated.

I shook my head. “No, you said I was her true mate.”