Page 85 of Toxic

"Soren, please, I love you— don’t do this to me!"

Then I saw tears on his cheeks, black streaks of mascara running down to his jaw and neck, as he screamed, "Leave me alone! Don’t talk to me, don’t come near me, don’t try to reach out. I don’t want that!"

Our eyes met, and I was crying too. Soren noticed the tear running down my cheek, and pain flashed in his eyes. I knew he was hurting too, that pushing me away wasn’t easy for him, but he was desperate to do it.

"Please, just leave me alone, Skye, I mean it," he choked out, his voice breaking.

Then he turned around and, still holding Don’s hand, walked away.

I stayed there on my knees, broken, rejected, devastated. It felt like my world had collapsed, like all the color drained out in an instant. Something inside me died.

And it hurt so much. People say their hearts break, and maybe it sounds metaphorical, but I could almost physically feel like someone was twisting a knife in there.

My whole body was trembling; I don’t even know how I managed to get back on my feet. I dragged myself, one foot in front of the other, toward the dorms, struggling to breathe. But I couldn’t go in, I didn’t want to talk to anyone, so I turned down a side path and cut across the campus park. The worst night of my life lay ahead.

SOREN

What have I done? I did exactly what I was supposed to, what logic demanded, but it was the complete opposite of what my heart wanted.

When Don and I finally reached the path leading to my dorm, I let go of his hand and stopped.

"Okay, that’s enough. You served your purpose, but I don’t need you anymore."

"What?" Don’s eyes widened.

I sighed in irritation.

"Exactly what you heard. You didn’t actually think I was serious, did you?"

Don’s eyes narrowed.

"You know what? I’ve had enough of you too. You’re the most screwed-up slut I’ve ever fucked."

A couple of students were walking toward us from a distance, which gave me a bit of confidence.

"Thanks for the compliment. I’ll take that as flattery from a rapist’s mouth," I snapped.

He just laughed.

"Rapist? Really? Since when is screwing a whore considered rape? Didn't you just call yourself that, you dicksucker?"

I swallowed hard, my whole body trembling from raging emotions.

"Whatever. I’m glad you’re showing your true colors. Makes me feel absolutely no guilt about using you to break up with Skye. Now get lost, and just like I told Skye, don’t talk to me, don’t try to contact me—I want nothing to do with you."

He tried to grab my arm, but I saw it coming and quickly stepped back. The group of students was getting closer, so I felt pretty safe.

He growled, "You’re just a cheap slut. Skye’s lucky for dodging that bullet. You don’t deserve such an alpha, you’re just a fucking garbage beta, a campus trash."

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed someone heading our way.

"I’d rather be a garbage beta than a joke of an alpha with a micropenis!" I choked out, but I didn’t feel like I even started to clap back at him.

But still, Don raised his arm to slap my face, and then… a hand caught his wrist.

"Heeey, calm down!" To my surprise, it was Archer—Skye and Alvin’s roommate. I didn’t know him well, but apparently, he knew who I was. I’d heard strange rumors about him, but I never paid them much attention.

Don yanked his arm out of Archer’s grip and stepped back. "Stay out of this, you redneck prick!"

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