Chapter 74

Leon was starting to get sick of the impromptu and aggressive make out sessions, he couldn't even tell if Ethan was attracted to him or not.

He knew he used to be but that was about a decade ago and considering how much he loved to torture Leon, he could just be doing it purely for that fact.

Finally, they started their journey back to the car, Leon sporting a couple more bruises in addition to the fang marks.

He didn't say anything about it but he wasn't going on anymore lunches with Ethan, if he managed to keep this round of bruises hidden from Jaxon and Darian which was about likely as getting Ethan to get the fuck out his life.

They got back to Ethan's car and the dark haired werewolf took out a rag to wipe himself with before finally getting dressed.

Leon just sat stiffly in the car, aching all over. This was supposed to be a simple, friendly lunch but he felt physically and emotionally drained.

That should have been expected considering that he had spent it with a psychopath.

The drive back was quiet, Leon had no energy left to stir up trouble so he kept his gaze fixed out the window, willing the Pack House to come sooner.

He really couldn't keep doing this, his breaking point was in sight and that terrified him because he had no idea what he would do when that happened.

Ethan finally pulled up into the parking lot, the air in the car was choking Leon, he couldn't wait to get the fuck out.

He expected Ethan to get handsy before letting him leave but what he didn't expect was for Darian's looming shadow to make an appearance.

Even Ethan was startled at his unexpected presence.

Leon should probably not be this happy to see him for many reasons but that didn't dampen his relief to see him.

Darian was slightly nervous but he didn't let it show on his face, there was no telling Leon's reaction to what he had decided to do.

He calmly yanked the door open and pulled Leon out. "I'll be taking him." He said unapologetically to Ethan.

Leon didn't say a word, following docilely after Darian. He didn't look back so he missed the look of pure rage swirling in Ethan's eyes.

Darian had no thoughts, just relieved that Leon seemed to be in one piece, he was still stiffly waiting for the other to hurt or at least threaten him.

He still waited for the expected backlash when they got to the apartment, looking at Leon for the first time since they were in the parking lot.

His words caught in his throat, it was best to not say anything, not about Ethan or the very obvious bruises on him or the raw vulnerability in his eyes that screamed for help.

The image gave Darian whiplash, Leon was always self sufficient, he had even come to depend on him.

If they had a fight or a mission to complete, he was always relaxed because as long as Leon was there, it would always turn out fine.

Darian cleared his throat, more nervous now that he was sure Leon wouldn't hit him, he was nervous for other reasons.

"Are... ah- are you... um... hungry?" He stuttered, at a loss of what to say.

It didn't help that Leon just stood in front of him, watching him with those piercing blue eyes, what was he even supposed to say or do?

Leon's lips quirked, he was sure they were puffy and bruised from Ethan earlier and he should probably hide away in his room but Darian's presence was soothing.

He was terrified of being alone just then, not when he was this close to snapping, he truly didn't know what he would do and that scared him.

"No." He truly wasn't hungry and it wasn't just because he had had lunch not too long ago, his appetite was dead too.

He could tell that Darian was fighting the urge to not point out the obvious or ask questions and he was grateful for what it was worth.

"Uh, then I'm sure you want to head on to your room? Jaxon is paying a visit to Head Warrior Theo who invited him for lunch and after, he said something about having to discuss something at length with Alpha Virgil. I don't think he'll be back before dinner time." He filled him in on the other's whereabouts, turning around to make himself scarce.

Leon started to panic but his voice caught in his throat, wasn't this selfish of him?

He had already chosen the path of self destruction, not like there were other options.

This wasn't a choice, he was on a highway, in a car with bad brakes.

His whole being rebelled against it though but it was inevitable.

He couldn't fuck up anymore than this...

"D?" He called hesitantly, stopping the other in his tracks.

Darian turned around, wondering if he had been hallucinating that he heard Leon call him.

"Yeah?"

"Mind napping with me?" He blurted out, cringing hard after the words left his mouth. He didn't regret them though.

Darian frowned. "No one said you weren't allowed in the roo..." He started to say before realising exactly what Leon meant.

"Oh..." He muttered. "Sure." He shrugged before continuing his journey.

He hadn't exactly planned to take a nap but everything was off about Leon, he looked like he would fall apart.

He doubted he would be allowed to offer any help or even allowed to inquire what was wrong but they were friends... right?

He would help in whatever way he could.

The request was strange but it was no stranger than what had been going on for the past couple days.

He couldn't say anything about Leon because he usually put up a barrier between himself and everyone else but Jaxon was the worst hit.

At night, he was extremely clingy and had stopped sleeping as well as he started to ever since they all began sharing one bed.

He had always thought that the period of the three of them being in a kind of weird relationship dynamic was dangerous but no, it was losing that that was the real nightmare.

These days, he even forgot that he was supposed to be Leon's rival with how desperate he was to get him back from whatever was slowly taking him away.