Page 55 of My Brutal Alpha

Steeling myself against those tumultuous emotions that ran rampant within me, I looked at her coldly. "You don't need to come by the house. I'll drop your things off at your place tomorrow."

Almost like I was only adding more sharp, brutal nails to the coffin, I watched every minute reaction on her face, aware that I was only making that agony worse for her.

By the end of it all, I was sure she would hate me for good. I knew it would be the end of us, even if it tore me to pieces to even consider it.

I wanted more than anything to find a way to make it work, to be brave and step outside myself for a moment to stand up for my convictions. I wanted to prove everyone wrong and show Zoe the love she deserved, but I couldn't find it in me after being reminded of how unreliable and untrustworthy I was with her heart and emotions.

After running from my parents and my past, after trying to make a life for myself and grow beyond what I once was, it all seemed like it was for nothing. It felt like I was destined to only fail, regardless of where my heart was. Regardless of how badly I just wanted to be happy.

After being stunned into complete silence while the emotions moved through her, Zoe finally found the words as tears moved down her cheeks. Her voice was so broken that it nearly made me choke.

"Ezra...you don't have to do this. We can figure something out...I know we can."

She was trying—genuinely trying to reach out and make it work. But at that point, I didn't have anything left to give. I was exhausted from trying to convince myself I could be better for her and believing my fate wasn’t sealed the moment I was born into those circumstances.

I sure as hell wasn't about to give her my broken pieces—she deserved care and softness, not those rough, jagged edges of mine.

I was no good for her, and I never would be.

My throat closed up as I did my best to hide my emotions. I shook my head in a silent bid to end the conversation and kept walking past her.

It hurt like hell to see her like that and to ignore her pain so arrogantly, but I couldn't think about it for too long. I had to go before I showed any more weakness.

Heading for my truck, I popped the door and got in, closing it and turning the engine on before I could break once and for all.

I could only look ahead as I took off, not daring to even glance through the rearview back at her. I just wanted to get back to my pack grounds. To get back home and bury everyraging emotion within me. At least then, I’d be surrounded by my followers.

It didn't matter what I did or what lies; I tried to convince myself to believe. I would never get it right.

The facts were laid out before me, and I had to quit while I was ahead.

I had to leave to spare her, even if it killed me to leave her like that.

Chapter 26 - Zoe

I didn't know how long I stood there as I watched Ezra drive away, feeling like my heart was leaving with him.

I couldn't move—not while my entire body felt numb. Unable to feel in that moment, I couldn't register the pain. There was no gauging just how bad it was, not when it felt like there was ice in my veins.

As I stared at the road ahead, with Ezra's truck completely out of sight, I felt more lost than ever before.

Too many thoughts and feelings were demanding my attention at once, but I couldn't focus on any of them.

I was upset, devastated, and angry with myself for ever allowing that to happen.

After the first time, I swore I'd never fall for him again. I promised myself that I would keep my guard up and never allow myself to feel that kind of pain—not after it had done a number on me.

Regardless of the work I put into myself and the resolve I had to remain perfectly immune to him, it still failed.

Protecting myself from that harm had been my priority, but even then, he still managed to make his way back in again.

I hated it. I hated feeling helpless, like he had every control over my life as if I was at a standstill because of his inability to stand his ground and fight for what he wanted.

Our connection was clear and real, and although it seemed easier to ignore rather than deal with the issues that came with it, the opposite was true. He could try to deny it all he wanted, but we had something genuine, and for a moment, however small, I caught a glimpse of the real him.

Ezra wanted to seem aloof and indifferent, but it was far from the truth.

He cared about us—he wanted us to be together. But whatever Sebastian had said to him had obviously struck a chord.

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