Chapter 236: Please Tell Me I’m Wrong

[FROLO]

The door closed behind Katya, only for him to turn and see Alek staring at him in defeat. It was a new sight for him because the alpha had never once complained.

"Are you alright?" Katya asked, and Alek stared at him like this man couldn’t be serious with his questions at the moment. But then again, there had to be some clarity, right?

"Am I alright? That is what you ask after everything that already happened?" Alek sighed before he walked to the couch like he was not in the mood for all this.

"Did I do something? I sent a text to tell you I’d be coming home late..." Katya trailed off.

"The whole city, little rose... The whole city thinks the barbarian is in love with you. They believe that he is in love with you, and then the first thing you do after the longest day of your life is not even to come home but to go to him?

"What the hell?" Alek asked frustratedly, and Katya paused.

It was the first time Alek was expressing himself, and worse, the first time that he heard those words from Alek.

Katya knew what the city was thinking, what the assumptions had been, and deep down, he understood why everyone believed them.

But he didn’t love Sergei...

Sergei was just his friend.

"I don’t love him," Katya said, and he could swear he heard his subconscious scoff at him.

"Does he know that? Is that why all your time is dedicated to him? You won’t even look at me for ten minutes, and you spend the day with the man. You won’t even call me for an hour, yet somehow there’s always time for him.

"What am I supposed to think when you are photographed with him every other lunch while I myself haven’t even been able to get a lunch date from you for a year?" Alek sighed quietly.

He didn’t want to fight.

Not with Katya.

He didn’t want to cause problems, but it was starting to get a little lonely in his relationship with Katya. It was as if the universe couldn’t give a rat’s ass anymore how he felt and was throwing him to the den because of his loyalty.

Alek was tired of the comparisons that were everywhere.

The court session and Sergei’s showing up had escalated everything.

It didn’t help that the city talked about him like he was just a third wheel in his relationship. He knew it wasn’t fair to pin this on Katya, but damn, they were really navigating rough waters right now.

"I love you," Katya whimpered softly, and Alek stared.

What else was he supposed to do about it, though?

"I know I shouldn’t listen to the city and trust you... I know this is so low of me at the moment, given the day you just had. But little rose... I... I feel like he’s taking you away from me.

"I know it’s impossible because of who he is and his family, but that doesn’t make it any easier. How am I supposed to compete with that?" the alpha said in earnest.

He wasn’t trying to guilt-trip Katya, just being honest about how everything had gotten to him right now.

He had been patient for a whole year.

He had trusted Katya.

He still did, but with the latest developments, that was the worst part. Because trust didn’t stop the loneliness.

"I’m sorry, Alek. I should have called. I’m sorry," Katya said quietly, walking toward where Alek was seated.

He knew it wasn’t fair to the man, but how was he supposed to explain that things were a bit more complicated, and he was slowly learning it too?

How was he supposed to explain that he didn’t even understand why he looked forward to his working days with Sergei over even spending time with Alek?

How was he supposed to be honest in a time when his words would just break the man’s heart?

It wasn’t fair.

It had never been, but Katya would find a way.

Alek was the first good thing that happened to him after Yaroslav, and it would be unfair to lose him.

But was that all that Katya had in mind?

"Little rose..."

"I’ll do better. I will, I promise," Katya said desperately.

And Alek just pulled him into a hug, breathing him in.

The worst part of all this was that Alek was hoping to find Sergei’s scent on Katya, but there was nothing other than Katya’s citrus.

He was losing his mind over a man who was keeping his distance and respecting his omega. Was he going insane, though?

"I’m not asking you to change, little rose," Alek said, and Katya nodded.

"I know. You never have. I’ll communicate more. I’ll make us work," Katya said, and Alek laughed lightly.

"Relationships take two people, little rose."

"You don’t have to worry about Vladimir. There’s no relationship between him and me that goes beyond work. We may be friends, but that’s where the line is," Katya said in an attempt to reassure the alpha.

It was almost cute how he was looking at Alek like he was terrified Aleksandr would leave.

But even if Alek did leave, wasn’t there enough motivation already?

"Promise me something, little rose," Alek began, as he looked at Katya, who was now seated beside him on the couch, their faces so close to each other.

"Anything," Katya breathed.

"If... if one day you realize I’m not the person you want beside you anymore... don’t stay because you pity me... Don’t trap yourself in this relationship because you feel guilty," Alek said, and Katya choked on air.

"What?"

"You have to be happy either way," Alek said, and Katya stared at him, confused.

"Why does everyone believe they know what makes me happy?" Katya groaned, looking at Alek like this was the most absurd thing he had ever heard.

Alek was being ridiculous... right?

"Little rose—"

"No. I’m sorry I came home late, okay? But you can’t be telling me to be happy like you’re saying your goodbyes. I love you, Alek. You’re my boyfriend. You’re the love of my life.

"You can’t just tell me I’ll wake up one day and stop choosing us. What about us?" Katya asked in frustration. He had had enough of people deciding for him.

"I love you too," Alek laughed in defeat.

"Good. Then we make it work. Stop this nonsense about me being happy somewhere. I want to be with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I choose you," Katya insisted, even though his heart was hammering inside his chest at the last bit.

Was this even about choosing someone anymore?

Was that what he was telling himself to get through the day?

But then again, Katya had long expected something like this. A part of him always hoped that it wouldn’t be as bad, but if Alek was already pulling away, then it had to mean that everything was getting to him.

’Like shit got to you when Sergei was dating Irina,’ his subconscious taunted, and Katya froze at the thought.

But he wouldn’t pay attention to the one thing that was determined to torment him into all hells.

"I love you, Alek," Katya insisted, repeating it a few times like that was supposed to hard reset everything that happened.

Would it, though?