Chapter 41

Justice stared at the gym ceiling as Axel snored softly in the cot next to him. He had barely slept all week.

How he’d left Holly had been horrible, but he really saw no other way to do it. She’d question how everything had been tied up into a nice, neat little bow and also wonder about their future together. He’d have to explain that there wouldn’t be one, and that would lead to more questions he couldn’t answer.

Yeah, I lied to you about everything. I’m not in the military. Hell, I’m not even human! You’ve been fucking an alien! All of my friends I keep referring to? They aren’t human, either! Why are you so upset?

He should have taken Noah’s advice and never gotten involved in the first place.

However, Holly had needed him, and he’d wanted to help her. Her life would go back to normal. She’d have her job back, her car worked, and she had money to find a new place and get new furniture. The only thing she wouldn’t have would be the answers to the questions she most likely had.

More than ever, he felt certain that what they had shared had been real. It hadn’t been a product of adrenaline from the danger or anything else. It seemed like he’d known Holly for so long, and then to finally be with her, his feelings for her had come to the surface. He’d definitely caught the vibe that she cared about him as well.

Axel rolled over, and Justice sighed. The last thing he wanted to do today would be to watch Blake get mated. The happiness would be oozing out of the male’s pores, and he wanted no part of it.

He heard movement on the other side of the gym and sat up. Titus stood up from his mats and headed into the restroom. Justice decided to concentrate on him for a while instead of wallowing in his own bath of pity.

Pulling on a t-shirt he found next to Kade’s cot, he waited outside the bathroom door. Titus emerged a few moments later. Deep bags hung under his eyes, his greasy hair stood on end, the clothes hung from his thin frame, and he stank to high heaven. Would this be what he turned into? An SR44 male without his mate who could barely function?

“Let’s take a walk,” he said.

“Nah, I’m good.”

“No, let’s walk. Get your shoes.”

Titus did as he’d been told and grabbed his sneakers. Together, they walked out of the gym and rode the elevator up to the kitchen. Justice waved at Hudson, who stood at the counter with Beverly. It looked as if they were preparing enough food to feed a small colony of large men. Or, just everyone living in the silo.

He led Titus outside, the morning sun blinding him. He inhaled the crisp air and thought the time to be about seven or so.

“What do you want, Justice?”

Good question. He wanted to be wrapped around Holly, snug under a warm blanket. However, that wouldn’t be in his cards.

Blake rounded the corner of the silo dressed in a pair of shorts and sneakers, sweating profusely and breathing heavily.

“Good morning, ladies,” he greeted them.

“Hey. How are you feeling today?” Justice asked.

“I’m spectacular, and nervous as all hell.”

He chuckled. “That’s to be expected on mating day.”

Blake nodded. “So, what brings you two out here?”

“Just talking.”

“So, Titus, I’ve been meaning to ask you this,” Blake said. “Were you and Simon knocking boots?”

He closed his eyes and sighed. Sometimes, Blake lacked any type of finesse.

Titus looked down at the ground and didn’t answer.

“You don’t need to be ashamed of it, man. Nothing wrong with being gay,” Blake continued.

“Titus, we ask because we want to help you,” Justice said, placing his hand on Titus’ shoulder. “Tell us about it.”

Titus glanced up at Justice. “Yes, Simon and I were lovers. I loved him, and I’m devastated at his loss. I wish you would have left me in the desert to die.”

Justice nodded. Titus had confirmed his suspicions. As far as leaving him in the desert to die, he never would have done that, even if Titus had asked him to do so. It simply wasn't in his nature.

On SR44, there hadn’t been males mating males or females doing the same. Perhaps it happened in the underbelly of the city, but he couldn’t recall anyone he knew who felt that way about someone of their own sex.

It felt strange to him, but who was he to judge anyone? He’d gone and fallen in love with a human woman and built their relationship on lies and deceit. No, he couldn’t be critical of this situation.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Titus. I think your life is worth living,” he said.

Blake agreed. “Yeah. None of that shit. You’ll come back around, Titus. It’s happened before.”

“Who? Who survived not having their mate with them?” Titus asked.

“Hudson did,” Blake replied. “Look at how happy the bastard is now. He practically shits rainbows.”

Titus stared back down at the ground.

“I’ve got to go help get everything ready for the ceremony tonight,” Blake said. “I’ll catch you guys later.”

Justice stared at the man in front of him. Would Titus do something stupid, like try to kill himself? It went against everything as an SR44 male, but Titus was also a male without his mate. From what Justice understood, and what he currently felt, it messed with a male’s brain. A dark, heavy fog swirled in his head, making it difficult for him to think clearly.

“I just want to go back to bed,” Titus mumbled.

Justice sighed. Maybe Titus should be the last person he hung out with, but he felt a kindred spirit with the male.

“I do, too, my friend. I do, too.”